‘We’re Still Waiting for Protection’: Bomb Shelter Budget Delayed Amid Daily Missile Strikes
Israel’s Finance Ministry is holding up a 100 million shekel budget to enhance civilian defenses, including new bomb shelters and shelter upgrades, amid ongoing Iranian missile attacks. The delay, caused by bureaucratic demands, leaves vulnerable populations without adequate protection during a critical time.
As Israel faces daily ballistic missile attacks from Iran, a critical 100 million shekel ($26 million) budget to bolster civilian defenses remains stalled by the Finance Ministry, two days after its submission by the Defense Ministry. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), drawing lessons from the ongoing war with Iran, requested the funds to address immediate protection needs, particularly in high-risk areas like Gush Dan. Senior officials familiar with the issue report that the Finance Ministry’s demands for detailed work plans are causing delays, leaving vulnerable communities exposed.
The budget, proposed on June 16, 2025, has two key components. First, 50 million shekels are allocated for the rapid production and deployment of concrete bomb shelters equipped with blast-proof doors, prioritized for threatened regions. Second, another 50 million shekels would fund renovations of existing public shelters, including electrical, ventilation, and plumbing upgrades, to ensure livable conditions. These improvements, managed by Defense Ministry contractors, target areas where shelters are in poor condition, benefiting residents without private safe rooms.
Sources indicate that the Finance Ministry’s hesitation has already cost critical time. Had the budget been approved promptly, dozens of new shelters could have been deployed by early next week. Instead, the delay jeopardizes roughly a third of Israel’s population, particularly low-income communities, who lack standard home protection and rely on often substandard public shelters. This vulnerability is acute as Iran’s missile barrages target Israel’s civilian infrastructure, heightening fears of casualties in unprotected areas.
The issue echoes recent reports of inaccessible public shelters, some repurposed as private storage or residences, further straining civilian defenses. The Defense Ministry declined to comment, and the Finance Ministry has yet to respond. With Israel under sustained attack, the delay underscores a bureaucratic bottleneck that could have life-or-death consequences for the nation’s most defenseless citizens.