Security forces successfully tested a special wall designed to protect buildings from Qassam rockets on Thursday.
In a first experiment in Rishon Letzion, headed by Home Front Commander Yitzhak Gershon, a number of rockets resembling Qassams were fired at the wall. The wall stood up to the rockets, which failed to penetrate.
The experiment (Photo: IDF Spokesperson Unit)
It was specially designed by a number of defense companies, and is aimed at protecting buildings in the cities, towns, and villages of the western Negev.
After successfully testing out the wall, the defense establishment could adopt it for beefing up structures in communities on the Gaza border and Sderot, with a special focus on educational institutions and kindergartens.
A military source explained that the wall can be place at the front of the building and will repel a strike by a Qassam rocket.
'Cheap solution'
"This is a relatively cheap solution. The wall can be received directly from the manufacturer and all that is left to do is to install it in the targeted place," he said.
Defense Minister Amir Peretz, who has dealing with the issue of protecting education institutions in Sderot, ordered the program to go ahead, and wants the city's schools to be fortified by the start of the next school year.
The project is expected to cost NIS 120 million, and a meeting between the Finance and Education Ministries will decide which ministry will provide the funds.
Until now, only kindergartens containing children up to the ages of 6 are fortified.
"The experiment today, like a series of other operations, is aimed at advancing and finding effective solutions against the threat of Qassams," a military source explained.
"Not every place can be protected with a concrete wall, but things can be done to minimize harm to civilians should a Qassam fall. We will continue to work in this direction and search for effective solutions," the source added.
_a.jpg "Photo: Yaron Brenner")
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