Does an employment contract in Israel need to be in writing?

Strictly speaking, an oral employment agreement is legally valid in Israel. However, the Notice to Employee and Candidate Law 2002 requires every employer to provide a written statement of employment terms within 30 days of starting work. Failing to provide written terms exposes the employer to regulatory penalties and makes disputes much harder to resolve. Any foreign national working in Israel should insist on a written contract before starting. For more detail, see Employment Contracts in Israel for Foreign Workers and Expats.