Is arbitration faster than going to court in Israel?

It can be, but it is not guaranteed. Israeli court proceedings for complex commercial disputes typically take two to five years to reach a final judgment. Arbitration can be faster because the parties and arbitrator control the schedule — hearings can be set promptly and the process is not subject to court backlogs. However, if the parties dispute the arbitrator's authority, fail to cooperate, or if one side challenges the award in court afterward, the total timeline can approach or exceed litigation. Well-drafted arbitration clauses and cooperative parties are the key variables.