Cabinet Briefed on Israeli Home Front's Emergency and Earthquake
Preparedness
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

The Cabinet, at its weekly meeting this morning (Sunday, 4 September 2016),
was briefed on the preparedness of the Israeli home front for emergencies
and earthquakes. Defense Ministry National Emergency Authority Director
Bezalel Treiber briefed ministers on the progress that has been made by the
various ministries and bodies and on the main gaps that exist in the field.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered that an additional meeting be held
in which all ministers will present the progress that their ministries have
made regarding emergency preparedness as well as plans to close the gaps.

The Prime Minister asked the professional bodies to send a delegation to
Italy in order to study the main lessons from the recent earthquake and
present them to the Cabinet.

The Prime Minister also directed the Cabinet to consider the possibility of
implementing an international standard for strengthening old structures in
order to withstand earthquakes and to offer economic incentives in at-risk
areas.