Nochi Dankner to Be Declared Bankrupt After Court Hearing

Nochi Dankner will be declared bankrupt and placed into insolvency proceedings after a court hearing on Wednesday in response to a petition filed by four creditor banks. Dankner did not oppose the request, and his lawyer, Shuli Goldblatt, told the court at the start of the hearing that they would not object to the banks’ wishes.

During the session, which was led by Judge Nurit Tabib-Mizrahi, Dankner said, “I am throwing in the towel. I gave everything I have, including a mortgage on my rights in Beit Avi, whose main asset is Beit HaEven in Jerusalem, which I am negotiating to sell.” He added, “For ten years I have in effect been in insolvency. I did everything, including liquidating my home and getting help from friends and relatives.”

The banks seeking the proceedings are Bank Leumi, Bank Hapoalim, Mizrahi Tefahot, and Bank Discount. They moved to have him declared bankrupt after he failed in recent months to meet the payments under his debt arrangement. Of his NIS 180 million debt, Dankner said he has repaid NIS 110 million.

Dankner also said his attempt to build a new business, Hushen Foodtech, failed because of a problem with an investor. He said he plans to write about the events of recent years in an autobiographical book. The court is expected to appoint a trustee for his assets, and once the bankruptcy process begins he will not be allowed to leave Israel or use a credit card.