Dichter: Quake damage could cost Israel NIS 150 billion

Israel's top financial officials, including Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz and Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer, convened for a meeting held as part of a widespread drill meant to prepare the country for a natural disaster.

"The damage that an earthquake and a tsunami could cause will cost Israel anywhere between NIS 100 billion to NIS 150 billion," Home Front Defense Minister Avi Dichter said in the meeting. "The continued operation of the financial system is critical to the nation's resilience." (Yoav Zitun)