Property
Most land is state-owned and held on long lease
Approximately 93 percent of land in Israel is owned by the state, the Jewish National Fund or the Development Authority, and is administered by the Israel Land Authority. What is transacted is usually a long lease, typically 49 or 98 years, rather than freehold.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — The State of Israel. The Land Registry, Tabu, records rights; the Israel Land Authority administers state land.
Governing law
- Land Law 5729-1969
- Basic Law: Israel Lands (1960) — prohibiting transfer of ownership of state land
- Israel Land Authority Law 5720-1960
- Sale (Apartments) Law 5733-1973 — protection of apartment purchasers
In practice
The dominance of state land ownership is the single most important structural fact. Basic Law: Israel Lands prohibits transferring ownership of state land, so long leasehold is the norm and lease terms, renewal and capitalised payments to the Israel Land Authority are central to any transaction. The Land Law of 1969 replaced Ottoman and Mandate land law with a modern registration system, and registration in the Tabu is what perfects title, though many rights remain recorded only in Israel Land Authority or company records pending registration. The Sale (Apartments) Law gives off-plan purchasers strong protections including mandatory guarantees against developer insolvency.