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Can a foreign court judgment be used to collect a debt in Israel?

Yes. A foreign court judgment can be recognized and enforced in Israel under the Foreign Judgments Enforcement Law 5718-1958, provided the foreign court had jurisdiction, the defendant received proper service, the judgment is final and enforceable in the country where it was issued, and enforcement does not violate Israeli public policy. Once recognized by the Israeli District Court, the foreign judgment has the same force as an Israeli judgment and is enforceable through the Execution Office against bank accounts, real estate, salary, and other assets. The recognition process typically takes 3–9 months depending on whether the debtor contests the application.

The Foreign Judgments Enforcement Law 5718-1958 governs recognition of foreign civil and commercial judgments in Israel. Sections 3 through 11 set out the conditions for recognition: the judgment must be final and no longer subject to appeal in the issuing country; it must have been issued by a court with proper jurisdiction under international private law principles; the defendant must have been duly served and given a genuine opportunity to appear; and the judgment must not have been obtained by fraud. Israeli courts do not perform a full review of the merits of the foreign judgment — the recognition proceeding is not a retrial. The most commonly raised defense by Israeli debtors is that the foreign court lacked jurisdiction or that the judgment was obtained without proper service. To file the recognition application, the creditor must produce a certified copy of the judgment, an official Hebrew translation prepared by a court-sworn translator, and an affidavit from a foreign lawyer confirming that the judgment is final and currently enforceable in the country of origin.

Once the Israeli District Court grants recognition, the foreign judgment is filed with the Execution Office (Lishkat HaHotza'a LaPoal) and treated identically to an Israeli judgment. The Execution Office can immediately attach bank accounts, register liens on real estate at the Land Registry, garnish wages, and if necessary issue a travel ban preventing the debtor from leaving Israel. A pre-recognition asset freeze is also available: a creditor who fears the debtor will dissipate assets before the recognition application is decided can apply to the District Court for a temporary attachment order concurrently with filing the recognition claim. For foreign arbitral awards — as distinct from court judgments — enforcement proceeds under the New York Convention, which provides a faster and more debtor-proof route that bypasses the Foreign Judgments Enforcement Law entirely.

⚖ In Practice
  • Governing law: Foreign Judgments Enforcement Law 5718-1958, Sections 3–11; Execution Law 5727-1967 for post-recognition enforcement
  • Competent authority: District Court (Beit Mishpat Mehozi) for recognition; then Execution Office (Lishkat HaHotza'a LaPoal) for enforcement
  • Documents required: certified copy of the judgment, official Hebrew translation by court-sworn translator, foreign lawyer affidavit that the judgment is final, apostille or legalization of the certified copy
  • Court filing fee: approximately NIS 1,500–4,500 depending on the judgment amount (2026)
  • Timeline: uncontested recognition 3–5 months; contested cases 9–18 months; note that the 7-year Israeli limitation period applies to the enforcement of the foreign judgment after recognition

From the full guide: Enforcing Foreign Judgments in Israel: A Complete Guide for Foreign Creditors

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Get a Free Consultation with Adv. Eli ShimonyPrepared under the direction of Adv. Eli Shimony, Eli Shimony Law Office · Editorial policy

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