About 250 kindergartens in northern Israel lack full protection — Jerusalem Post

About 250 kindergartens in northern Israel began the school year without adequate protection, including without a standard safe room in or near the building. This was reported in an opinion column by the Jerusalem Post, which cites data from Israeli public broadcaster KAN News.

The facilities are located in communities near the Lebanese border and as far as the Krayot area near Haifa. The article notes that, due to the short warning time for danger, children must be able to reach a shelter within seconds.

Funding delay

Amit Sofer, head of the Merom HaGalil Regional Council, said that more than six months ago, Israel's Ministry of Defense informed the council that applications for protective measures had been approved. However, the promised funding has still not arrived, he said, although the school year has already begun.

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The column's author emphasizes that the construction of protective structures requires engineering design, budget approval and tenders. In her view, these processes should begin several months before the start of the school year.

Coordination between agencies

After October 7, Israel established the Tkuma Directorate to concentrate authority, funding and project implementation in affected western Negev communities near the border with the Gaza Strip. In the north, the Tnufa Directorate operates; it was incorporated into the Tkuma structure and provided with dedicated positions and a multi-year budget.

The column argues that the problem is not the lack of a coordinating body, but insufficient authority to move quickly from approval to the implementation of work. Protecting one kindergarten depends on the requirements of the Home Front Command, budgeting by the Ministry of Finance, implementation through the Ministry of Defense and the involvement of the local council.