Israeli WhatsApp Business

Step 1: Verify WhatsApp Business Setup

Ensure the user has:

1. Meta Business Account (business.facebook.com)
2. WhatsApp Business Account linked to Meta Business
3. Registered phone number with Israeli prefix (+972)
4. System User Access Token with whatsapp_business_messaging permission

import requests

def verify_whatsapp_setup(access_token: str, phone_number_id: str) -> dict:
    """Verify WhatsApp Business API access."""
    url = f"https://graph.facebook.com/v18.0/{phone_number_id}"
    headers = {"Authorization": f"Bearer {access_token}"}
    response = requests.get(url, headers=headers)
    return response.json()

Step 2: Create Hebrew Message Templates

Template categories for Israeli businesses:

Submit template for approval:

def create_template(waba_id: str, access_token: str, template: dict):
    """Create a WhatsApp message template."""
    url = f"https://graph.facebook.com/v18.0/{waba_id}/message_templates"
    headers = {
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {access_token}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json"
    }
    response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, json=template)
    return response.json()

# Example: Hebrew appointment reminder template
appointment_template = {
    "name": "appointment_reminder_he",
    "language": "he",
    "category": "UTILITY",
    "components": [
        {
            "type": "BODY",
            "text": "Shalom {{1}},\nReminder: appointment at {{2}} on {{3}} at {{4}}.\nConfirm reply 1, Cancel reply 2.",
            "example": {
                "body_text": [["Israel", "Dr. Cohen Dental Clinic", "15.03.2025", "10:00"]]
            }
        },
        {
            "type": "BUTTONS",
            "buttons": [
                {"type": "QUICK_REPLY", "text": "Confirmed"},
                {"type": "QUICK_REPLY", "text": "Need to reschedule"}
            ]
        }
    ]
}

Step 3: Send Messages

Send a template message:

def send_template_message(phone_number_id: str, access_token: str,
                          to: str, template_name: str, language: str,
                          parameters: list):
    """Send a WhatsApp template message."""
    url = f"https://graph.facebook.com/v18.0/{phone_number_id}/messages"
    headers = {
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {access_token}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json"
    }
    payload = {
        "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
        "to": to,  # Format: 972541234567
        "type": "template",
        "template": {
            "name": template_name,
            "language": {"code": language},
            "components": [
                {
                    "type": "body",
                    "parameters": [
                        {"type": "text", "text": p} for p in parameters
                    ]
                }
            ]
        }
    }
    response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, json=payload)
    return response.json()

# Send appointment reminder
send_template_message(
    phone_number_id="YOUR_PHONE_ID",
    access_token="YOUR_TOKEN",
    to="972541234567",
    template_name="appointment_reminder_he",
    language="he",
    parameters=["Israel", "Dental Clinic", "15.03.2025", "10:00"]
)

Send interactive message (within 24-hour window):

def send_interactive_list(phone_number_id: str, access_token: str,
                          to: str, body_text: str, sections: list):
    """Send an interactive list message in Hebrew."""
    url = f"https://graph.facebook.com/v18.0/{phone_number_id}/messages"
    headers = {
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {access_token}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json"
    }
    payload = {
        "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
        "to": to,
        "type": "interactive",
        "interactive": {
            "type": "list",
            "body": {"text": body_text},
            "action": {
                "button": "Choose option",
                "sections": sections
            }
        }
    }
    response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, json=payload)
    return response.json()

Step 4: Israeli Timing and Compliance

Sending schedule for Israeli market:

from datetime import datetime, time
import pytz

def is_valid_sending_time() -> tuple[bool, str]:
    """Check if current time is appropriate for Israeli business messaging."""
    israel_tz = pytz.timezone('Asia/Jerusalem')
    now = datetime.now(israel_tz)
    day = now.weekday()  # 0=Monday, 6=Sunday

    # Friday after 14:00 -- pre-Shabbat
    if day == 4 and now.time() > time(14, 0):
        return False, "Pre-Shabbat hours. Send after Saturday 20:00."

    # Saturday before 20:00 -- Shabbat
    if day == 5:
        if now.time() < time(20, 0):
            return False, "Shabbat. Send after 20:00."

    # Sunday-Thursday business hours
    if now.time() < time(8, 30) or now.time() > time(20, 0):
        return False, "Outside business hours. Send between 08:30-20:00."

    return True, "OK to send."

def compliance_checklist(message_type: str) -> list:
    """Return compliance checklist for Israeli WhatsApp messaging."""
    checks = [
        "Recipient opted in to receive WhatsApp messages",
        "Opt-out mechanism included (reply 'remove' to unsubscribe)",
        "Business identity clearly stated",
        "Message in appropriate language (Hebrew/English)",
    ]
    if message_type == "marketing":
        checks.extend([
            "Compliant with Chok HaSpam (Israeli Anti-Spam Law)",
            "Not sending during Shabbat/holidays",
            "Frequency cap respected (avoid over-messaging)",
            "Marketing category template approved by Meta",
        ])
    return checks

Step 5: CRM Integration Guidance

Monday.com + WhatsApp:

1. Use Monday.com WhatsApp integration (native)
2. Trigger WhatsApp messages from board status changes
3. Log incoming messages as Monday.com updates
4. Use Monday.com automations: "When status changes to X, send WhatsApp template"

Custom CRM Integration:

def webhook_handler(event: dict) -> dict:
    """Handle incoming WhatsApp webhook for CRM integration."""
    if event.get("entry"):
        for entry in event["entry"]:
            for change in entry.get("changes", []):
                if change["field"] == "messages":
                    messages = change["value"].get("messages", [])
                    for msg in messages:
                        # Extract message data for CRM
                        crm_data = {
                            "phone": msg["from"],
                            "message": msg.get("text", {}).get("body", ""),
                            "timestamp": msg["timestamp"],
                            "type": msg["type"],
                            "wa_message_id": msg["id"]
                        }
                        # Send to CRM system
                        # update_crm(crm_data)
    return {"status": "ok"}

Example 1: Appointment Reminder System

User says: "Set up WhatsApp appointment reminders for my dental clinic in Hebrew" Actions:

1. Create Hebrew template with clinic name, date, time variables
2. Add confirmation/reschedule quick reply buttons
3. Set up timing rules (no Shabbat sending)
4. Provide integration code for clinic management system Result: Approved template with sending automation and compliance checks.

Example 2: E-commerce Order Updates

User says: "I want to send order confirmations and shipping updates via WhatsApp" Actions:

1. Create order confirmation template (Hebrew)
2. Create shipping notification template with tracking link
3. Set up webhook to receive delivery status updates
4. Integrate with Israeli shipping providers (Cheetah, HFD, Israel Post) Result: Automated order lifecycle messaging in Hebrew.

Example 3: Marketing Campaign

User says: "Send a promotion to our customer list for a holiday sale" Actions:

1. Check compliance (opt-in list, Chok HaSpam)
2. Create marketing template with offer details
3. Schedule for appropriate Israeli business hours
4. Set up tracking for open rates and responses Result: Compliant promotional campaign with Israeli timing.

Scripts

• scripts/send_whatsapp.py — Sends WhatsApp Business messages via the Meta Cloud API for the Israeli market. Supports template messages (with language and parameter substitution) and free-form text messages within the 24-hour conversation window. Includes Israeli phone number validation and Shabbat-aware sending time checks. Run: python scripts/send_whatsapp.py --help

Error: "Template rejected"

Cause: Template violates WhatsApp policy or formatting issues Solution: Ensure Hebrew text is properly formatted, no prohibited content (gambling, adult), variables have examples, and category matches content type.

Error: "Message failed to send"

Cause: Various -- invalid number, user not on WhatsApp, rate limit Solution: Verify +972 format, check user has WhatsApp, respect rate limits (80 messages/second for Cloud API).

Error: "Webhook not receiving messages"

Cause: Webhook URL not verified or Meta app not configured Solution: Ensure webhook URL is HTTPS, verification token matches, and Meta App is subscribed to messages webhook field.