‘We Have Places Liable to Trouble’: Is Israel Prepared to Deal with Earthquakes?

Defense Minister Gallant said Israel has some “tens of thousands of structures that we need to address so that in emergencies, people will not become trapped in them.”

By Ben Rappaport, United with Israel

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week held the first meeting of the Ministerial Committee on Civilian Sector Preparedness for Emergency Situations.

Netanyahu said that the meeting “concentrated mainly on earthquakes.”

“The State of Israel is located on the Syrian-African Rift; we have places that are liable to trouble.”

“We are now relating to two main items: One, is to issue warnings and directives to the public on what to do in the event of an earthquake. We will hold a major exercise in November.

“Second, is to carry out preventive action by reinforcing structures in the most dangerous places.

“We established a director generals committee on this matter; this committee will also move forward led by the Defense Ministers and the participating ministers. I will also personally be involved.

“The main thing is to prepare the State of Israel for earthquakes and other mishaps,” Netanyahu concluded. “We believe that with proper preparations we will greatly reduce the damage and the price we will pay. We will do it and we will succeed.”

Defense Minister Gallant said Israel has some “tens of thousands of structures that we need to address so that in emergencies, people will not become trapped in them, Heaven forbid, in daytime or at night.”

“The Defense Ministry, together with all the other agencies, knows how to do the work, and we will do what is necessary. I hope that we will make progress. This is good news for the citizens of Israel after many years in which the issue was not dealt with,” Gallant added.