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Dichter. Rockets hit close to home
Photo: Doron Golan

National Security Cabinet to discuss fortifications Wednesday

Defense Ministry demands NIS 500 million in order to provide safe rooms for Gaza vicinity residents, but Finance Ministry says request for funds not mentioned in last budget meeting

The National Security Cabinet will discuss Wednesday a request for additional NIS 500 million (about $132 million) in funds for the protection of Gaza vicinity communities, the cabinet determined during its weekly meeting Sunday. 

 

The funds would be used to create individual shelters and secure rooms for over 4,400 homes in the region.

 

During the cabinet meeting, Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter, himself a resident of the southern city of Ashkelon, emphasized that "the capabilities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad have changed compared to what was expected over the past two years as planned regarding the fortifications for Gaza vicinity communities.

 

"Towns such as Ashkelon and Netivot have been added to the hit range. We're talking about 75% of the population in those areas living within rocket range."

 

Dichter added that the capabilities of terror organizations in Gaza would only increase, given that they had recently acquired new types of weapons, including heavy mortar shells.

 

"It's not possible to warn against mortar fire in advance. As such, the deterrence factor is necessary to complete the trifecta of protection: physical fortifications, active defense using the Iron Dome defense system and deterrence," he said.

 

'No previous mention of funds'

The Finance Ministry complained during the meeting that the Defense Ministry had not brought up the request for an additional NIS 500 million during its last budget meeting.

 

"The Defense Ministry asked for 3.5 billion NIS (approximately $917 million) without a mention of an additional half billion for secure rooms. It seems that their list of priorities has changed for some reason, possibly because of the upcoming elections."

 

According to the Finance Ministry, if the issue of fortifications is so important to the defense minister or his deputy, it behooves them to list this among their top priorities in their formal budget proposal, and not merely as a request for additional funding.

 

Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai alluded to this issue in the cabinet meeting, noting that "we must fortify Gaza vicinity communities regardless of a ceasefire. Residents from these communities deserve prioritization in terms of foritification."

 

Prior to the meeting, Minister of the Development of the Negev and Galil Jacob Edery (Kadima) suggested offering Gaza vicinity residents low-rate mortgages in order to enable them to build secure rooms in their homes following the prime minister and finance minister's opposition to the additional half a billion shekel budget increase.

 

Security officials tend to support the call for fortification of homes within 4.7 km of the border with Gaza, since communities within this range will not be protected by the Iron Dome defense system if and when it is set up in the region.

 

The issue of fortifications in the Negev region has become a hot topic again in recent, after an apparent deterioration of the ceasefire between Israel and militant Palestinian organizations in Gaza. Some 50 rockets and mortars were launched at communities in Israel on Wednesday and Thursday.

 


פרסום ראשון: 11.09.08, 14:37
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