State Comptroller warns of serious flaws in buildings' earthquake and missile preparedness

“Our estimate is that only 10% of the buildings were included in municipal renewal plans. This is yet another critical red flag to the government, which must propose a solution as soon as possible, and not wait for the next emergency situation, the results of which could be disastrous,” he said.

A 2021 State Comptroller report pointed the finger specifically at the Interior and Construction and Housing Ministries, as well as at the Prime Minister’s Office. It also found no working, functional relationship between local authorities and government offices on the matter, which had not been righted since.

Throughout the Israel-Hamas War and the missile barrages from Iran and its Yemeni proxy Houthi group, 1,342 buildings were struck in a significant way, as of March. Alarm bells were already sounded by the State Comptroller in 2022 regarding the dangers embedded in the old buildings’ structures, when there were about 810,000 apartments that required structural reinforcements.

Of these, 10% – 84,532 units – were slated for reinforcements. Yet, 45 local authorities did not pass supplementary legislation to advance such reinforcements, and the Interior Ministry did not ensure that these laws would be updated. So far, only 17 local authorities have passed such legislation, including Bat Yam and Kiryat Yam.

Eighty-eight percent of the buildings in this category were built prior to 1992 – before new regulations kicked in. Four hundred and thirty-nine were located in Bat Yam, while 17 were located in Beersheba.

Of the buildings marked as lacking since 2015, between 60% and 100% of the structures in Beersheba were treated within the first two years, while in Bat Yam, between 59% and 89% of these buildings were not treated. In fact, 53 of these buildings – 25% – are not slated for improvements.

Per media reports and ones from local authorities, hundreds of buildings were struck or declared dangerous in the last missile volley series from Iran.

As of last month, in Ramat Gan, 257 buildings were directly or indirectly hit and damaged; five of them received demolition orders, four were destroyed, five more were declared dangerous, and 64 were given the status of limited access.

In Bat Yam, about 110 buildings were struck, which translates to roughly 2,000 apartments. Estimates are that most will be reconstructed and usable again eventually, but it is estimated that some will be destroyed.

In Beersheba, about 154 apartments were struck and deemed unsuitable for living. In Holon, five buildings were designated for destruction. As for Ness Ziona, 300 homes and apartments were hit, and in Haifa, 64 apartments were struck, along with dozens of businesses and offices with damages estimated at tens of millions of shekels.

In Petah Tikva, one building that was directly hit will likely be populated again in a year following renovations. One hundred and fifty buildings were damaged in Tel Aviv overall.

The report also found that the Interior and the Construction and Housing Ministries failed to update the requirements for employees working on these structures, and also did not provide supplementary training.

These buildings are also not being inspected periodically and consistently, despite committee recommendations to do so, dating back 16 years. This extends to public buildings as well, not just residential ones, including schools.

Overall, the report did find that the municipalities had righted some of the wrongs from the last report, but that this was still lacking; further government involvement is needed.