The Prime Minister's Office has demanded that Sderot municipality use a NIS 6 million contribution it has received to repair private bomb shelters only, since the state should be responsible for public bomb shelters.

Municipal officials said they have been waiting six years for the state to fund the renovation of public shelters and would use contribution to carry out much-needed repairs on all shelters requiring them. They also said that the sum provided by the government would be insufficient for the necessary work.

The NIS 6 million was donated to the city last Thursday by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) to refurbish public and private shelters.

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At present none of the city's 58 public bomb shelters are suitable for long-term stays, which security officials predict could be necessary under the prolonged bombardment. Sderot has been repeatedly hit by Qassam rockets fired by militants from the Gaza Strip since last week.

PMO Director General Raanan Dinur pledged that a decision would be made in the coming weeks on funding to reinforce homes in communities around Gaza.

Before Jewish holiday Shavuot which was celebrated this week, tycoon Arcadi Gaydamak undertook to fund the operation; Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz then announced that the government would begin the work immediately.

Housing Minister Director General Aryeh Bar said tenders for the work would be issued in three weeks, but restrictions imposed by the Interior Ministry could delay work for months. However, Interior Minister Roni Bar-On told Haaretz the repairs would be carried out first and legal solutions found later.

Defense Ministry officials said they could begin construction on 200 bomb shelters within a month, following Interior Ministry approval. There are an estimated 3,500 homes requiring reinforcement in Sderot, and a further4,000 in the communities around Gaza.