The “Northern Shield” project, aimed at strengthening protection in northern communities, is moving forward with significant acceleration. Under the agreement signed between the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Finance, and the Home Front Command, approximately 10,000 new safe rooms (Mamadim) will be built. These will include both government-initiated projects and self-construction plans within a distance of up to 5 kilometers from the Lebanon border. The program has a budget of 1.2 billion shekels and is set to launch in April 2025.
The new agreement offers two main tracks:
1. Self-Construction Track:
– Residents of 28 communities near the border will be able to independently build safe rooms in their homes.
– The state will provide a grant of up to 132,000 shekels per family and waive construction permits, subject to defined criteria.
2. Government-Initiated Construction:
– The Ministry of Defense will construct approximately 1,700 safe rooms in 21 communities located 0–1 kilometers from the border.
– Construction work is expected to begin soon after completing the planning phase and recruiting contractors.
Erez Cohen, Deputy Director and Head of the Engineering and Construction Division at the Ministry of Defense, explained:
“The agreement signed this morning allows the Northern Shield Directorate at the Ministry of Defense, together with the Home Front Command, to implement the government decision and expand protection efforts within a 5-kilometer radius from the border.”
“In this current track, residents can quickly advance the process independently and carry it out in a very short time while benefiting from state financial support,” Cohen concluded.
