The protest that failed: Israeli home prices surge 84% in 15 years

Fifteen years after Israel's major social protest movement began with a single tent on Tel Aviv's Rothschild Boulevard, the country's housing crisis has significantly worsened. Since the summer of 2011, the average price of an Israeli apartment has surged by approximately 84%, far outpacing the 67% increase in average salaries and the 1.6% annual rise in consumer prices. An analysis by real estate appraiser Ohad Danos shows the average apartment price climbed from 1.315 million shekels in 2011 to 2.414 million shekels in early 2026. Danos attributed this failure to government inaction, stating, "the government built where it was easy" rather than in high-demand areas, and an "impossible combination of prolonged government inaction and price increases across almost every sector of the economy." This has led to a restricted supply in sought-after locations and increased construction costs, making home ownership increasingly difficult for many Israelis, who are now forced to compromise or remain renters. Experts suggest developing a robust long-term rental market as a viable alternative to home ownership.