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Last update - 07:22 11/03/2008 J'lem official: Major quake could kill generation of schoolchildren By Shahar Ilan, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Tiberius, earthquake, Haifa  A major earthquake may destabilize the foundations of Jerusalem-area schools and kill thousands of pupils, a Jerusalem municipal official warned Monday. "If a quake hits between 8 A.M. and 1 P.M., a whole generation will be lost," Avraham Ben Nun told a special Knesset committee investigating earthquake preparedness. Ben Nun told the committee that an earthquake shelter developed by the Jerusalem municipality has been built in only one school. In a previous session, the committee criticized the shelter because it resembled a cage. Advertisement Located on the Afro-Syrian rift, Israel is hit by a major quake once a century on average. Last month, a 5.3-magnitude tremor was felt in most parts of the country, raising fears about the possibility of an imminent destructive earthquake. Ministry of Education officials told the committee last month that a large-scale earthquake endangered over half of Israel's pupils, who study at schools built before 1980, the year earthquake building standards were introduced. Tiberias Mayor Zohar Oved told the committee that a hotel in his city was situated directly over a fault line. Oved said that Efraim Laor, the head of an inter-ministerial committee in charge of earthquake preparedness, rejected his request to close the hotel. "The hotel is worth NIS 50 million," Laor was quoted as saying by Oved. "The entire city is located at the meeting point of tectonic plates, perhaps the entire city should be evacuated." Oved rebuked the government for its alleged lack of preparedness. "We're on borrowed time. It could happen any second. My sense is that there's a lot of theoretical talk going on. We need to raise a cry." Haifa Deputy Mayor Shmuel Gelbhardt called for the reduction in the quantity of hazardous substances held in the city's harbor area. "Everyone says they will be reduced, yet they are still brimming." Related articles: Mild quake jolts central Israel just days after Dead Sea tremor AJC-funded Israeli medical team to assist Peru earthquake victims Jewish groups: We all have a stake in Jerusalem's future Bookmark to del.icio.us   History undersea Israeli lifeguard stumbles upon ancient relic during morning swim. Elections, Hebrew style U.S. presidential hopefuls use Hebrew to woo the Jewish community.   1.   i expect earth quakes in J`lem to spit out the khazar invaders 02:31  |  Assad-u-LLAH 11/03/08   2.   Will flying horses follow? 03:40  |  Robert 11/03/08   3.   #1 prophesy 03:58  |  Nos Trodamus 11/03/08   4.   So could another 05:38  |  Rav Harley 11/03/08   5.   Why not prepare for an earthquake,Katrina happened to New Orleans 05:45  |  Susanna/Shoshanna 11/03/08   6.   earthquake 07:23  |  kashmir in tuchus 11/03/08   7.   Earthquake Shelters? No: Earthquake Resistant Architecture 09:29  |  Efox 11/03/08   8.   Shas says earthquakes are due to gay people 10:45  |  Gay Guy 11/03/08   9.   #1 prohesy 10:23  |  saj 15/07/08

Read & React VIDEO: Olmert, Assad dodge unwanted handshake in Paris Responses: 36 Obama campaign slams New Yorker cover showing him in Muslim garb, wife as terrorist Responses: 27 Ahmadinejad: Direct U.S. talks possible in 'near future' Responses: 52 Editorial: With or without Olmert, Israel-Syria talks must go on Responses: 4 Rosner's Domain The new 'Obama advisor' problem: Senator Chuck Hagel Attacking Iran to get the world's attention? U.S. pressures Israel: No bombing of Iran (WTR) Poll: The more religious the Jewish voter, the more pro-McCain More Headlines 10:45 Report: One of IDF soldiers to be swapped was killed in kidnapping 10:35 Cabinet to vote on Hezbollah swap, majority likely in favor 09:12 Key witness in Olmert graft probe silent under questioning 09:07 Obama campaign slams New Yorker cover showing him in Muslim garb, wife as terrorist 09:33 Tremors felt across Israel after 6.8-scale quake hits Greek isle 09:11 Israeli teams tell Diaspora Jews: Make aliyah, for soccer's sake! 09:20 Ex-Olmert aide finally talks to police on Cremieux Sreet probe 10:31 Ahmadinejad: Direct talks with U.S. possible in 'near future' 10:38 Study: Dirty bombs are easy to come by in the U.S. 05:30 Microsoft buys Israeli company Zoomix for estimated $35m 02:10 Trade Ministry weighs production of Agassi's electric car in Israel 05:29 New criminal code means women can be charged with rape 09:46 Israeli jets could be barred from U.S. if facilities fail inspections 06:26 Following Parisian track, Tel Aviv plans citywide bike rental points Previous Editions Select Day 14 jul 13 jul 11 jul 10 jul 09 jul 08 jul 07 jul 06 jul 04 jul 03 jul 02 jul 01 jul

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