Judea and Samaria
Judea and SamariaIsrael news photo: Flash 90

More than 80 percent of 304,000 Jews in Judea and Samaria own their own homes, nearly 15 percent more than the national average, according to government statistics.

The official population figures, higher by up to 20 percent than numbers reported by several left-wing groups, do not include young people living in “illegal” communities.

Information from the Central Bureau of Statistics, reported by Globes, paints a picture of quality of life not enjoyed by Israelis living in urban communities. The statistics do not include other factors such as education, which is a high priority in most towns in Judea and Samaria and is considered by most to be above par.

The supposed danger of living in Judea and Samaria has not stopped the growing demand for houses and a corresponding rise in their price. The number of new homes being sold has dropped sharply, primarily because of government policies, particularly the need for the approval of Defense Minister Ehud Barak before homes can be built. Another negative factor was the 10-month building freeze two years ago, which halted all new homebuilding for Jews in Judea and Samaria.

The result was drastic drop in home sales, falling from 830 in 2008 to 561 last year.

However, construction has taken off again. Home sales so far this year are much higher, and government tenders have been issued for thousands of new residential units.

Jewish families in Judea and Samaria are larger – an average of 4.56 people – than those outside the area, where the average household is only 3.3 people.