The Ministerial Committee on National Security Affairs, this morning, discussed the possibility of amending its February 2008 decision and expanding the structural reinforcement plan for communities adjacent to the Gaza Strip beyond the 4.5-kilometer range, to a 4.7-kilometer range, at an additional overall cost of hundreds of millions of shekels.

The Committee met in the wake of an appeal to the Supreme Court.  It was decided not to change the Government decision, which dealt with a structural reinforcement plan already underway, to which NIS 327 million has already been allocated.  It should be noted that in the framework of additional stages included in the same approved plan, hundreds of millions of additional shekels will be invested in reinforcing residents' homes.

There was a demand to increase the range within which residents' homes will be reinforced from 4.5 kilometers to 4.7 kilometers even though the communities in the 4.5-4.7-kilometer range would be protected by the "Iron Dome" system.

The Committee considered whether or not the data has changed since February and decided not to amend the above-mentioned decision, which is already being implemented.

The Supreme Court will be informed of the Committee's decision.