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Arcadi Gaydamak
Photo: Reuven Schwartz

Gaydamak to invest NIS 90 million in fortification of Sderot homes

Russian-Israeli businessman to fund construction of secure rooms in 600 houses in Qassam-ridden town

Arcadi Gaydamak has decided to invest NIS 90 million ($23 million) in the fortification of some 600 homes in the Qassam-stricken town of Sderot, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Thursday.

 

According to the IDF Southern Command, 1,200 houses in Sderot, in addition to hundreds of buildings, do not contain secure rooms.

 

Gaydamak has already funded the fortification of 40 shelters in Sderot.

 

During a tour of the western Negev city last May, Gaydamak said, "That man (Prime Minister Ehud Olmert), who recently sent hundreds of Israelis to their death (in the Second Lebanon War) just to show that he was a leader, has no right to criticize my activity for the people of Sderot. I'm doing what every Jew must do."

 

Olmert and then-Defense Minister Amir Peretz, who was also mayor of Sderot in the 1980s, responded by reviving an ambitious plan to build secure rooms in Sderot and in all Israeli communities surrounding the Gaza Strip for an estimated cost of NIS 500 million ($128 million).

 

However, the project was eventually shelved after it became apparent that the fortification would cost double the original budget, and the PM decided to invest in rocket-intercepting systems instead.

 

Oren Malka, who is filling in for resigning Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal, said in response to Gaydamak's initiative: "I am in favor of anything that will provide security for Sderot's residents; I don’t mind that (the funds are coming from) Gaydamak."

 

On Wednesday the High Court of Justice criticized the government for its failure to fortify houses in Sderot against Qassam attacks.

 

"The government's priorities on finding fortification solutions are deeply disturbing," the court said after hearing a motion filed by 800 house owners in Sderot.

 

Itamar Eichner contributed to the report 

 


פרסום ראשון: 12.13.07, 09:44
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