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Can a foreign creditor open an Execution Office file in Israel to enforce a judgment?

Yes, but usually only after the judgment is recognized in Israel. A foreign creditor cannot take a foreign court judgment straight to the Israeli Execution and Collection Authority (Hotzaa LaPoal). The foreign judgment must first be declared enforceable by an Israeli court under the Foreign Judgments Enforcement Law 5718-1958. Once recognized, it is treated like an Israeli judgment and can be enforced through the Execution Office under the Execution Law 5727-1967, including wage garnishment, bank attachment, and asset seizure.

Israel's enforcement system has two stages for a foreign creditor. First, the creditor petitions a District Court to recognize the foreign judgment under the Foreign Judgments Enforcement Law 5718-1958. The court checks that the judgment is final, was given by a court with proper jurisdiction, is enforceable in its country of origin, does not violate Israeli public policy, and was not obtained by fraud or without due process. Once the court grants enforcement, the judgment has the force of an Israeli judgment. The creditor can then open a file at the Execution and Collection Authority, which administers collection measures under the Execution Law 5727-1967.

A foreign creditor does not need to live in Israel or hold Israeli citizenship to use this process, but practical steps matter. Documents must be properly authenticated, often apostilled, and translated into Hebrew, and the creditor usually appoints an Israeli attorney to act locally. There is a limitation period for bringing the recognition application, generally measured from when the foreign judgment became enforceable, so a creditor should not delay. Our guide on collecting debts in Israel as a foreign creditor walks through the full sequence. Skipping the recognition stage is the most common mistake, because the Execution Office will not act on a raw foreign judgment.

⚖ In Practice
  • Governing law: Foreign Judgments Enforcement Law 5718-1958; Execution Law 5727-1967
  • Competent authority: District Court (recognition); Execution and Collection Authority (Rashut HaAchifa VeHaGviya) for collection
  • Two-stage process: court recognition first, then an Execution Office file
  • Limitation: apply for recognition within 5 years of the judgment (or a longer period if the origin country allows and a treaty applies)
  • Documents: authenticated or apostilled judgment plus a certified Hebrew translation
  • Collection tools: wage garnishment, bank-account attachment, asset seizure, and stay-of-exit orders

From the full guide: Collecting Debts in Israel as a Foreign Creditor

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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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