Israelis are the biggest foreign investors in the United States after Canadians, with Israelis investing $441 million in US real estate between January and July 2010, according to an international report by RCA real estate assessments. In the same period, Canadians invested some $1.67 billion.

The most prominent Israeli firm to invest in the US this year was Nochi Dankner’s Property and Building Corporation of the IDB Group. The company climbed to second place in New York investments following its acquisition of the HSBC building.

Many Israeli firms, including insurance companies, invest in multiple US ventures through American companies and various partnerships. Israelis generally favor investment in major metropolitan areas such as Manhattan, Boston, Washington and Los Angeles.

Tamar Guy, director of the Israel-America Chamber of Commerce said: “Since the US crisis emerged Israeli bodies have been engaged in intense business activity, investing in US real estate…”