Can a foreign national open a bank account in Israel without being a resident?

Yes. Israeli law does not prohibit non-residents from holding bank accounts. However, all five major Israeli banks have significant discretion over which non-residents they onboard, and compliance requirements have become considerably stricter since 2016. A non-resident who owns Israeli property, has pending aliyah paperwork, or has a clear financial purpose (such as a property purchase) will generally find the process easier than a non-resident with no Israeli connection. Bringing complete KYC documentation — passport, proof of foreign address, source-of-funds letter, and evidence of the purpose of the account — is essential.