State Comptroller Warns Israel Is Still Not Prepared for a Major Earthquake

After the strong earthquake in Venezuela, Israel’s State Comptroller issued a statement drawing attention to his recent reports on gaps in earthquake preparedness and building reinforcement. He said the warning was especially relevant for areas at elevated risk and for the country’s broader urban renewal policy.

In a June 2026 report on urban renewal, the comptroller wrote that the need to strengthen buildings against earthquakes is not being adequately addressed through urban renewal efforts. He added that in communities exposed to such dangers, large-scale projects to renew the built environment are not being advanced sufficiently.

The same report said that, despite earlier recommendations from the comptroller, Israel has still not prepared a national policy document or a unified national plan for urban renewal. It also noted that zero building permits were issued for 23 evacuation-and-reconstruction projects promoted in the municipalities of Beit Shean, Tiberias, Safed and Kiryat Shmona between 2017 and 2025, even though these local authorities are among the areas most exposed to strong earthquakes and wartime threats.

In a follow-up report on earthquakes published in January 2024, the comptroller wrote, “A strong earthquake in Israel is only a matter of time. Therefore, preparedness is of great importance.” The report said the five years since the previous audit were not used to make meaningful improvements, and that the state is still not prepared as required for an earthquake event.