Last update - 00:00 19/02/2008
IDF: Reinforcing private homes in Sderot is our last priority
By Haaretz Service
Israel Defense Forces GOC Home Front Command Yair Golan said on Tuesday that reinforcing private homes in Sderot and other Gaza border communities is at the bottom of the IDF's priority list.
Golan, who was speaking at a Knesset State Control Committee discussion, told the committee members that the IDF attempted to list the priorities clearly. "First and foremost, we are investing in our ability to alert [ahead of the Qassams], and after that, reinforcing public areas," according to the NRG website.
He presented the committee with statistics, including the fact that during 2006, 1,488 Qassam rockets were fired towards Israel in contrast to the 1,150 that were fired in 2007.
Golan maintained that the twelve people killed by the Qassam rockets over the years were hit while exposed in open areas, and not in their private houses. He said that the reinforcement of private houses was last on the list of priorities.
"I don't want to differentiate between blood and blood, but damage done to a public place is greater than the damage done to a private house," he said.
State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss also participated in the meeting, and said that "the time has come to stop talking about reinforcing Sderot, and taking action," a hint at Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
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