Israel is a land rich in history, drawing pilgrims of varying faiths from far-reaching parts of the world to her sacred sites.  Israel holds natural wonders, from the Dead Sea (the lowest point on earth in any landmass, with the highest concentration of salt of any body of water in the world), to the Golan Heights, which offer captivating views, to the Negev Desert, filled with archeological sites and covered in red anemones in the wintertime.

There are no restrictions or special requirements to take depositions of U.S. citizens in Israel.  Prior permission from the Israeli Center Authority for The Hague Evidence Convention is required for depositions of Israeli, or third-country nationals in Israel.  No additional permission is needed to take the deposition by videoconference or even mobile videoconference.  The court reporter may be able to provide realtime streaming to remote attendees as well.  Realtime is especially beneficial to interpreters, so if the deposition is to be interpreted, consider an additional realtime screen for the interpreter.

While on the topic of interpretation, it is important to be aware that Hebrew interpreters prefer to work in pairs, so if your witness speaks Hebrew, plan accordingly.  Coordinate your deposition with a court reporting firm with local interpreters so there are no travel expenses for either interpreter.  As with any interpreted deposition, sending prep materials to the interpreter(s) in advance of the deposition is immensely helpful and can facilitate a smoother deposition.

U.S. citizens don’t need a visa to travel to Israel, for stays of up to ninety (90) days.  It is recommended to travel with a passport valid for at least six (6) months past the departure date.  This is not a requirement of the Israeli government, but airlines have denied boarding to passengers with fewer than six months validity on their passport.  You certainly don’t want to miss your deposition or have to coordinate a last-minute videoconference!  This is doable, but not fun.  And, too, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to visit this country, which is exactly what you will have time to do once your deposition in Israel is finished.