How to do Business in Israel
Israel is in the unique position of being situated between three continents – Asia, Europe and Africa. In the Middle East, Israel today is the largest exporter with major exports including software, agricultural products and cut diamonds. With a professional work force and highly skilled labor second to no other in the Middle East, and a good trade relationship with the US, it is no surprise that Israel has become a good place to settle down for business. I will look at the details of how to do business in Israel under three headings. First, working practices in Israel; second, working relationships in Israel and third, business practices in Israel.
Working practices in Israel
One of the first things you have to learn about how to do business in Israel is that business is not conducted on Saturday as this is the Jewish Sabbath day. The working week in Israel starts on Sunday. So people work from Sunday to Thursday, as the Sabbath runs from Friday evening to Saturday evening. It is not uncommon for business appointments to be made at very short notice. Despite the brief notice, partners are expected to be prompt for the appointment. You may already know that English is widely spoken by the new generation of Israelis, and that English can be said to be the language of business. However, it is always a pleasant surprise for Israelis to hear you say at least a few words of greetings in Hebrew.
It is worthy of note that traditionally, the position of women in Israel is inferior to that of men. This is as a result of religious influences. With the westernization of Tel Aviv and other commercial hubs in Israel, women are increasingly accessing challenging positions that were earlier out of their reach.
Working relationships in Israel
The working atmosphere and dress code in Israel is predominantly casual, so do not find it strange if you find people wearing jeans in the workplace. This does not mean doing business in Israel is a casual affair. It is strongly recommended that until you are very familiar with your business partners, you dress formally for business appointments. Colleagues in Israel traditionally address each other by first name. Do not be embarrassed if a colleague at the workplace calls you by first name. It is a sign of friendship and a mark of familiarity. When dealing with business partners, it is however advisable to address each other formally until you have attained a certain level of familiarity. When you are both comfortable with it, you can get on via a first name basis.
Business practices in Israel
Israelis are achievement oriented. This means that they may prefer to get things done quickly. Do not let projects linger for too long. Plan projects against shorter time-scales instead of a longer time scales. Business negotiations can be very tough. However, it remains to say that no matter how tough it gets, the negotiations remain friendly. Putting details of agreements in writing is quite wise. Those who do not know how to do business in Israel think they can go far without putting things in writing. When you reach an agreement, the written word has more respect in Israel than fragments of memory.
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