Can a foreigner sign a property purchase agreement in Israel without a local lawyer?

Technically there is no law that forces you to hire an attorney, but it is extremely inadvisable not to. Only a licensed Israeli lawyer can conduct a title search at the Land Registry, identify liens or encumbrances, advise on purchase tax liability, and file the required annotations (haarot azharah) that protect your interest in the property. Signing without legal representation leaves you exposed to costly errors that cannot easily be undone.