Do I need to travel to Israel to claim an inherited bank account?

In most cases, no. A foreign heir can grant power of attorney to an Israeli attorney, who then handles the entire process on your behalf — filing with the registrar, attending any required hearings, dealing with the banks, and arranging the transfer. The power of attorney document itself must typically be notarized and Apostilled in your country of residence. Some banks may request a video identification call for large sums, but physical presence is rarely required for standard inheritance claims.