Buyer Seeks to Cancel Tel Aviv Dov Airport Housing Option Over PFAS Soil Contamination

A buyer who purchased an option to buy an apartment in the former Dov Airport area in Tel Aviv is suing real estate company Gindi Holdings to cancel the deal and recover nearly half a million shekels. The lawsuit, filed on Monday at the Tel Aviv District Court, claims that the buyer was not informed about severe soil contamination discovered after sales began. The contamination involves PFAS chemicals, known as "forever chemicals" due to their persistence and linked to serious health issues including cancer. These chemicals were found in unusually high concentrations in the soil and groundwater, primarily from firefighting foams used at the airport.

Although the Ministry of Environmental Protection approved marketing the land as clean, it only began testing for PFAS in 2025, revealing widespread contamination. In July 2026, the ministry ordered the city to halt infrastructure work amid concerns that thousands of tons of contaminated soil were spread without oversight. The buyer acquired the option in July 2025, paying 7% of the purchase price before contamination details became public later that year.

The plaintiff argues that had buyers been informed about the contamination, they would not have purchased rights in the development. Gindi rejected the cancellation request and refused to extend the option period pending soil survey results expected soon. The lawsuit accuses Gindi of consumer deception and bad faith negotiation, emphasizing the significant impact contamination information has on real estate marketing, especially for a luxury residential project near the beach.

Environmental engineer and real estate appraiser Roni Brill criticized the state for failing to conduct adequate surveys before land sales and for the lack of transparency regarding ongoing investigations and remediation plans. She warned that future residents could be exposed to contamination through dust and soil during construction and daily life. Gindi Holdings stated it has not yet received the lawsuit and will respond legally once served, affirming that any required soil treatment will be done at no cost to buyers and will not affect company commitments.

Summary: A buyer in the Tel Aviv Dov Airport redevelopment project is suing Gindi Holdings to cancel a housing option purchase due to undisclosed PFAS soil contamination discovered after sales began, alleging consumer deception and demanding a refund of nearly half a million shekels. The Ministry of Environmental Protection only recently confirmed widespread contamination, leading to halted construction work and public concern over health risks.