Defense Ministry: Israelis back training base city
Survey conducted for Defense Ministry shows that despite struggle waged by environmental organizations against the establishment of military city in Negev; 71% of public support project
A training base city in the Negev? Apparently the public is all for it. As work starts this week on the establishment of a large training complex in the area of the Negev Junction against the backdrop of tensions between the Defense Ministry and environmental organizations, it seems that the public views the project in a positive light.
According to a survey conducted for the Defense Ministry, more than 71% of the public supports the project. This wide public backing comes from all areas of the country; 73% of residents of the center, for example, are for the establishment of the complex.
Surprisingly, the public seems entirely unworried regarding the most sensitive issue of all- that of air pollution. When faced with the question "In your opinion, where do you think air quality is best?" – 95% of those asked answered that the air in the Negev is better than in Tel Aviv.
Fulfilling Bern-Gurion's vision
The neighboring factories of Ramat Hovav have to date invested around NIS 800 million in satisfying the Environmental Ministry's guidelines for establishing the complex, and officials in the Defense Ministry continue to follow related developments. Last week, Defense Ministry Director-General Pinchas Bukharis said, "No soldier will go out into the field until it is one million percent certain the site is safe."
According to the defense establishment, it is receiving wide backing from the public, which understands the national and strategic implications of the IDF's move to the Negev. The transfer of several IDF training bases to the area represents a fulfillment of David Ben-Gurion's vision and will bring billions of shekels for development into the Negev, defense officials stated.
The same sources said that the poll proved the public trusted the defense establishment not to transfer military personnel to the bases without first making certain the area is environmentally safe.
