Bar-On: Barak has adequate funds to stop Qassam fire

Finance Minister Ronnie Bar-On was enraged Thursday by Defense Minister Ehud Barak's announcement that his ministry will demand additional funds for the fortification of Gaza vicinity communities which are within the Strips' rocket-fire range.

"Barak has over NIS 50 billion (approx. $13.41 billion) at his disposal. One would expect he would be able to stop the Qassam fire on Sderot. He'd be better off doing what he's supposed to do instead of dispensing advice," Bar-On, who is a key figure in Kadima's election campaign, told Ynet.

Despite the Defense Ministry's failure to complete the fortification of Gaza vicinity communities within a 3 mile radius of the Strip, Barak announced Wednesday that his ministry intended on demanding an additional NIS 500 million ($133.7 million) for the feat.

The cabinet's debate on the matter stands to be the first, but Barak's bid has only slim chances of being approved during what has now become a transit government's tenure.

According to Defense Ministry sources, the past five months have seen NIS 370 million invested in the fortification of homed in various Gaza vicinity communities – an investment approved by the government in February 2008.

The defense establishment estimated that it would require an additional $133 million to ensure the safety of all of the area's residents.