The Cabinet is expected to discuss the fortification of the Gaza-vicinity communities Sunday morning in light of the renewed rocket attacks on
Israel's southern region.
| Fortification Dispute |
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| Bar-On: Barak has adequate funds to stop Qassam fire / Roni Sofer |
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Finance minister angered by Defense Ministry's demand for additional fortification funds for Gaza vicinity communities. 'Barak would be better off doing what he's supposed to do instead of dispensing advice,' he says |
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In lieu of sufficient government funding toward the expansion of the fortification works, Minister of the Development of the Negev and Galilee Jacob Edery suggested offering the residents of the Qassam –ridden region low mortgage rates so they will be able to afford to fortify their own homes.
Edery's proposal came after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and
Finance Minister Ronnie Bar-On expressed their objection to Defense Minister Ehud Barak's request for an additional NIS 500 million ($132 million) toward the construction of secure rooms in some 8,000 Gaza-vicinity housing units.
The High Court of Justice still deliberating on an appeal filed by Israeli towns in the vicinity of the Gaza Strip demanding all residential buildings in a 4.5 km (2.79 mi) radius of the Hamas-ruled enclave be fortified – Barak is seeking to expand that range to 4.7km (2.93 mi).
The Treasury says it cannot allocate the requested funds, particularly following the transfer of NIS 515 million ($135 million) to Israel's higher education institutions.
During Sunday's Cabinet meeting the security establishment is expected to give an update on the fortification and deterrence developments in the Gaza-vicinity communities and developments in the Iron Dome rocket-interception project.
Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai (Labor) who is heading the preparations for a Home Front emergency will report that this week the 400th migunit (portable shelter) was placed in the Gaza-vicinity. This number is expected to reach 500 by the end of the year.
Sources at the Defense Ministry have said that during the ceasefire, millions of shekels were invested in creating a variety of types of fortification.
Towards the beginning of the school year, 21 large portable shelters, which can contain up to 70 students, were posted.
The mechanism, called a “terminal” is a special security establishment development intended for providing an answer to students waiting at pick-up stops.
During the meeting, Vilnai will present a unique initiative for farmers in the region – 80 portable shelters designed for agricultural areas which can contain up to eight people.
The shelters will be placed in packing houses, hothouses, coops and cowsheds and will be used as shelters for farmers in case the event of a Qassam rocket attack.
An additional decision that is expected to be discussed is the bestowment of joint finances provided by the Defense and Agriculture Ministries for protective tractors.
Vilnai authorized a fortification budget of 20 tractors for kibbutzim and moshavim in the Gaza-vicinity.
In the first stage, an experimental plan will be carried out in which four tractors will be made protective. The cost for protecting each tractor is estimated at NIS 150,000 (about $40,000).
Vilnai said ahead of the Cabinet meeting, “I hope that the calm will be maintained in the Gaza-vicinity communities. With that, the calm is fragile and we are conducting ourselves as if tomorrow morning the reality can change.”
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