Israeli Expat Owing Alimony Must Pay 70,000 Shekels to Visit Israel
A US-based Israeli owing 220,000 shekels in alimony must pay 70,000 shekels and provide guarantors to temporarily lift his exit ban and visit Israel, a Haifa official ruled.
An Israeli citizen residing in the United States, who owes 220,000 shekels in unpaid alimony to his ex-wife in Israel, must pay 70,000 shekels and provide financial guarantors if he wishes to lift passport restrictions and visit the country, according to a recent ruling by Haifa Execution Office Registrar Nir Sheffer.
The father stated that he works as a courier in the US, earning approximately 4,000 dollars a month. He lives with his new wife and children in a rented apartment costing 2,000 dollars a month. He requested to visit Israel for family reasons and to renew his identity card, claiming that his current alimony payments exceed half of his income. He offered to pay 10,000 shekels in exchange for lifting the exit ban, while the mother demanded 90,000 shekels—roughly half of the total debt at the time.
The father argued that this demand was unreasonable, warning that if he came to Israel and was unable to return to the US, he would lose the livelihood that allows him to pay his debts. The mother opposed the request, asserting that her ex-husband prioritizes his comfort abroad over his obligations to his children in Israel, who receive only partial and irregular payments. She argued that the exit ban is the only effective collection tool left at her disposal.
Registrar Sheffer noted that the case was opened in March 2022 to collect alimony awarded by the Sharia Court. The current monthly obligation stands at approximately 4,923 shekels, covering maintenance, housing, food, and education. The father's previous requests to spread out the debt were denied, and he failed to submit the required documentation and official translations to prove his financial situation.
To lift the passport restrictions, the registrar ordered a payment of 70,000 shekels and the provision of a guarantor for current payments only. The guarantor must be an employed individual under 50, earning at least 8,000 shekels net, employed at the same workplace for at least two years, with no active execution or insolvency proceedings. Once these conditions are met, the restrictions will be temporarily lifted until November 16, 2026.
