Israelis say southern towns left unprotected as war with Iran intensifies
Residents of Israel's southern Negev region say they've been left defenceless against Iranian missile fire, and have called the government's response "a complete failure" rooted in years of policy neglect.
Avi Dabush, the executive director of Rabbis for Human Rights, told Middle East Eye that Saturday's deadly strikes on Dimona, a city known for its proximity to Israeli nuclear facilities, and the nearby city of Arad, exposed deep gaps in civilian protection.
"The government's response to the missile fire is a complete failure," Dabush said.
"The state spends hundreds of billions on various things, but not on protection," he said, adding: "action should have been taken long ago".
His comments come after one of the heaviest rounds of Iranian missile strikes on Israeli territory since the start of the US and Israeli war on Iran, with around 30 people injured in Dimona and 115 in Arad.
The scale of the casualties reignited criticism over the government’s failure to provide adequate shelters and safe rooms in Israel's southern periphery.
According to a recent State Comptroller report, more than a third of Israel's population lacks access to standard-approved shelters or safe rooms.
Some 3.2 million civilians are living without proper protected spaces, despite hundreds of millions of shekels allocated to address the issue.
The report also found that nearly half a million students attend schools without adequate protection.
When asked whether it was responsible for the Israeli government to launch a war given these conditions, Dabush said: "This has been an irresponsible policy for years. Those who decided to go to war did not seriously consider civilian protection before making that decision".
He added that the lack of protection is particularly acute in Palestinian communities inside Israel. "There is a disregard for human life, and the sanctity of life is being crushed," he said.
According to the same report, only 0.5 percent of Israel's public shelters are located in Palestinian cities and communities - that's around 30 shelters for more than two million Palestinian citizens of Israel.
On Sunday, State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman said his office had already warned senior officials following Israel's 12-day war with Iran in June 2025.
"This is a matter of life and death for us," Englman said.
"The state cannot abandon the periphery to market forces. Without a structured, properly budgeted national plan, southern cities will remain exposed."
Netanyahu's visit draws backlash
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Arad on Sunday, where he framed the attacks as evidence of a broader global threat posed by Iran.
"If you want proof that Iran poses a threat to the entire world, the past 48 hours have provided it," Netanyahu said at the impact site, adding that Iran was using missiles "as a weapon for mass killing".
"Fortunately, no one was killed, but that is due to luck, not their intent. Their intent is to kill civilians," he said.
However, his visit drew criticism after Israeli media reported that he had arrived with a movable safe room, which was removed shortly after he left.
An Arad resident told Ynet: "Why couldn't they just leave it?"
Dabush said the episode reflected political priorities overshadowing civilian needs.
"He dropped everything to come for a few hours to Arad and Dimona. This is yet another stark and embarrassing example of political interests being placed above everything else."
"As a resident of the Negev, this embarrasses me," he added.
This article was sourced from Middle East Eye.
Read Full Article on Middle East Eye →