After the public participation process and an in-depth discussion about the structure of the new ccTLD “.ישראל”, the Board of Directors of Israel Internet Association (ISOC-IL) has decided to follow the outline of Flat Structure and Sector-pided Structure. This alternative allows internet users in Israel to register Hebrew domain names directly under the ccTLD “.ישראל”. ISOC-IL opted to exclude public and government institutions, which will remain compatible with the Latin namespace, adding a third-level sectoral affiliation. This structure guarantees that the general public benefits from a simple, short, and easy-to-use domain name structure while adopting an approach that would make it easier for users to identify official state bodies.
The decision also states that domain names registered under the new ccTLD would only be written in Hebrew letters.
The “.ישראל” ccTLD is scheduled to be implemented in 2022, once ISOC-IL completes the necessary adjustments to its systems.
The decision marks ISOC-IL’s extensive collaboration with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), to recognize “.ישראל” as the country’s official ccTLD in Hebrew. Beyond the national and historical significance, this landmark change will enable all populations – including those less comfortable with English – to gain greater digital access while boosting domestic businesses’ relationships with their local clientele.