Millions to be invested in critical systems fortification
Fortification of water, power, facilities to begin next week at companies' expense; Home Front Command to oversee project
Yoav Zitun
פורסם: 31.07.12, 14:19
The fortification of dozens of critical infrastructure facilities, including water, power, oil refineries and communication towers, is set to begin next week, Ynet learned Tuesday.
The massive project, headed by a designated Home Front Command division is estimated at tens of millions of shekels – a cost carried in full by the companies undergoing the security upgrade.
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The facilities in question have been defined by the government as "strategic facilities" that may be targeted in an event of a military strike against Israel.
The project, which includes the use of reinforced concrete alongside other protective measures, aims to see the facilities either withstand a hit completely or sustain "containable damage," i.e. – provide them with the ability to resume regular activity as soon as possible.
The project will be headed by the National Infrastructure Division – a new department formed in the Home Front Command.
The division is headed by an officer holding the rank of lieutenant-colonel who, in concert with a team of specialists, will map out Israel's critical infrastructure facilities and outline their necessary fortification.
The new division will also help the facilities ward off cyber-attacks.
The first phase of the project is set to start next week. The cabinet will vote on the second phase, which is set to include 15 facilities, in two weeks.