AFCIs are the device intended to save the world. They trip on an arc of about 5A (the old ones needed an arc more like 60A). For new wiring they are generally required in a home when a GFCI is not required. The 2011 NEC may required AFCI protection when receptacles are replaced. They also trip on a ground fault of about 30mA - not for protection of people.
There are several systems for handling "ground" wires. The basic interest is that "ground" wires essentially be at earth potential, and that contact between a hot wire and ground trips a breaker.
In the US, the ground wire system is connected to earthing electrode(s) at the building. This is likely the case in other countries as well.
The US also requires the neutral and ground be bonded at the service disconnect. If there is a hot-to-ground short the path is ground wire to service panel, G-N bond to neutral, service neutral back to the utility transformer. This metal path produces a high current to trip the breaker. The earth essentially plays no part because the resistance of the earth path is far to high to trip a breaker.
The UK, from what I have read, has several ways to handle the "ground system". One is to earth the neutral at the utility transformer, not have a N-G bond at the building, and not run a ground wire with the hot and neutral service wires. Ground faults would return through the earth and not produce enough current to trip a breaker. I believe that these systems require an RCD (trips on H-N current imbalance like a GFCI) as the service breaker. The fault current through the earth does trip the RCD. (The trip level is far higher than the 4-6mA for a GFCI.)
Could be what you have in Israel.