Does an English-language arbitration award need a Hebrew translation before an Israeli court will confirm it?

The Arbitration Law leaves the procedure and the language of the arbitration to the parties, and Section 23 then lets the successful party ask the District Court to confirm the award, which converts it into a judgment enforceable through the Execution Office. Court rules require pleadings and their exhibits in Hebrew. Many Israeli commercial judges read English comfortably and some will accept a short award without translation, but that is judicial discretion rather than a right. For a foreign award, Article IV(2) of the New York Convention expressly permits the enforcing court to demand a translation certified by an official or sworn translator or by a diplomatic agent.

Budget for translation at the drafting stage of an English-language arbitration clause with an Israeli seat, because the cost falls on the party seeking enforcement. Ask the tribunal to set out the operative part of the award in a short, self-contained section, since a long recital of the evidence becomes an expensive translation. Use a translator experienced in legal drafting and have the translation certified by an Israeli notary. Where the losing party is also applying to set the award aside, the Hebrew text becomes the version the court works from, so an error in it can be costly, as noted in the guide to arbitrating in English in Israel.

From the full guide: Arbitration Language in Israel: Can Foreign Parties Arbitrate in English?

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