Do I need an Israeli lawyer to collect a debt from an Israeli debtor?

In practice, yes. For any claim above the small claims threshold (approximately NIS 38,400), Israeli procedural rules require that a licensed Israeli attorney represent you in court. Even for smaller claims where self-representation is theoretically permitted, an Israeli attorney provides essential advantages: they can send a demand letter that carries local authority, file and manage the court proceedings in Hebrew, and operate the Execution Office tools on your behalf. Without local representation, enforcement of any judgment you obtain is extremely difficult from abroad.