Doing business in: Tel Aviv
Words | Mark McCrum ISRAELIS SOMETIMES LIKE to compare themselves to the local sabra fruit: it’s prickly on the outside, but sweet and delicious within. It’s certainly true that they can be direct to the point of brusqueness. If someone bumps into you on the street in Tel Aviv, don’t automatically expect to hear the [...]
Words | Mark McCrum
ISRAELIS SOMETIMES LIKE to compare themselves to the local sabra fruit: it’s prickly on the outside, but sweet and delicious within. It’s certainly true that they can be direct to the point of brusqueness. If someone bumps into you on the street in Tel Aviv, don’t automatically expect to hear the word sorry.
Having said that, this is one of the most informal societies in the world. Total strangers will feel free to address you by your given name. Direct and quite personal questions may well follow, and even advice. People dress as they please, and you may find yourself dealing with business contacts wearing T-shirts, jeans and sandals.
These attitudes translate into business dealings, where Israelis are above all practical, with no fear of being confrontational. Short-term considerations are often key and immediate returns will be looked for. While you should always aim to be punctual, do not necessarily expect good timekeeping from your counterpart, or even an apology if they’re late. Don’t take this personally; it’s just the way things are done.
The political situation in the region is obviously a highly sensitive issue, so it’s probably wisest to steer clear of the topic or listen and learn rather than offer opinions. Most Israelis have direct – and sometimes tragic – experience of the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict; they are also highly likely to have served in the army. Good subjects to stick to in conversation include international travel, the arts, good books you’ve read, cuisine, your home country and sport.
If invited home by observant Jews, remember their food will be kosher, which means never mixing meat and dairy. So don’t ask for butter on your bread with a meat meal, or milk in coffee afterwards. Pork and shellfish is off the menu. It’s a nice gesture to take a small gift, perhaps wine or chocolates, though again be careful with non-kosher goods from abroad.
Seaside Tel Aviv is more laid-back and secular in tone than much of the rest of the country. If business takes you up the road to Jerusalem, which is more religiousminded, pay particular care to the customs of Orthodox Jews, who are obliged to avoid physical contact with the opposite sex, a stricture which can even apply to the handing over of a business card. Orthodox Jewish men can be distinguished by their skullcap (yarmulke). That apart, this is a country where, uniquely in the region, men and women have equal status.
None of the above applies among the 20 percent of Israeli citizens who are Arabs. Should you find yourself crossing into the Palestinian territories you will encounter forms of behaviour closer to those in Jordan than in the rest of Israel. Business dealings are more formal, developing a good personal relationship is essential to any deal, and women are generally kept apart in a male-dominated business world.
Work hours in Israel are typically 8am to 4pm, Sundays to Thursdays. Saturday is Shabbat, the Sabbath, observed strictly in religious communities, a day off elsewhere.
Check that your trip doesn’t coincide with any of the major Jewish holidays, the dates of which change each year. During Passover and from Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) until Simchat Torah, little happens in the business community. Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is likewise a day of zero business activity.
Finally, remember to allow plenty of time at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, which has rigorous security. Expect your bag to be thoroughly searched. Officials may keep non-Israeli nationals waiting in line for at least an hour, sometimes longer, causing you to miss your flight.
Mark McCrum is the author of The International Guide to Doing the Right Thing (Profile Books £7.99)
