Searching for mines
Searching for minesFlash 90

The Demining Authority at the Defense Ministry completed the mine-clearing project in the Ramat Gilad neighborhood of the Karnei Shomron Regional Council, which covers more than 80 dunams.

This is the first time a demining project has been carried out in Judea and Samaria, where thousands of mines are being cleared in an area that will allow construction of about 1,200 housing units.

The project was led by Deputy Defense Minister Rabbi Eli Ben Dahan, under guidance of Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman.

"Thanks to He who has given us life and sustained us and brought us to this day," blessed Karnei Shomron Regional Council Head Yigal Lahav, who announced "To mark the country's 70th anniversary, this morning 13 anti-tank mines planted 70 years ago were destroyed."

anti-tank mine
anti-tank mineiStock

Lahav added, "A huge thank you to Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, Deputy Defense Minister Rabbi Eli Ben Dahan, and Assistant Defense Minister for Settlement Kobi Eliraz for their desire to help and save lives. Let us see houses and children playing in place of minefields soon."

Defense Minister Liberman welcomed the demining and said, "When I took up position of Defense Minister, I promised to act to expand settlement. This morning at Karnei Shomron we kept our promise. Through the Defense Ministry's Demining Authority, we cleared an old Jordanian minefield that was decades old, which limited their ability to grow and develop."

Ramat Gilad
Ramat GiladFlash 90

"For decades this minefield lay like an immovable object. Much has been said about the need to clear it but nothing has happened. When I became Defense Minister, we decided to take action and this morning many anti-tank mines were detonated. Soon, instead of minefields, we will build new housing units in Karnei Shomron," Liberman added.

Deputy Minister Ben Dahan said, "Building in Judea and Samaria is not a dirty word. It's our duty to the citizens of the State. I'm glad we brought the heavy tools into the field and prepared it for constructing thousands of housing units for a million Jews who will live in Judea and Samaria in the future."

Ramat Gilad
Ramat GiladFlash 90