• Published 03:26 08.04.10
  • Latest update 09:13 08.04.10

Tel Aviv opens massive new bomb shelter under national theater

The advanced four-story shelter - 3,740 square meters in size - can hold as many as 1,600 people.

By Dana Weiler-Polak Tags: Israel news Tel Aviv

The Tel Aviv municipality unveiled the city's new large-scale public bomb shelter Wednesday, built under the new Habima Theater.

The advanced shelter, at 3,740 square meters, can hold as many as 1,600 people over four floors. There are five doors leading in, leading to five stairwells spanning through the four floors of the shelter.

Next to the official bomb shelter an underground garage will provide a further 35,000 square meters. Although the garage will not be fortified, it will still prove a better option than the outdoors in case of an attack.

Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai, who inspected the site Wednesday, said the model was an impressive one and it should be copied in other cities.

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  • 20. 0 0
    #7 -- good point about israelis voting
    • dani
    • 10.04.10
    • 15:30

    unlike the arabs, who just have to accept what they get. i guess one day when they too can vote for people, then we can all vote together for men who make peace and really have peace, no?

  • 19. 0 0
    Build with christiens "donations"
    • Nik
    • 08.04.10
    • 18:24

    or stolen money from world citizens.

  • 18. 0 0
    #11 Douglas Fireman
    • Chris Linthwaite
    • 08.04.10
    • 11:09

    So if Hezbollah build bomb shelters and mark them on a map and give the to the United Nations. Israel will promise not to bomb them with American taxpayer provided bunker busters? You know, like the UN facilities in Gaza?

  • 17. 0 0
    Better late than never
    • Anne
    • 08.04.10
    • 11:09

    Israel has invested to t the arms(defense or attack) than for the shelters. During the Lebanon war 2006 it was told that people would have about 15 minutes to go to the shelter if there would an alarm. The it was unsure, if the missiles could realy reach f.e Tel Aviv.In Herzliyah Pittuach where I live, the nearest shelter is about 3 km away and surely not big enough for all. Too far away to walk and no possibility to use car (it would be only total traffic jams).

  • 16. 0 0
    Great policy
    • Chris Linthwaite
    • 08.04.10
    • 11:02

    build a great big bomb shelter unsder an easy landmark to identify on Google and then announce it publically. Ever heard of bunker busters? Another example of what Gideon is talking about. Preparing for a non existent threat in order to give the impression to the Public that they are in mortal danger. When in reality it is easier to build what in London would be called a basement than solve child poverty in Israel for instance.

  • 15. 0 0
    #13 Mark of Lewiston
    • Albrecht Klein
    • 08.04.10
    • 10:48

    "It is actually better to try and find compromise." The Palestinians put a claim on all of Israel's territory and want to kill all the Jews. So what would be a viable compromise for you - perhaps kill only every second Jew?

  • 14. 0 0
    why reveal this sensitive news ?
    • jafar
    • 08.04.10
    • 10:22

    enemies of israel now knows the location of shelter and they are going to target it with all kinds of rockets .shut your big mouth israel and do your work quitely .

  • 13. 0 0
    Been There, Done That
    • Mark of Lewiston
    • 08.04.10
    • 09:54

    Fallout shelters are a feel good measure. I helped build one in 1963. It also was a waste of time. So was "Duck & Cover." Bomb shelters are OK if no bunker busters are used. Otherwise, they too are a waste of time as some in Baghdad found out. It is actually better to try and find compromise. But then, if fear is the raison d'etre of government, fear is what you get.

  • 12. 0 0
    Wrong money management
    • William
    • 08.04.10
    • 09:03

    Instead of spending hundred of thousands of dollars on holes in the ground like this, the Israeli government should first feed their 20% population who are under the poverty line. priorities priorities priorities..

  • 11. 0 0
    Speaking of Bomb Shelters For Native Gazans
    • Douglas Fireman
    • 08.04.10
    • 07:51

    Apparently Hamas is neither willing to make peace or build proper bomb shelters for their citizens. Leaders can climb into underground bunkers, but their citizens are placed at maximum risk. Typical Hamas modus operandi

  • 10. 0 0
    Armchair terrorists, this is why fewer Israelis die in wars
    • WE CARE ABOUT LIFE!
    • 08.04.10
    • 07:30

    Armchair terrorists always compare the number of casualties (as if it is a measure of who is to blame) and blame us when more of them die more (we also know that most are terrorists, but they believe Palestinian media - remember the 15-year old `killed` by the IDF who came back to life?) Yes, we protect our civilians and your friends use them as human shields. Like duhhhhh

  • 9. 0 0
    Boy, Could Gaza Use These?
    • Reader
    • 08.04.10
    • 06:49

    Maybe that's where all that donated concrete went?

  • 8. 0 0
    Jews Only?
    • Reader
    • 08.04.10
    • 06:46

    It would be good to know beforehand.

  • 7. 0 0
  • 6. 0 0
    i would be sooo gone!! bomb and fallout shelters?
    • make peace
    • 08.04.10
    • 06:21

    seems so much easier to make peace...i remember the bomb and fallout shelters of the '50s USA....you know like a weeks worth of food stored in the basement...i think having it scared me as a child...so glad we got to be friends with the russians...i would not live anywhere i needed a bomb or fallout shelter...you know of course most of the world doesn't

  • 5. 0 0
    WHATS CHEAPER MAKING PEACE OR BUILDING SHELTERS
    • abdalla
    • 08.04.10
    • 06:20

    israel thinks building shelters is

  • 4. 0 0
    good idea
    • Joshua
    • 08.04.10
    • 05:31

    inevitable conflict... best to be prepared.

  • 3. 0 0
    Build Fall out shelters
    • Chaim Ben Kahan
    • 08.04.10
    • 04:57

    Israel needs shelters to protect the entire nation in the case that Iran has nuclear weapons and we need to keep our civilians safe from terrorist attack.

  • 2. 0 0
    BOMB SHELTER....ACTION Coming...
    • ali
    • 08.04.10
    • 04:55

    Israel is getting its people ready for action.. BUT...Is this ONE enough...Israel need to have 2500 of these at least..and this is Just for the JEWISH Population... The Palestinians DO need any..They will be Happy to GET IT OVER with...Their Lives as it is, is NOT WORTH living...THIS IS THE FEELINGS of MOST PALESTINIANS...

  • 1. 0 0