Builder Ran Yanai Proposes Supervised Palestinian Labor Return and Housing Credit Fund

Ran Yanai, CEO and co-owner of construction company Z.F., proposed a package of workforce, financing and homebuyer assistance measures in an interview published November 3. He urged the next government to address what he described as three constraints on construction: a shortage of skilled workers, expensive or difficult access to credit, and slower housing demand. Yanai called for consideration of a regulated return of Palestinian construction workers, subject to security decisions, the necessary approvals and close supervision. He also supported vocational training and alternative sources of labor. He presented those measures alongside the proposed return, saying the industry should avoid dependence on a single workforce. On financing, Yanai proposed a dedicated construction credit fund offering reasonably priced loans through clear financing and risk-control mechanisms. He said the fund should help builders meet working-capital needs and continue active projects, with the aim of preventing construction delays caused by liquidity difficulties. The fund is one of the measures he wants coordinated with labor policy and buyer assistance. For households, Yanai proposed targeted grants for young couples and first-home buyers, based on clear eligibility criteria and their financial circumstances. He said assistance should improve access to housing rather than be absorbed entirely into higher prices. Emphasizing the connection between labor availability, project financing and purchasing capacity, Yanai said: "The three measures should move forward together."