Israeli Bureaucracy Decoder

Israeli Bureaucracy Decoder

Think of this skill as your friend who works in the government. You hand them a confusing letter, they read it, and tell you: "Relax, here is what this actually means, and here is what you need to do."

Instructions

Step 1: Receive the document

Ask the user to paste the full text of the government document, or provide a file path to a scanned/digital document. Accept text in Hebrew, English, or a mix of both (common in official Israeli documents).

If the user provides a file path, read the file content. If it is a text file, read it directly. If the user describes the document rather than pasting it, ask clarifying questions to identify the sending body and document type.

Step 1.5: Check the user's personal area (ezor ishi / MyGov) first

Before escalating to phone calls or office visits, ask the user whether they have already signed into the relevant personal area. Many "missing" letters are actually sitting in the user's digital inbox. The common personal-area accounts are:

• Tax Authority: misim.gov.il
• Bituach Leumi: btl.gov.il ("אזור אישי")
• Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA): piba.gov.il
• Unified gov.il sign-in: gov.il/he/service/digital-identification

If a digital copy of the letter is available there, work from that copy. It is usually clearer, dated more reliably, and links to the underlying file. This is especially relevant if the paper letter is illegible, cut off, or arrived late.

Step 2: Identify the sending body and document type

Consult references/government-bodies-guide.md to identify which government body sent the document. Look for:

• Letterhead or header text (e.g., "רשות המסים בישראל", "המוסד לביטוח לאומי")
• Reference numbers and their formats (each body uses different patterns)
• Official stamps, department names, or regional office identifiers
• Form numbers (e.g., "טופס 101", "טופס 1301")

Cross-reference any form numbers with references/common-government-forms.md to understand the form's purpose.

Step 3: Decode the bureaucratic language

Consult references/bureaucratic-hebrew-glossary.md to translate official jargon into plain language. Government documents are deliberately written in dense legal Hebrew. Your job is to cut through that.

For each paragraph or section of the document:

1. Identify the key information being communicated
2. Replace bureaucratic terms with everyday language
3. Note any legal references (laws, regulations, clauses) and explain what they mean in practice
4. Flag anything that sounds threatening but is actually standard boilerplate

Step 4: Run the document analyzer

Use the document analyzer script to extract structured information:

python scripts/document-analyzer.py --text "PASTE_DOCUMENT_TEXT_HERE"

Or if the text is in a file:

python scripts/document-analyzer.py --file path/to/document.txt

The script extracts: sender, document type, subject, required actions, deadlines, consequences of inaction, and relevant laws.

Step 5: Present the decoded summary

Before you write the summary, check kol-zchut. Before calling the office or quoting a benefit amount, look up the relevant entry on kol-zchut.org.il for the canonical Hebrew explanation of the right, benefit, deadline, or appeal venue mentioned in the letter. Kol-zchut is the most reliable plain-language source for current Israeli civic rights. Prefer its numbers and deadlines over older information when they conflict, and quote it when you cite a ceiling, rate, or window.

Present the decoded document in this clear format:

Who sent this: [Government body name in plain language]

What this is: [Document type in one sentence]

What it actually says: [Plain language summary, 2-4 sentences. No jargon.]

What you need to do:

1. [Action item with specific details]
2. [Action item with specific details]

(number each action clearly)

Deadlines:

• [Date] -- [What needs to happen by this date]
• [Date] -- [What happens if you miss this date]

How urgent is this?

• URGENT (red flag): if there is a deadline within 30 days, a court date, or a threat of enforcement
• IMPORTANT (yellow flag): if there is a deadline within 90 days or a required response
• INFORMATIONAL (green flag): if no action is required, just awareness

Next steps:

• [Specific guidance: which office to contact, which form to fill, phone numbers if known]
• [Whether you should consult a professional (accountant, lawyer, social worker)]

Step 6: Offer follow-up help

After presenting the summary, offer to:

1. Explain any specific section in more detail
2. Help draft a response letter if one is needed
3. Identify related forms that might need to be filed
4. Explain what happens if the user takes no action
5. Translate the summary into the other language (Hebrew to English or vice versa)

Decision Table: Sender + Key Term → Urgency, Window, Appeal Venue

Use this as a fast lookup when classifying urgency and pointing the user to the right escalation channel. These are typical patterns, always verify the specific deadline written on the letter itself and on the current kol-zchut entry, since regulations and ceilings shift.

| Sender | Key term in the letter | Urgency tier | Standard response window | Where to appeal / escalate | |--------|------------------------|--------------|---------------------------|----------------------------| | Tax Authority | שומה לפי מיטב השפיטה | URGENT | 30 days to file a written השגה (objection) under Section 150 of the Income Tax Ordinance | Internal השגה, then appeal to District Court (Tax Affairs) | | Tax Authority | החלטה בהשגה | URGENT | 30 days | District Court (Tax Affairs) | | Tax Authority | הודעת קנס | URGENT | 30 days to pay or appeal | Internal review, then court | | Bituach Leumi | דחיית תביעה | IMPORTANT | 12 months to appeal | Beit Din L'Avoda (Labor Court) | | Bituach Leumi | קביעת אחוזי נכות | IMPORTANT | 60 days to appeal | Medical Appeals Committee, then Beit Din L'Avoda | | Municipality | שינוי סיווג ארנונה | IMPORTANT | 90 days to file השגה | מנהל הארנונה, then Arnona Appeals Committee, then court | | Municipality | התראה לפני נקיטת הליכים | URGENT | Act immediately | Pay, arrange installments, or contest at Magistrate Court | | Planning Committee | סירוב היתר | IMPORTANT | 30-45 days per the letter | District Planning Committee, then administrative petition | | Planning Committee | צו הריסה | URGENT | Per the order | Magistrate Court (planning division), and counsel immediately | | Hotzaa LaPoal | אזהרה | URGENT | 30 days | התנגדות לביצוע at the Execution Office | | Hotzaa LaPoal | עיקול | URGENT | Immediate | Motion to release / arrangement | | Court | הזמנה לדין | URGENT | Per the summons | The court itself; consult a lawyer | | Court (Magistrate) | כתב תביעה | URGENT | 60 days to file כתב הגנה (תקנות סדר הדין האזרחי תשע"ט-2018) | The same court | | Court (Small Claims) | כתב תביעה | URGENT | 30 days to file כתב הגנה | The same court | | PIBA | החלטה בעניין מעמד | URGENT | Per the letter (often 21-45 days) | Internal appeal in PIBA, then Administrative Affairs Court | | Interior Ministry (Misrad HaPnim) | הודעה בעניין תעודת זהות | INFORMATIONAL or MEDIUM | Per the letter | Misrad HaPnim regional registration office | | Mevaker HaMedina | פנייה / החלטה | INFORMATIONAL | Per the letter | Cooperate; this is itself an escalation venue |

Escalation ladder when standard channels fail

When the agency's internal objection / appeal has been used (or is plainly futile):

1. Freedom of Information request (gov.il/he/service/freedom_of_information_submission) if the letter cites information the user cannot otherwise access. Each public body has a designated information officer; statutory response window 30 days, which the head of the body may extend by an additional 30 days (and further for voluminous or complex requests). A request fee of 24 NIS applies (as of late 2025, covering the first 3 hours of processing), plus per-hour and per-page handling charges, with exemptions per the 1998 law.
2. State Comptroller and Ombudsman (complaint intake at complaint.mevaker.gov.il) for complaints about maladministration, delay, or abuse of authority by a public body. In Israel the State Comptroller and the Ombudsman (נציב תלונות הציבור) are the same office.
3. Administrative petition (עתירה מנהלית) to the District Court sitting as an Administrative Affairs Court, with strict time limits (typically 45 days from the decision). For nationwide-impact or constitutional issues, the High Court of Justice (בג"ץ). Always recommend consulting a lawyer first.

Examples

Example 1: Tax Authority Assessment Notice

User says: "I got this letter from Reshut HaMisim and I have no idea what it means. It says something about shomah and I need to respond within 30 days?"

Actions:

1. Read the document text the user provides
2. Identify it as a "שומה" (tax assessment) from the Tax Authority, likely a "שומה לפי מיטב השפיטה" (best judgment assessment) or "שומה בהסכמה" (agreed assessment)
3. Consult the government bodies guide to understand Tax Authority assessment types
4. Consult the glossary for terms like "שומה", "השגה", "מס הכנסה", "סעיף 150"
5. Run the document analyzer to extract deadlines and required actions
6. Present a clear summary explaining that a "shomah" is essentially the Tax Authority's calculation of how much tax they think the user owes, and whether the user agrees or wants to dispute it

Result: The user understands they received a tax assessment notice. The decoder explains that "שומה לפי מיטב השפיטה" means the Tax Authority made their own calculation because the user either did not file a return or the Authority disagrees with what was filed. The user has 30 days to file a "השגה" (objection) if they disagree, or the assessment becomes final. The decoder suggests consulting a tax accountant ("רואה חשבון") before the deadline.

Example 2: Bituach Leumi Benefit Decision

User says: "Bituach Leumi sent me a letter about my miluim claim. There are a lot of numbers and references to sections of the law. Can you tell me if they approved it?"

Actions:

1. Read the document text
2. Identify it as a decision letter from the National Insurance Institute regarding reserve duty ("מילואים") compensation
3. Consult the glossary for terms like "תגמול", "דמי מילואים", "חוק הביטוח הלאומי"
4. Look for key phrases: "אושרה" (approved), "נדחתה" (denied), "חלקית" (partial)
5. Extract the payment amount, period covered, and payment date
6. Present a clear breakdown of the decision

Result: The user learns their reserve duty claim was approved for 15 days at the minimum daily rate of 328.76 NIS (the floor effective 01.01.2026; the actual rate is usually higher and based on the reservist's income), totaling 4,931.40 NIS before tax. Payment will arrive within 10 business days. The letter references Section 272 of the National Insurance Law, which is the standard legal basis for the reserve duty compensation rate (within Chapter XII, "תגמולים למשרתים במילואים"), nothing unusual. No action required unless the user believes the number of days or the daily rate is incorrect, in which case they have 12 months to appeal.

Example 3: Municipal Arnona Notice

User says: "My iriya sent something about arnona and it mentions hanacha but I can not tell if they are giving me a discount or asking for more money."

Actions:

1. Read the document text
2. Identify it as a municipal tax ("ארנונה") notice, likely about a discount ("הנחה") decision
3. Consult the glossary for "ארנונה", "הנחה", "ועדת הנחות", "סיווג נכס"
4. Look for whether the document is: an approval of a discount, a rejection, a reclassification of the property, or an annual rate update
5. Check for any payment schedule or deadline information
6. Present a clear explanation of the arnona system and what this specific notice means

Result: The user's municipality approved a 25% arnona discount based on income level ("הנחה לפי מבחן הכנסות"). The discount applies from January to December of the current year. The remaining balance is 8,400 NIS, payable in 6 bi-monthly installments. No action needed unless the user's income has changed significantly, in which case they can request a reassessment. The decoder also notes that the discount does not renew automatically and the user will need to reapply next year with updated income documentation.

Example 4: Court Summons or Legal Notice

User says: "I got something from Beit Mishpat that looks serious. It has a date and a case number. Am I being sued?"

Actions:

1. Read the document text carefully
2. Identify the court type (Magistrate/שלום, District/מחוזי, Small Claims/תביעות קטנות, Family/משפחה, Labor/עבודה)
3. Determine the document type: summons ("הזמנה לדין"), claim ("כתב תביעה"), judgment ("פסק דין"), or notification ("הודעה")
4. Extract the case number, parties involved, hearing date, and required response
5. Flag this as URGENT and recommend immediate professional consultation

Result: The user received a summons to Small Claims Court as the defendant. Someone filed a claim against them for 12,000 NIS regarding a service dispute. The hearing is scheduled for 45 days from the letter date. The user MUST file a written defense ("כתב הגנה") within 30 days of receiving the claim, or they risk a default judgment ("פסק דין בהיעדר הגנה"). The decoder strongly recommends consulting a lawyer, though representation by a lawyer is not required in Small Claims Court.

Bundled Resources

Scripts

• scripts/document-analyzer.py -- Analyze government document text to extract structured information (sender, type, actions, deadlines, consequences). Run: python scripts/document-analyzer.py --help

References

• references/government-bodies-guide.md -- Comprehensive guide to Israeli government bodies, their common letter types, typical jargon, and what they usually want from you. Consult when identifying which body sent a document and what type of document it is.
• references/bureaucratic-hebrew-glossary.md -- Hebrew bureaucratic terms with plain-language explanations, organized by domain (legal, tax, social security, municipal, real estate, immigration). Consult when you encounter official jargon that needs translation to everyday language.
• references/common-government-forms.md -- Index of frequently encountered Israeli government forms with their purposes, who needs to file them, and when. Consult when a document references a form number or when advising the user on which forms to file.

Recommended MCP Servers

| MCP | What It Adds | |-----|-------------| | Kolzchut (All-Rights) | Look up actual rights and entitlements referenced in government letters. When a document mentions a benefit, discount, or eligibility, Kolzchut provides the authoritative details. | | Israel Law | Query specific law sections cited in documents. When a letter references "Section 150 of the Income Tax Ordinance," this MCP can retrieve the actual text. | | Knesset | Access legislative data for bills and committee information. Useful when documents reference pending legislation or regulatory changes. |

Gotchas

• Israeli government form names change over time, and the same form may have different names in different offices. Agents may reference a form name that is no longer current.
• Hebrew bureaucratic language (lashon misradit) uses formal/archaic terms that differ from everyday Hebrew. Agents may generate translations using everyday Hebrew that do not match the official terminology on forms.
• Many Israeli government processes require in-person visits (biu'ach ishi) and cannot be completed entirely online. Agents may suggest completing a process online when a physical visit is required.
• Government office h

…

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: skills-il
• Source: skills-il/government-services
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.