Immigration & Asylum Law

Asylum and refugee representation in Israel

Idan Moldavski is an Israeli attorney based in Tel Aviv. He represents asylum seekers and refugees at each stage of the Israeli asylum process: the application and the refugee status determination (RSD) interview before the Population and Immigration Authority, appeals to the Appeals Tribunal, appeals and administrative petitions in the District Court sitting as a Court for Administrative Affairs and, where applicable, applications for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court. He also represents people held in immigration detention or facing removal. He has worked with HIAS Israel since 2014, first as a Legal Fellow and since 2020 as an attorney, and works with clients in Hebrew, Russian and English.

Asylum applications and the RSD interview

An asylum claim in Israel begins with an application to the Population and Immigration Authority, as a rule within one year of entry into Israel. After registration, the applicant is interviewed by the RSD unit in their own language, with an interpreter; counsel may attend.

The interview is the stage at which the claim is built: a complete and consistent account of the persecution feared, supporting documents, and the connection to one of the grounds in the 1951 Refugee Convention. The office prepares clients for the interview, attends it, and assembles and submits the supporting evidence.

Further reading

Claims based on political opinion

Persecution for political opinion, including an opinion that the authorities attribute to the applicant, is one of the Convention grounds. In 2026 the office represented Belarusian nationals who had taken part in protests against the Lukashenko government. In May 2026 the District Court ordered that they be granted status until their claim was decided, and in August 2026 the State recognised them as refugees.

Further reading

When an asylum claim is rejected

A claim may be dismissed in limine, rejected on the accelerated track, rejected on the basis that the applicant could relocate within the country of origin, or rejected after full examination. The current version of the procedure no longer provides for a request for reconsideration, so the usual route is an appeal to the Appeals Tribunal. Where new facts arise after a final decision, the file can in some cases be reopened. The office reviews the decision and the file and advises on the available route and its deadline.

Further reading

Appeals Tribunal proceedings

An appeal against a rejection is filed with the Appeals Tribunal within 30 days of the date the decision was delivered or became known. Where removal is imminent, the appeal can be accompanied by a request for a temporary or interim order staying removal. A late appeal requires a written application setting out special reasons.

Further reading

The District Court and the Supreme Court

A judgment of the Appeals Tribunal can be appealed within 45 days to the District Court sitting as a Court for Administrative Affairs. Decisions that cannot be appealed to the tribunal, and an authority's failure to decide within a reasonable time, can be challenged by an administrative petition. A further appeal to the Supreme Court requires leave, which is granted mainly where the case raises a question of principle beyond the parties' own dispute.

Further reading

Immigration detention and removal

Foreign nationals, including asylum seekers, can be held in custody for the purpose of removal. The office represents detainees before the Custody Review Tribunal, applies for release on bail or on medical and humanitarian grounds, and seeks stays of removal from the tribunal and the courts.

Further reading

Status while a claim is pending

While a claim is being examined, an asylum seeker generally holds a temporary visitor's permit under section 2(a)(5) of the Entry into Israel Law, renewed from time to time and sometimes subject to conditions on employment and place of residence. Decisions can take years; in such cases the office considers whether to go to court over the delay or over the status granted in the meantime.

Further reading

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a lawyer attend the RSD interview?

Yes. An applicant may be represented, and the interview is the main stage at which the facts and documents are presented. Preparing with counsel beforehand helps make the account complete and consistent.

How long do I have to appeal a rejection?

30 days to the Appeals Tribunal from the date the decision was delivered or became known, and 45 days to appeal the tribunal's judgment to the District Court. Late filing requires an application showing special reasons.

Can a rejected claim be reopened?

A request for reconsideration of the same decision is no longer available under the current procedure. Where new facts or evidence arise after a final decision, the file can in some cases be reopened through the RSD unit.

In which languages can I consult the office?

Hebrew, Russian and English.

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