Condominium Disputes in Israel: The Tribunal Most Apartment Owners Have Never Heard Of
Water seeping down from the flat above. A neighbour who encloses a balcony and encroaches on the common areas. An owner who has not paid the building dues for two years. In Israel, disputes of this kind are not heard by the ordinary civil courts but by a specialised tribunal that many foreign owners discover far too late. Here is what it can order, how it is seised and what to anticipate when you own property in Israel without living there. I. The Supervisor, a specialised condominium judge The Mefake’ah al haBatim haMeshoutafim (המפקח על הבתים המשותפים) — the Supervisor of...
Read MoreCancelling a property purchase in Israel: penalties, purchase tax refund and pitfalls to avoid
Cancellations of residential sale agreements are multiplying in Israel: according to the Chief Economist Department of the Ministry of Finance, they have jumped by around 41% year on year. Many English-speaking buyers then discover that a contract signed in Israel is rarely undone without consequence. Here is what Israeli law actually provides, and how to limit the damage. I. Why so many cancellations in 2026? The phenomenon is directly linked to the financing structures that spread over recent years, notably the well-known 20/80: the buyer pays 20% on signature and the balance on delivery,...
Read MoreThe exequatur in France of a divorce pronounced in Israel
The growing number of Franco-Israeli marriages and the international mobility of families have led to a significant increase in divorces involving a foreign element. Where a divorce is granted in Israel, the question of its recognition and effectiveness in France becomes a central concern for the spouses involved. Contrary to a widespread belief, an Israeli divorce does not automatically produce effects in France. In the absence of any specific bilateral convention between the two States regarding the recognition of divorce decisions, the matter is governed by the French general law of...
Read MoreReal Estate Acquisition in Israel: How to Invest Using Funds from a French SCI
When planning a real estate project in Israel, the available paths are numerous but often appear complex. Between the general characteristics of such transactions, tax optimization, legal structures, and banking regulations, many investors feel discouraged in their approach.However, one strategic question frequently arises: is it possible to acquire real estate in Israel using funds from a French SCI (Société Civile Immobilière)?Whether you wish to purchase in your personal name or through your company, solutions do exist. Proper legal guidance is essential to transform such a project into...
Read MoreOlim Hadashim: What Will Change in 2026
Until now, new immigrants were not subject in Israel to any tax obligation on income from foreign sources. As of 1 January 2026, changes are to be expected. For aliyah carried out from 1 January 2026 onward, new immigrants will henceforth be required to declare their worldwide income to the Israeli Tax Authority, and no longer only income from Israeli sources. Nevertheless, only income from Israeli sources will remain taxable in Israel. Other income from foreign sources will continue to be exempt from taxation in Israel during the first ten years following aliyah. From the perspective of the...
Read MoreUnique Legislative Initiative – A Ray of Hope for Jews in the Diaspora
In the face of the alarming resurgence of antisemitism worldwide, and particularly in European countries, the law firm ABITBOL & ASSOCIATES is leading a legislative initiative in cooperation with the Minister of Diaspora Affairs, Mr. Amichai Shikli, and the Minister of Justice, Mr. Yariv Levin, with the aim of filling a legal vacuum.The proposed bill seeks to amend the Criminal Procedure Code in order to allow Israeli courts to try, even in the absence of the accused, perpetrators of murders and hate crimes committed against Jews abroad. A Legislative Gap and the Need to Reform Existing...
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