To counter anti-tank missiles acquired by Gaza terrorist the IDF is working to plants trees to block terrorist cells’ views & update defense systems.

By Yoav Zitun

The IDF has received a painful reminder of the growing threat posed by advanced rocket launchers in the hands of Gaza terror groups in the wake of Saturday’s border attack which saw four IDF soldiers injured by an anti-tank missile fired from Gaza.

The majority of the rockets, which have reached the hands of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, were smuggled in from Iran, and have a range of up to 5 kilometers, putting large parts of Route 232 (the main road surrounding the Gaza perimeter) at risk.

A new threat

Those facing the biggest threat are farming vehicles, which work the land between the road and the border, as well as IDF vehicles patrolling the area.

Over the past two years and particularly since the April 2011 anti-tank missile attack on a Nahal-Oz school bus which claimed the life of Daniel Viflic, security regulations for army vehicles patrolling the route have become much stricter.

According to the new directives, driving along the border should be undertaken only when absolutely necessary and mostly with heavily armored vehicles, such as the D9 bulldozer and the Merkava Mark IV tanks with the recently installed “Windbreaker” active protection defense system.

The IDF’s GOC Army Headquarters (Mazi) is developing a similar, yet smaller and cheaper, version of the “Windbreaker” which will be installed into patrol vehicles such as the Hummer and the Wolf armored vehicle.

The goal is to equip these vehicles with a system that would inform the soldiers inside that an anti-tank missile has been fired in their direction, thus giving them sufficient time to exit the vehicle.

The greens go green

Another solution utilizes tall trees to block terrorists’ view. The trees are planted along Route 232, specifically in areas in range of the anti-tank missiles.

The goal of the trees is to intensively minimize terrorist cells’ observational and aiming capabilities, in junctions or sharp turns where vehicles are forced to slow down. The project has only recently been launched and is slated to cover additional kilometers along the road.

Bibi’s word

Prime Minister Netanyahu promised last month to fortify every house within a 4.5-7 km radius of Gaza, but the project has yet to be budgeted.

It is estimated to cost NIS 270 million (roughly $70 million), but its implementation has been marred by inter-governmental bickering over the funding source.

The government’s decision to accept the prime minister’s plan was in principle aloe, with the budgetary element postponed to a later date. Even with the beginning of the planning and tender process, it is estimated that full implementation could take up to two years.

In addition it should be noted that the project has been recommended to the government by the defense establishment for almost two years.

View original Ynet publication (without YouTube video clip) at: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4303706,00.html