In the wake of last week\'s bomb attack on the Pi Gelilot fuel depot, the government this morning decided to take immediate action to reduce the threat, and ordered the relocation of the facility. The government decided unanimously that the facility must be closed within 90 days, giving the fuel companies a chance to find alternatives. Gas supplies at Pi Gelilot must be reduced by 80% within one month. The Cabinet rejected an idea to store fuel in underground tanks, feeling that this would result in additional delays in finding a long-term solution. A spokesman for PazGaz, Israel\'s largest fuel company, said that negotiations were underway a number of weeks ago for the transfer of large quantities of fuel supplies from Pi Gelilot.
The bomb that was placed on a fuel tanker on Thursday exploded during refueling in the installation, but the ensuing fire miraculously did no damage other than to the truck. A conflagration in Pi Gelilot, it is widely assumed, would have led to an unprecedented catastrophe. Pi Gelilot remains closed at present as a result of a municipal order issued on Thursday. The Tel Aviv Magistrates Court will hear a suit against the order tomorrow at noon.
Police placed dummy bombs in three gasoline depots around the country in an effort to evaluate security in those areas. At the Ashdod and Beer Sheva depots, security personnel detected the simulated explosive devices, while in a third location, the bomb went unnoticed by security personnel.
The bomb that was placed on a fuel tanker on Thursday exploded during refueling in the installation, but the ensuing fire miraculously did no damage other than to the truck. A conflagration in Pi Gelilot, it is widely assumed, would have led to an unprecedented catastrophe. Pi Gelilot remains closed at present as a result of a municipal order issued on Thursday. The Tel Aviv Magistrates Court will hear a suit against the order tomorrow at noon.
Police placed dummy bombs in three gasoline depots around the country in an effort to evaluate security in those areas. At the Ashdod and Beer Sheva depots, security personnel detected the simulated explosive devices, while in a third location, the bomb went unnoticed by security personnel.