Taking a Mortgage in Israel from a Bank Partially Owned by Non-Jews
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Question
Hello, Is it permissible to take a mortgage from the bank, or should one be concerned about this, since the heter iska causes non-Jews who are shareholders in the bank [if there are any] to have a share in the land, and thus it seems that land is being given to a non-Jew in the Land of Israel?
Answer
Peace and blessings,
It is permissible to take a mortgage, as the heter iska does not apply to non-Jews who hold shares, since there is no prohibition of interest for non-Jews, and therefore the heter iska does not apply to them, and they have no connection to the land.
Source
Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah, Siman 159, סעיף 1, which states that there is no prohibition of interest for non-Jews.