Are electronic signatures legal in Israel?
Yes. Israel's Electronic Signature Law says a signature can't be rejected just because it's electronic. Since a 2018 amendment, a legal signature requirement can be met not only by a certified electronic signature but by any electronic signature that fulfils the requirement's purpose with enough certainty.
Updated November 5, 2026 · 2 min read
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Israel: at a glance
Country · IL- E-signature law
- Electronic Signature Law, 5761-2001
- In effect since
- 2001
- Doesn't cover
- Witnessed wills, wills before an authority and oral will memoranda: certified electronic signature only (First Addendum, Part A)
- Handwritten wills under Succession Law s. 19 can't be signed electronically (First Addendum, Part B)
Three tiers of signature
The Electronic Signature Law, 5761-2001 (חוק חתימה אלקטרונית), approved by the Knesset on March 26, 2001, defines three kinds of signature:
| Tier | What it is | What it proves |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic signature | Electronic data or a sign attached to or associated with an electronic message | Admissible; can't be rejected only for being electronic (s. 3(a)) |
| Secure electronic signature | Unique to the holder, identifies them, made with a device under their sole control, and shows any later change (s. 1) | Prima facie evidence that the message is unaltered and was signed with that device (s. 3(b)) |
| Certified electronic signature | A secure signature backed by a certificate from a registered certification authority (s. 1) | Also prima facie evidence that the device holder signed (s. 3(b)) |
The 2018 amendment
Amendment No. 3, published on February 28, 2018, rewrote the core sections. Under section 2(a) as amended, where a law requires a signature, the requirement is met by a certified electronic signature, or by any other electronic signature that, with sufficient certainty in the circumstances, fulfils the purposes of that signature requirement.
The amendment also added section 3A, which matters for businesses that send contracts to customers. In contractual dealings, the party that had the advantage in designing the signing method bears the burden of proving the other party signed. A contract term can't shift that burden, and the rule doesn't apply to certified signatures.
Wills: the one carve-out
- A will made before witnesses or before an authority under the Succession Law, 5725-1965, and the memorandum of an oral will, can be signed electronically only with a certified electronic signature.
- A handwritten will under section 19 of the Succession Law can't be signed electronically at all.
Certification authorities are registered by the Registrar of Certification Authorities, appointed by the Minister of Justice (s. 9). Israel has no official English translation of the Law on the Ministry of Justice site; the citations above refer to the Hebrew text.
Where SignMaster fits in Israel
SignMaster provides electronic signatures with an audit trail, not certified or secure electronic signatures. Under section 3A, as the business that chose the signing method, you'd carry the burden of proving your customer signed, so the evidence matters. Each completed PDF ends with a certificate of completion recording every signer's email, IP address, consent and timestamps, plus a SHA-256 fingerprint of each file. That fits service agreements, quotes, NDAs and employment paperwork, not wills.
Questions? Answers.
Is a simple electronic signature valid in Israel?
Yes. A signature can't be rejected only because it's electronic (s. 3(a)), and since 2018 any electronic signature that fulfils a signature requirement's purpose with sufficient certainty can meet it (s. 2(a)).
Who has to prove an electronic signature in an Israeli contract dispute?
Under section 3A, the party that had the advantage in designing the signing method, usually the business, must prove the other party signed. The rule can't be changed by contract and doesn't apply to certified signatures.
Can a will be signed electronically in Israel?
Only some, and only with a certified electronic signature: wills made before witnesses or an authority, and oral will memoranda. A handwritten will can't be signed electronically.
Sources
- Electronic Signature Law, 5761-2001, as approved (Ministry of Justice, Hebrew) · gov.il
- Electronic Signature Law, Amendment No. 3, 5778-2018 (Ministry of Justice, Hebrew) · gov.il
- Electronic Signature Law page, Privacy Protection Authority (Hebrew) · gov.il
- Registrar of Certification Authorities, registered authorities (Hebrew) · gov.il
General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and how they apply depends on your situation. For advice about a specific document, talk to a lawyer licensed where you are.