The cabinet unanimously approved the establishment of the IDF Training Base City at Ramat Hovav in the Negev at its weekly meeting on Sunday. The Training Base City is due to be completed by 2011.
The 1,250-dunam (315-acre) site will include 250,000 sq.m. of buildings to be used by most of the IDF’s training bases, currently scattered across the country. Strong objections were raised against the project because of the severe pollution and health hazards from the nearby Ramat Hovav industrial zone, with its numerous chemicals plants.
Construction of the IDF Training Base City will comply with the health and environmental conditions established by the Ministries of Health and the Environment, and the IDF Medical Corps. The conditions are designed to assure effective waste treatment by factories in Ramat Hovav, at a cost of hundreds of millions of shekels
Prime Minister Olmert said, "This is an historic decision that will create an absolutely new reality in the Negev. Development of the Negev from now on will be completely different after 11,000 soldiers from bases throughout Israel move to the Negev, along with hundreds of families of career soldiers."
Vice Premier Shimon Peres said, "The establishment of the IDF Training Base City will constitute a socio-economic lever of the highest order for the Negev." Minister of Defense Amir Peretz added, "This is a strategic move of the highest order. I view this project as giving hope to the development and prosperity of the Negev."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on April 4, 2007
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2007