Defense Minister Ehud Barak
and his deputy Matan Vilnai are drafting a bill calling on the government to allocate and additional NIS 500 million ($144 million) for the fortification of Israeli communities located within 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) of the Gaza security fence.
These communities are located in an area considered problematic, as they will not be protected by the 'Iron Dome' rocket-intercepting system currently under development.
The efforts to complete the fortification of the Gaza-vicinity communities come amid fears that the failure to complete the construction of secure rooms will leave residents of the south exposed in case the Qassam and mortar fire from the Strip is renewed.
"We cannot abandon the residents of the Gaza-vicinity communities," Barak said recently, adding that Israel should take advantage of the ceasefire with the armed Palestinian organizations to complete the fortification works despite possible objections from the Finance Ministry.
"The security establishment has a responsibility to the residents of the south," the defense minister said, "The government must provide them with basic protection."
Vilnai told Ynet that "the fortification must not be delayed," noting that while government had approved in principle the fortification of all Gaza-vicinity homes, so far only NIS 327 million ($96 million) toward completing the project.
"This sum is insufficient, and many homes remain unfortified," he said. "I intend to submit our proposal for the cabinet's approval during the next meeting."
Municipality heads in the Gaza vicinity recently received a letter
from Raanan Dinur, director-general of the Prime Minister's Office, in which they were told that the fortification of residents' homes located over 4.5 km from the border with the Strip has been delayed due to a lack of funds.
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