State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss
Photo: Elad Gershgoren
Israel's border with Gaza
Photo: Haim Horenstein
IDF wary of report on rocket deterrence
Ahead of the August pullout the defense establishment penned a plan to shield southern Israeli communities from the threat of Qassam rockets fired from the Gaza Strip; government funds to build defenses against rockets has not reached some towns
The defense establishment is warily awaiting a report by State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss on the government’s failure to protect communities located in the vicinity of the Gaza Strip from Qassam rockets.
A publication ban has been place on the report, copies of which were presented to Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Wednesday afternoon.
Ahead of the August pullout, the defense establishment penned a plan to shield southern communities from the threat of Qassam rockets fired from the Gaza Strip.
Security officials pushed for the plan for fears the proximity of evacuated settlements in the northern Gaza Strip to Israel would motivate terror groups to launch rockets at Israeli communities.
Acting on IDF recommendations, the government allocated NIS 210 million over three years (USD 45.4 million) to build defenses against Qassam rockets targeting communities. The money was used to building shelters, fortifying schools and community centers and building fences around towns situated on the border with the Gaza Strip.
Local council heads say the funds are insufficient, arguing the government should pay for the fortification of private domiciles in towns situated within the range of Qassam rockets fired from Gaza.
They say the pace of funneling government funds through the Defense Ministry has been slow and many schools, community centers and medical buildings remain under the threat of Qassam fire.
The State Comptroller’s report addresses these and other complaints by council heads who argued their communities have been forfeited. A ban on the publication of the names of communities that haven’t been fortified has been placed for fear that the publication might prompt terror groups to fire Qassams at these communities.
