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A police officer inspecting a Sderot home damaged in a Qassam rocket strike last December. (Archives) Last update - 20:42 17/02/2008 Ministerial forum approves plan to fortify 8,000 Gaza-area homes By Barak Ravid , Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Hamas, Gaza, Sderot Qassam A special ministerial forum on Sunday approved a proposal to fortify homes within 4.5 kilometers of the Gaza border in order to protect Gaza-area residents from the near-daily Qassam rocket fire from the Strip. The proposal, first reported by Haaretz Sunday morning, calls for the building of a fortified "security room" in every eligible residence. The forum's discussion, led by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, was attended by Defense Minister Ehud Barak, his deputy Matan Vilnai, Public Security Minister Avi Dichter, Finance Minister Roni Bar-On, Housing Minister Ze'ev Boim and Minister for Pensioners' Affairs Rafi Eitan as well as representative experts from the Home Front Command and Israel's weapons development authority RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. Advertisement A budget of NIS 350 million was approved for the project until 2009. The fortification plan, which still requires approval from the cabinet, encompasses some 8,000 residences, each of which will receive a security room of 9 square meters. In the plan's first stage, 3,600 homes without a concrete ceiling will be fortified, as they are more vulnerable to attacks. During the discussion on the rocket-scarred southern city of Sderot, Olmert said that "we can't talk about the situation in Sderot in terms of people who have been physically hurt, because many have been hurt emotionally by shock and a sense of insecurity. I've visited these communities. It is very difficult to listen to the residents who are living under attack for many years." "This is not a complete solution, but this is a reasonable and worthy solution under the circumstances," Olmert added referring to the fortification plan. Earlier Sunday, the prime minister told the cabinet ministers that "in the framework of fortifying homes in the are he have already built 13 new schools. We will prioritize the fortifications based on the homes' proximity to the areas from which [the rockets are being] fired, and the severity of the threat posed to residents." "There is a war in the south," said Olmert. "We will not give in on this issue and we will act to reduce the threat, which has brought residents' lives to a standstill." The prime minister added that Israel will continue to impose sanctions on the Strip, limiting the supplies to terrorist organizations, in accordance with cabinet decisions and defense establishment recommendations. "This isn't always popular, but it makes it more difficult for terrorist organizations to operate." Meanwhile, at least two Qassam rockets were fired at Israel on Sunday. One struck near a children's playground. No injuries were caused, but several people were treated for shock. Dozens of Sderot residents protested outside the cabinet meeting on Sunday, demanding homes in the Gaza area be fully fortified. Local political leaders are demanding that the government build fortified security rooms in every residential building. In the past, the government had offered to fund only partial reinforcement, which residents of these communities deem insufficient. The fortification proposal approved on Sunday was based on the effective range of the "Iron Dome" anti-rocket system, which is currently under development. Recent tests found the system effective against rockets fired from more than four kilometers away, but not against those fired from closer range. Therefore, some 8,000 houses within this distance of Gaza would need to be reinforced. Olmert told ministers Sunday that the development of the "Iron Dome" defense system is expected to cost more than NIS 800 million. About a month ago, Alon Schuster, head of the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council, wrote Defense Minister Ehud Barak and warned that Iron Dome would not protect the communities nearest to Gaza because it takes between 10-20 seconds for a Qassam rocket fired from Gaza to reach Sderot and other nearby communities. Some three months ago, the Defense Ministry had proposed reinforcing all houses within seven kilometers of Gaza, or some 10,500 houses in all. But Prime Minister Ehud Olmert preferred to examine other alternatives, as the Qassam's range was expected to increase to at least 15 kilometers, and reinforcing all houses within that distance of Gaza would cost an estimated NIS 5 billion. Initially, the government considered "partial" reinforcement, such as a special coating on the walls. Now, however, it has accepted Negev residents' position that only full reinforcement will provide sufficient protection. Related articles: Lack of gov't funds for securing southern homes angers MKs Security cabinet okays funding for 'Iron Dome' rocket defense system Defense Ministry: Home front inadequately protected for war Bookmark to del.icio.us   Independence day Kosovars rejoice as Kosovo declares itself an independent and sovereign state. Settling the score 1/3 of W. Bank settlements are on Palestinian land seized for 'security purposes.'   1.   No More Empty Promises; Time For Forceful Action! 02:37  |  Norman F Birnberg 17/02/08   2.   The Wise Men of Chelm 02:45  |  Robert Light 17/02/08   3.   sderot 02:47  |  jeremy sean greene 17/02/08   4.   What an interesting development 03:13  |  Mark Lincoln 17/02/08   5.   The concept of "Strategic Casualty." 03:18  |  Mark Lincoln 17/02/08   6.   translation please 04:09  |  joeblow 17/02/08   7.   typical cigar smoking politician 04:32  |  Avi 17/02/08   8.   Attack the symptoms NOT the source? 04:44  |  Dory 17/02/08   9.   Robert Light and right , the perfect solution 04:48  |  TOMY 17/02/08   10.   The problem with the PMO`s plan 05:04  |  Mark Lincoln 17/02/08   11.   Reoccupy, flatten, annex northern 5 km of Gaza. Problem solved. 05:17  |  Dr. L. Brnd 17/02/08   12.   Israel`s myopic disorientation 05:42  |  Natallie Durson 17/02/08   13.   Mark Lincoln: Israel will never retreat 06:34  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 17/02/08   14.   We should not give up our strategic assets. 07:21  |  Jean Van Daem 17/02/08   15.   Ask Sarkosy to pay 07:52  |  Ari 17/02/08   16.   Headline is The Results Of Withdrawal Policies Brainwash . 08:20  |  Joseph . E 17/02/08   17.   Old and grey Gnatly Deursin 08:41  |  akivapatysh 17/02/08   18.   Natallie Durson 09:22  |  Deborah 17/02/08   19.   indecision, indecision, indicision! 09:24  |  Jim 17/02/08   20.   5km 10:11  |  MR 17/02/08   21.   Durson on feminist sponsored genocide 10:18  |  Joe Sittizen 17/02/08   22.   "Strategic Casualty", Mark #5?? Think "The Alamo" or Midway! 10:22  |  Dr. L. Brnd 17/02/08   23.   Buy Phalanx 12:13  |  Jerusalem Shmuel 17/02/08   24.   #12 Natalie Durson 12:25  |  Jim 17/02/08   25.   #2 Robert Light 12:41  |  Jim 17/02/08   26.   #13 Cipora Julianna Kohn 13:14  |  Jim 17/02/08   27.   #10 Mark Lincoln 13:37  |  Jim 17/02/08   28.   # 16 Joseph E. 13:55  |  Jim 17/02/08   29.   There is a solution to Qassams- to get rid of Olmert 14:04  |  Sal 17/02/08   30.   #22 Dr. L. Byrd 14:05  |  Jim 17/02/08   31.   S.O.S, Help, Save The Jewish State from This Gov`t Policies 14:37  |  Joseph . E 17/02/08   32.   # 28 Jim " If democracy means destroying Jewish State 17:23  |  Joseph E . post 1 17/02/08   33.   # 28 Jim "ETROGS" 17:24  |  Joseph E . post 2 17/02/08   34.   fortify 8000 00:21  |  boruch 18/02/08

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