Government outlines post-pullout threat

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By Jerusalem Newswire Editorial Staff
June 16, 2005

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has for over a year billed his ?disengagement? plan as the best way to increase security for Israeli Jews, while unloading the burden of having to defend 21 small settlements in the Gaza Strip.

Seemingly contradicting Sharon's assertions, the government this week released a brochure outlining the threat 45 Israeli communities in the Negev and coastal region will find themselves under as a direct result of the pullout.

The brochure was prepared by the IDF's Home Front Command the Ministry of Education and distributed to school teachers in the endangered towns and villages.

It lists which communities will be vulnerable to rocket attacks, mortar shells, ?Palestinian? gunfire and terrorist infiltrations, or a combination thereof, based on their distance from Gaza.

The communities in question are asked to employ a series of security precautions, Ha'aretz reported, and schoolchildren are to be trained in emergency procedures.

Residents of the soon-to-be beseiged communities complained Thursday that despite the detailed threat to them, the government is doing little to protect them.

Representatives of several communities located near Gaza said the defense establishment had to date allocated only NIS 30 million out of the NIS 110 million it had promised for setting up defenses, Ynetnews reported.

They said the most pressing matter was the installation of reinforced roofs on kindergartens, schools and other public buildings to protect against Kassam rockets.

According to current plans and budgetary restraints, the roofs will only be put in after the withdrawal is complete, ?endangering the lives of the region's residents,? said Brig.-Gen. (res.) Tzvika Fogel.

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