Israeli Standard 5568 (IS 5568)

Overview

Israeli Standard 5568 (IS 5568) is a set of guidelines for web accessibility created by the Israeli Standards Institute (ISI). These guidelines are designed to make websites and digital content more accessible to people with disabilities, including those with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments. IS 5568 was first introduced in 2005 and has been updated several times since then to reflect technological advancements and changes in accessibility standards. The latest version, IS 5568:2020, was released in September 2020 and aligns with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. The goal is to make digital documents perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for people with disabilities, thereby enhancing equal access to information. The standard is divided into two parts:

Part 1: Covers guidelines for the accessibility of websites, ensuring that web content is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for all users, including those with disabilities. This part provides a broad set of recommendations for making websites accessible by focusing on the entire structure and navigation of websites.
Part 2: Focuses specifically on the accessibility of digital documents available online, such as PDFs, presentations, and other downloadable formats. It includes requirements for making these documents accessible, such as providing alternative text for images, using semantic tagging, and checking for logical document structure.

Regulation Summary

Timeline

May 2020 – IS 5568 Part 2 published (Digital Documents Accessibility)
September 2023 – IS 5568 Part 1 updated (Web Content Accessibility)
Ongoing – Revisions and updates to maintain alignment with accessibility advancements

What Businesses Are Affected

Public sector websites and digital services
Private sector websites offering essential services (e.g., banks, insurance, telecommunications, healthcare, education)
E-commerce and online platforms serving Israeli customers
Digital content publishers, including e-books and online documents
Government-mandated services and forms available online

Exemptions

Small businesses (as defined by Israeli law, with revenue or staff limits)
Archived content that is not updated or modified
Websites and content provided exclusively for internal company use
Digital content where accessibility adaptation imposes an undue burden

Responsibilities for Businesses

Apply WCAG 2.0 Level AA as required by IS 5568 Part 1.
Provide alternative text for images and multimedia content.
Enable screen reader compatibility and keyboard navigability.
Use sufficient color contrast and allow text resizing.
Offer accessible digital documents in formats that support tagging and semantic structure.
Include accessible online forms with clear labels and error feedback.
Provide users a clear method to report accessibility issues.

Specific Responsibilities for Website Owners

Ensure all web content aligns with IS 5568 Part 1 and WCAG 2.0 Level AA.
Implement semantic HTML with clear headings and descriptive links.
Maintain compatibility with assistive technologies such as screen readers and voice recognition tools.
Provide customizable visual settings like resizable fonts and high-contrast modes.
Ensure online forms and navigation elements are operable via keyboard.

Additional Requirements

Make digital documents (e.g., PDFs) accessible in accordance with IS 5568 Part 2.
Ensure support for assistive technologies across all digital channels.
Conduct regular accessibility audits and maintain compliance reports.
Train developers and content creators on accessibility best practices.
Provide captioning and transcripts for video and audio materials.
Offer an accessibility issue reporting tool for website users.

Individual Rights

Right to equal access to online content and digital documents.
Right to request accessible versions of essential information.
Right to file complaints if accessibility requirements are not met.
Right to expect ongoing improvements to digital accessibility.

Enforcement

Regulatory oversight by the Standards Institution of Israel.
Fines and corrective measures for non-compliance, as outlined in Section 61(a)(3) of the Penal Law, 5737-1977. Businesses that fail to comply may face fines, with an additional fine of 5% of the original amount imposed for each day the offense continues beyond the compliance period. If the offense is committed by a corporation, the fine is doubled compared to the standard penalty for this offense.