State Comptroller Judge (ret.) Joseph Shapira is conducting a comprehensive examination of the defense establishment's preparations for the threat of the Hamas tunnels. Sources informed "Globes" today that the inquiry, which is being conducted by members of the division for auditing the defense establishment, began several months ago without any connection to the many assault tunnels exposed in recent weeks since Operation Protective Edge began in the Gaza Strip.
It was also learned today that the comprehensive inquiry into the matter being conducted by the State Comptroller's Office concerns both the Gaza Strip and other fronts the defense establishment is likely to deal with in the future. As part of the inquiry, Shapira and members of the audit division involved toured a recently uncovered tunnel on the southern front.
The audit includes IDF preparations for dealing with the growing threat, including how decisions were made about the measures taken to date to find a technological solution to the problem of the tunnels.
Senior defense sources assert that during the last few years, the defense establishment had not spared efforts or money in its search for an effective technological solution to the problem of the tunnels. The sources added that these efforts included consideration of many proposals brought before the defense establishment, but most had been found to be ineffective in providing good indication of the presence of an assault tunnel leading to Israel. The sources added that the efforts to find a solution to the threat, which was fully exposed during Operation Protective Edge, also include consultation between Israeli experts and those from other countries faced with a similar threat, including Mexico and South Korea.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 23, 2014
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2014