The Defense Ministry is expected to complete the project of dispersing 500 hollow concrete structures for protection against rocket fire in Sderot and other Gaza-vicinity towns by the end of 2008.
The project is expected to be implemented at an accelerated pace despite the ongoing ceasefire between Israel
and the armed Palestinian groups in the Strip and the relative calm in the region.
The first phase of the project was completed this week with the distribution of 200 hollow concrete structures in the south. The State has recently approved the allocation of NIS 15 million ($4.2 million) toward the project, and the Defense Ministry will select three companies to manufacture the structures simultaneously.
"Despite the calm, it is our duty to help ease the daily lives of the residents of the Gaza-vicinity communities, and therefore we are working to finish dispersing the hollow structures as soon as possible," a Defense Ministry official told Ynet, adding that the structures increase the residents' sense of security and serve as a shelter during rocket attacks from Gaza.
Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai (Labor) is working toward placing additional protective structures near every school in the Qassam-battered south before the beginning of the school year. These structures, which have been developed over the course of the past few months, can hold 60-70 children.
"I hope the other ministries will help advance the project, because the reality can change tomorrow morning," Vilnai said, adding that he and Defense Minister Ehud Barak would continue to seek additional funding for the fortification of 4,700 housing units in the south.
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