Israel cenbank to continue buying FX -Fischer

TEL AVIV Dec 13 (Reuters) - Israel's central bank will continue to intervene in the foreign exchange market to ensure Israeli exports remain competitive, Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer said on Monday.

"One of the threats to (economic) growth is the exchange rate," Fischer told a business conference, noting exports comprise 45 percent of Israel's economic activity. "We will continue to intervene as needed."

Israel's shekel ILS= has remained strong against the dollar.

Fischer also said the central bank will not allow surging housing prices to turn into a real estate bubble and that the Bank of Israel would continue to take steps if prices did not fall.

(Reporting by Steven Scheer; Editing by Toby Chopra)