810,000 Homes on the Brink: Israel’s Earthquake Risk Dwarfs Iran’s Missile Damage

A chilling new report from Israel’s State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman, dropped Tuesday afternoon, sounds the alarm on a catastrophe waiting to happen: 810,000 homes across Israel are sitting ducks for earthquakes, a threat that could make the wreckage from Iran’s ballistic missiles look like a minor scrape. The report lays bare a string of failures, shoddy building safety, botched fire response, neglected schools, ignored special-needs communities, and spotty electricity in Druze villages in the Golan Heights, that could spell disaster in a country already battered by war, as reported by Ynet.

Earthquake Danger Hits Home

Last month, Iran’s missile barrage hammered older buildings, exposing their crumbling vulnerability, while newer structures built to modern codes held up better. Englman’s report warns that 810,000 homes, not constructed to Standard 413 for earthquake resistance, could collapse in a major quake, dwarfing the localized destruction of missiles. The toll in lives and property could be staggering. Despite years of warnings, only about 10% of these homes have urban renewal plans approved for reinforcement. The government’s dragging its feet, with the Prime Minister’s Office barely lifting a finger to coordinate fixes. There’s no national definition of a “dangerous building,” no budget for retrofitting, and no clear plan to save lives.

Englman slams the Ministries of Interior and Housing for leaving local authorities in the lurch, failing to tackle the economic and social hurdles of upgrading buildings. Municipal bylaws, some over 50 years old, are vague, lacking rules on spotting or fixing risky structures. Even after the Swords of Iron war trashed more buildings, the central government hasn’t stepped up, leaving Israel’s cities and towns exposed.

Schools Left Shaky

Kids aren’t safe either. The report calls out the Ministry of Education for not requiring stability checks on school buildings, a problem flagged years ago and still ignored. The Ministries of Interior and Housing haven’t issued guidelines for public building safety, leaving schools at risk of collapsing in a quake. Parents and students deserve better, but the system’s stuck in neutral.

Englman’s Rallying Cry

“Israel’s government isn’t getting it,” Englman declared, pointing to the 810,000 homes at risk. “Iran’s missiles showed us the gap between old buildings and those built to code. With only 10% of vulnerable homes slated for upgrades, this is a screaming red flag. The government needs real plans to reinforce buildings now, not after the next disaster hits, because it’ll be way worse.” He’s calling on the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministries of Interior, Housing, and Education, and local authorities to act fast, set clear rules, fund fixes, and protect lives before it’s too late.