Last update - 00:00 17/12/2007
Barak: I'll work toward allocating NIS 320m to protect rocket-weary south
By Mijal Grinberg, Haaretz Correspondent
Defense Minister Ehud Barak promised Monday to work toward allocating NIS 320 million for the reinforcement of buildings in communities surrounding the Gaza Strip.
The communities in question face almost daily barrages of Qassam rockets fired by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.
Barak made the pledge during a meeting he held with municipality heads from the western Negev.
The defense minister toured the region after a
2-year-old toddler was lightly wounded Sunday when a Qassam rocket struck a residential home in Kibbutz Zikim near Ashkelon.
The meeting with local leaders was held in Kibbutz Gevim, where a rockets caused property damage last Friday.
Among the participants at the meeting were head of Eshkol Regional Council Haim Yalin, Hof Ashkelon regional council head Eli Farjun, Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal and Alon Shecter, head of the Sha'ar HaNegev regional council.
The leaders raised various issues, including reinforcing houses in the regional councils and anti-missile shield programs to protect Negev residents from Qassam rockets.
Barak reiterated his support for a government reinforcement plans. However, he did not give a timetable for actual reinforcement, as was requested by Kibbutz Nir-Am Secretary Avi Kadosh.
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