Client updates

Israel’s Attorney General has filed her position with the Tel Aviv District Court in support of a motion to order Google to actively block websites that are infringing copyrights and enabling viewing of pirated content for free.

When US President Donald Trump took office, it seemed the question of personal sanctions against extremist right-wingers in Israel was off the table. Indeed, in one of his first decisions, Trump lifted the sanctions imposed on a small number of Jewish settlers whom the United States had accused of committing violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, as well as on several extremist right-wing organizations.

A recent district court ruling broadened the interpretation of the statutory provisions governing exemptions from land appreciation tax and ruled that transfers of shares of a real estate association as a gift between siblings are exempt from capital gains tax even if the shares were not direct gifts from the parents but originated from land received as a gift from them. The court also prescribed several important procedural rules to improve the protection of taxpayers’ rights vis-à-vis the Israel Tax Authority (ITA).

The Industrial Cooperation Authority at Israel’s Ministry of Economy recently announced that it had blacklisted the Chinese company DAQO, which won a tender for the supply of components to the Israel Electric Corporation, because it failed to fulfill its reciprocal procurement obligation with Israel.

The Israel Competition Authority (ICA) conducted a thorough investigation of the S. Schestowitz Group, an Israeli company in the food and consumer goods sector, due to suspicions the company operated a cartel in the food industry in violation of the Economic Competition Law and the Law for the Promotion of Competition in the Food and Pharmacy Industries.

Earlier this month, the US Senate voted 99-1 to strike a key clause in a sweeping Republican domestic policy bill that sought to impose a ten-year moratorium on states’ enforcement of artificial intelligence regulations.

Two key developments in the US mark a step toward stablecoin market institutionalization. the US Senate approved new legislation regulating activities in the market for the first time, and Circle – the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, launched an IPO on the NASDAQ.

The “What’s Good for Europe Is Good for Israel” reform came into effect at 2025, with considerable resonance. This reform allows importers to import diverse products to Israel in a new standardization track, based on compliance with the requirements of strict European regulations and standards.

In July 2024, Israel’s Ministry of Economy imposed a 61%-146% temporary guarantee on aluminum imports from China to protect local industry from dumping. Recent guideline updates reinforce the focus on anti-dumping enforcement amid global trade tensions.

Foreign direct investments (FDI) in critical Israeli infrastructure and services, especially by entities representing foreign countries, are subject to oversight, mainly to ensure national security.

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) recently published its final report on the guidelines for supervisory authorities to detect and prevent market fraud in crypto assets under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) Regulation.

The court’s determinations in the Kovach ruling underscore how important it is for employers to carefully and wisely manage their undertakings to grant Stock Options to employees, especially in startup companies that use options as a key remuneration tool.

On June 21, 2025, the National Emergency Authority defined the term “essential sector” to ensure clarity for the public and employers and to support the continued operation of the essential economy during the emergency.

As Operation Rising Lion continues, government ministries and authorities are continuing to announce regulatory reliefs in various areas.

The Registrar of NPOs issued updated regulatory relief to NPOs, NGOs and public benefit companies regarding their activities during the special state of emergency declared in Israel.

Upon the launch of Operation Rising Lion last Friday, the Minister of Defense declared a special national state of emergency in conformity with the Civil Defense Law, 1951. On Sunday, the government extended the state of emergency until June 30, 2025.

This morning, June 22, 2025, the Home Front Command’s updated defense policy came into effect. The updated policy has implications for the operation of workplaces throughout Israel.

Israel’s various Mandatory Tender Regulations contain provisions enabling public bodies to deviate from the tender obligation during states of emergency in order to facilitate urgent, efficient procurement.

In light of recent complexities affecting labor relations in Israel, our Employment Department answer key questions such as who may work, from where, who must be paid and when, and who may exceed statutory overtime limits.

In May 2025, the district court issued a precedent-setting ruling regarding a local planning and building committee’s authority to demand that accessible parking spaces remain part of the common property and not be assigned to apartments in a new building.