A foreign supplier owed money by an Israeli company often fears the same thing: that by the time a court rules, the money will be gone. Israeli procedure has a tool for that fear, a temporary attachment (iqul zmani) granted while the main claim is still pending. It is not automatic, and it comes with a price.
This guide is for creditors outside Israel with a written contract and unpaid invoices. It is general information and not advice on a specific claim.
What a temporary attachment does
A temporary attachment freezes an asset of the debtor, such as a bank account or a receivable, so that it is still there if you win. It is requested together with, or after, the main claim. It does not pay you. For the wider picture, read our guide on freezing assets in Israel.
What the court looks at
Under regulation 95 of the Civil Procedure Regulations, 2018, the applicant must show evidence that, on its face, supports the claim. The court also weighs the balance of convenience, meaning the harm to you if the order is refused against the harm to the debtor if it is granted. It looks at whether you act in good faith and whether a milder remedy would reach the same goal. Regulation 103 adds a requirement for money claims: the court must be satisfied that there is a reasonable fear that, without the order, enforcing a judgment would become materially harder. Delay in applying can weaken the claim to urgency.
A freeze is only as good as the evidence behind it and the speed with which you ask.
The risk is yours
Regulation 96 requires the applicant to attach a personal undertaking to compensate the other side for any damage the order causes. As a rule the undertaking is not capped unless the court says so. The court also sets security. It may excuse the security only for special reasons that it records, and the order takes effect only once the security is deposited. If your claim fails or the order lapses, you can end up paying for the damage the freeze caused, even if your request looked reasonable when you made it. Budget for this before you ask.
What to prepare before you file
Gather the signed contract, the invoices, the demand and any replies, and a short account of why you fear the money will disappear. A company extract and a list of known assets help. Our guide on how to check an Israeli company shows what the public records reveal. Then read how a claim from abroad runs, because the freeze request sits inside that claim.
Think a debtor may move its assets? Contact RNC Group and we will tell you whether a freeze is worth asking for before you commit to it.
Chasing a debt in Israel? A temporary attachment before judgment can decide whether you collect.
Attachments freeze assets before they move, but courts grant them only on a properly built application. Weak papers or late filing lose both the order and the surprise.
We obtain attachments and interim relief for creditors in Israeli courts. Reach us on WhatsApp or by email.
This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship, and readers should obtain legal advice suited to the facts, jurisdictions, and procedural posture of their specific matter.