In remarks on Aug. 10, Vilnai said Israel has not yet completed its
defense against all enemy missiles. He said civil defense preparations and
facilities would be key to reducing casualties from attacks from the Gaza
Strip, Lebanon and Syria.
"The sooner we prepare in advance, the more lives we will save," Vilnai
said.
Officials said the Defense Ministry was seeking to enhance civil defense
facilities in the Tel Aviv area. They said the ministry has been upgrading
emergency sites while seeking to complete a missile defense network.
Hamas and Hizbullah have developed capabilities to fire missile and
rocket salvoes in the Tel Aviv area, officials said. They cited the
acquisition of Iranian-origin Fajr-3 and Fajr-5 rockets, with ranges of up
to 100 kilometers.
The Defense Ministry has also overseen a study to help coordinate air
and missile defense operations during any future war. The ministry has been
working with the Israel Air Force to determine regulations and areas where
manned aircraft could not be accidentally shot down by missile defense
assets.
"A radar could accidentally mistake a fighter-jet for a missile and that
could be tragic," an official said. "We have to make sure that this doesn't
happen."
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