Housing Minister Effie Eitam (NRP), who heads the government's ministerial team for earthquake preparations, has received findings indicating that some 400,000 buildings built before 1975 are in danger of collapsing during an earthquake. Other experts say that the real number is closer to 700,000.
"We were fortunate yesterday," said Minister Eitam, "that the earthquake was relatively light, resulting only in some structural damage and very light injuries. But it was a good test of the emergency response system and the performance of the various agencies - though it's still early to talk about the exact findings."
It is assumed that the cost of strengthening the problematic buildings could reach two billion dollars. The most common way of doing this is to turn the bottom level of buildings - which are nothing more than pillars, and sometimes used for parking residents' cars - into a closed story, while strengthening the foundations. The government would offer enticements such as subsidized loans and additional permitted construction area for homeowners who earthquake-proof their properties.
A dispute between the police and the army as to which body is responsible for natural calamities such as earthquakes has held up continued legislation on this matter. Over a half-year ago, the government presented a proposed amendment to the existing law regulating police work during mass catastrophes. The proposal is based on ministerial committee work regarding the respective authorities of, and coordination between, the IDF's Home Front Command, the police, firefighters, local government, and the like. The law passed its first reading, leading to its presentation for debate and review in the Knesset Interior Committee. This was scheduled to occur over four months ago, but Gen. Ya'ir Naveh, who had just assumed the position of Home Front Commander, asked for a postponement so that he could study the material. The session was rescheduled for a month ago, but shortly before that date, his office asked the Interior Committee for yet another postponement - this time, because of ongoing disputes between the police and the army regarding their respective authorities. Committee Chairman MK Yuri Stern agreed.
This morning, however - less than 24 hours after the earthquake that shook most of Israel, though causing only minor damage - Stern announced that the meeting would take place next week. It is assumed that no one will ask for a postponement this time.
Geological aftershocks occurred in various places throughout the country, as an expected follow-up to yesterday's earthquake. They were barely felt, registering only 1-3 on the Richter scale.