Gaza vicinity residents demand protection

Regional council heads petition High Court, demand State provide temporary means of protection in place of Iron Dome

Shmulik Hadad|Published: 11.01.10 , 13:20

Gaza vicinity regional council heads on Monday filed a petition against the State of Israel to the High Court of Justice, demanding that the State provide residents – who have been waiting in vain for the activation of the Iron Dome missile interception system – with protection against rocket attacks.

According to a 2008 government decision, residents of the Gaza vicinity communities who live 4.5 to 7 km from the Strip are entitled to be protected by the advanced missile interception system, while communities in closer ranges – where the system is not effective – will be supplied with protection means such as shelters and security rooms.

Iron Dome missile interception system (Simulation: Rafael)

Though the new system was successfully tested back in July, the IDF announced it will not place it in the Gaza vicinity at this point.

The petitioners, which include Sha'ar HaNegev, Eshkol, Ashkelon Coast and Sdot Negev Regional Councils' heads, claim "we were told that there's no chance the state will set up the Iron Dome system in the next few years," adding that "currently, residents in our communities don't have means of protection in their houses, kindergartens and public buildings."

The petitioners further lamented that "the security establishment exploited the suffering of the residents in order to obtain budgets for the development and production of protection systems meant for other destinations. The security establishment fooled the public, and the High Court should not allow this."