Against the emerging perspective that views urban renewal as an ongoing process for resilient urbanism, the dominant model in Israel relies on the governmental approach of razing old neighborhoods and then rebuilding them (RR). This framework invites private developers to demolish and reconstruct, enabling them to sell the additional built assets and thus profit from the project. This policy raises fundamental questions about long-term sustainability. Therefore, this research examines the potential and challenges of urban renewal without demolition in Israel. The study seeks to identify alternative frameworks for adapting residential areas to contemporary standards, including seismic retrofitting, without compromising the existing social and cultural fabric. The research has identified five key barriers impeding the advancement of urban renewal without demolition in Israel: 1) Economic Barrier: Stems from the current model, which requires high economic viability. Preserving and strengthening existing buildings is more economically challenging compared to demolition and reconstruction. 2) Cognitive Barrier: Refers to public and authorities' clear preference for new apartments and high-rise buildings, which are perceived as status symbols. This demonstrates the lack of awareness of the cultural, social, and urban value of older neighborhoods and buildings. 3) Engineering Barrier: Focuses on the technical challenges of renovating and upgrading existing buildings. Despite technological advancements, in Israel there is a gap in awareness and skills in using advanced technologies for upgrading and reinforcement. 4) Planning Barrier: Relates to the gap between the national policy that offers a one-size-fits-all solution and the need to adapt unique plans for each neighborhood, offering a combination of reconstruction Abstract iii
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