Courts and the Execution Office
Claims are heard by the Magistrates' Courts or District Courts by value, with commercial matters benefiting from case management practices aimed at concentrating evidence. Proceedings are in Hebrew and documents require certified translation.
Running alongside the courts, the Execution Office is a permanent administrative enforcement body with its own registrars. It executes court judgments - but it also accepts direct filings on certain categories of instrument, which is what makes it strategically interesting rather than merely procedural.
Filing Directly With the Execution Office
Where a debt is evidenced by a cheque, a promissory note or a notarised undertaking, a creditor may in defined circumstances open a file with the Execution Office without first obtaining judgment. The office notifies the debtor, who has a period in which to object; absent an objection, enforcement measures follow.
The measures available include attachment of bank accounts and assets and restrictions on the debtor. For a supplier who took a post-dated cheque or a note alongside the invoice - still common practice in Israeli trade - this converts what would be a two-year litigation into an administrative filing. Where no such instrument exists, the ordinary court route applies.
Summary Proceedings
For a liquidated claim founded on documents, a summary procedure requires the defendant to seek leave to defend, and leave is refused where no arguable defence is shown. It is markedly faster than an ordinary action and is the standard route for a documented supply debt without a negotiable instrument behind it.
Seven Years
The Prescription Law gives seven years for a contractual claim - longer than most of Europe and considerably longer than the Nordic countries. An acknowledgement of the debt by the debtor restarts the period. For a creditor holding an aged Israeli receivable, the position is often better than expected, though the practical prospects of recovery still decline with time.
How Long Does an Israeli Claim Take?
| Stage | Typical Duration | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Formal demand Demand in Hebrew, negotiation | 2–5 weeks | Low |
| Execution Office filing Where a qualifying instrument exists | 1–3 months | Low |
| Summary proceedings Liquidated claim, leave to defend stage | 6–14 months | Medium |
| Ordinary action Where a defence is permitted | 1–3 years | High |
| Enforcement Attachment through the Execution Office | 1–4 months | Medium |
How Does SXB Global Handle an Israeli Case?
The first question is what instrument, if any, accompanied the sale - a cheque or note may take the file out of the court system altogether. Where none exists, we build for the summary route. Contact is conducted in Hebrew. Where legal proceedings become appropriate, SXB Global coordinates the instruction of appropriately authorised local counsel. Legal services are provided by the relevant independent legal professionals.