Prime Minister Ehud Olmert this afternoon, convened a discussion with Defense Minister Amir Peretz, Public Security Minister Avi Dichter, Education Minister Yuli Tamir, Interior Minister Ronnie Bar-On, Minister Yitzhak Cohen, Ashkelon Mayor Roni Mehatzri, Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal, the chairmen of the Eshkol, Sdot Hanegev and Ashkelon Coast regional councils, the directors-general of several Government ministries and other senior officials on the continuation of Government assistance to Sderot and other communities near the Gaza Strip.
 
Prime Minister Olmert made the following remarks at the start of the meeting: “Throughout our history in this Land, during far more difficult times, we have never run away from our homes.  We will not lend a hand to hasty actions that may be good for two or three days but which are liable to have destructive long-term effects.  We do not want to take people out of their homes.  Localized instances will be dealt with case-by-case but to load people on buses and whisk them off to five-star hotels?  In no way is this Government policy.”
 
Sderot Mayor Moyal said: “The national and municipal leaderships must decide that we are not leaving this city.  We are not capitulating.  It is with such a message that we must leave this meeting.”  He noted that Government measures to encourage employment in Sderot led to a 4.1% drop in the number of those seeking work in September.
 
IDF Home Front Command data indicate that 19 of 24 schools in Sderot and the greater Gaza Strip area have been reinforced; the remaining schools will be reinforced within a few days.  Fifty-six kindergartens have been reinforced; another 25 will be reinforced by the end of the month.  Over 70 additional kindergartens will be reinforced by the end of March 2007.  The State has invested NIS 285 million to date in the plan to reinforce communities in the greater Gaza Strip area; NIS 75 of this has gone to schools.
 
Prime Minister Olmert directed that the plan to reinforce educational institutions be expanded so that all homerooms in Sderot and greater Gaza Strip area elementary schools will be reinforced.  This is in order to assist pupils in the lower grades who may have difficulty in moving to protected areas in the event of an alert.  Middle and high school students will study in protected areas, with special provision for students studying for matriculation exams.
 
An additional 29 kindergartens and daycare centers, which were not included in the current plan, will also be reinforced.  Counseling service facilities in Sderot will also be reinforced.  Prime Minister Olmert directed the education Ministry to take such steps as are necessary to increase the number of psychologists, as well as overall assistance to children, in Sderot.
 
Prime Minister Olmert ordered that a separate discussion be held on reinforcing structures in communities seven kilometers beyond the current line, including Ashkelon.  A separate discussion will also be held on reinforcing residents’ homes.
 
Prime Minister’s Office Director-General Ra’anan Dinur said that local social services would be responsible for dealing with families under their care.