Politicians and community leaders harshly criticized the Security Cabinet on Wednesday following a decision not to fortify Gaza Belt communities. “The Security Cabinet's decision this morning not to immediately fortify Gaza belt towns is a miserable decision,” said Nechemia Rappel, head of the Religious Kibbutz Movement.
Rappel said he understands those who promote military operations in Gaza to counter rocket fire instead of defensive measures such as fortification. However, he said, fortifications are necessary even if Israel goes on the offensive against rocket-launching terrorists. “Even if the IDF carries out a widespread military operation in Gaza, residents near Gaza are expected to be hit by a shower of Kassam rockets and mortar shells, as happened to residents of the north during the Second Lebanon War,” he explained. Defense Minister Ehud Barak agrees that an IDF operation would lead to rocket attacks on civilians near Gaza, he added.
"The state cannot leave residents without basic security within their own homes,” Rappel concluded. “The government must reverse this decision quickly.”
The new HaTikva party led by Dr. Aryeh Eldad criticized the decision as immoral. “The Olmert-Livni-Barak government's decision not to fortify Gaza belt communities, the lack of response to continued attacks from Gaza, the continued tossing of money and fuel onto the terror bonfire, and the incitement against Jews in Judea and Samaria—all these testify to moral bankruptcy,” a party statement said.
The decision drew fire from within the ruling Kadima party as well. “This is a sad and difficult day for residents of Sderot and the Gaza belt,” said MK Shai Hermesh of Kadima, a resident of Kfar Aza. “I'm sure the Security Cabinet's decision to abandon residents of the area to their fate is harder and more painful than the rocket attacks of the past seven years. It's a shame that we will need the High Court to open the Cabinet's eyes.”
The Cabinet rejected a NIS 500 million project to fortify homes near Gaza. Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai strongly supported the proposed funding allocation, but were met with opposition from Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Finance Minister Ronnie Bar-On.
The funding hike rejected by the cabinet would have paid to reinforce 4,400 homes within rocket range of Gaza. The homes do not fall within the range of the Iron Dome anti-missile defense system, which is not yet operational anyways.
On Wednesday evening, just hours after the Cabinet reached its decision, terrorists in Gaza fired two rockets at western Negev communities. One rocket exploded next to a kibbutz in the Gaza belt area.