Minister says IDF neglects Haredim, Bedouins by relying on modern tech for missile alerts
Likud’s Shlomo Karhi tells State Comptroller that ultra-Orthodox and Negev communities are less likely to receive alerts, says IDF ‘irresponsible’ for not expanding alert system
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi on Wednesday accused the IDF’s Homefront Command of ignoring the needs of ultra-Orthodox Jews and Negev Bedouins by limiting incoming missile warnings to electronic devices and stationary sirens, arguing that, in the wake of the war with Iran and as Yemen’s Houthis continue sending missiles, these communities are more vulnerable to the danger of missiles and drones.
Writing to State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman, the senior Likud politician alleged that “extraneous considerations” stand behind “the Homefront Command and the IDF [Information and Communication Technology] Division refusing to take responsibility for the serious gaps in warning reaching the ultra-Orthodox and Arab communities,” according to a copy of the letter published by the ultra-Orthodox Kikar Hashabbat news site.
When Houthis in Yemen fired a ballistic missile at Israel Tuesday evening, most Israelis “received warnings on their smartphones, television, radio and alarm sirens. In contrast, ultra-Orthodox Israeli citizens, who have kosher phones, no television and listen to the ultra-Orthodox radio networks, did not receive advance warnings and life-saving instructions in the north and south,” he wrote.
The term “kosher phone” refers to non-smart phones that are used by many in the ultra-Orthodox community who shun unfiltered access to the internet.
They are stripped of features such as web browsers and messaging apps, and come with cheaper plans as they are only to be used six days of the week — not on Shabbat — and their numbers have identifiable digits designating them as part of these rabbi-approved plans.
Complaining of the alleged “inexplicable stubbornness and irresponsibility on the part of those responsible for the security of the country and its citizens,” Karhi said that the IDF has declined to allow regional radio stations to expand their areas of broadcast in order to reach niche sectoral audiences with warnings.
According to Karhi, Bedouins in southern Israel “do not receive the two regional Arabic-language channels because they only broadcast in the north,” and Haredim in northern Israel are unable to tune into Haredi channels which serve their community in other areas of the country.
This is critical as many Haredim lack internet access while some members of the Arabic-speaking public “suffer from poor cellular coverage,” he asserted.
According to the Israel Democracy Institute, a 2018 report by the State Comptroller found that 46 percent of Arab citizens live in buildings without protected spaces, compared to 26% of the general population. The report also found an almost total lack of public shelters in most Arab locales, including in large cities like Umm al-Fahm and Rahat.
The Home Front Command and Defense Ministry have begun implementing a NIS 100 million ($29 million) plan to revamp Israel’s protective infrastructure following the war with Iran, but Arab Israeli locales — despite a glaring shortage of protected spaces — have been largely overlooked in the campaign, say local officials.
During the recent war with Iran, many Negev Bedouins, especially those in unrecognized villages, relied on caves, overpasses and other makeshift structures as shelters, which would not have provided enough protection if they were struck by a ballistic missile.
Residents reside mainly in tents and tin structures because unrecognized villages are barred from constructing any houses or buildings, including reinforced safe rooms or bomb shelters. They lack emergency infrastructure, have few public services, and often no electricity or paved roads, and thus do not have adequate mobile phone service or public missile sirens.
The war with Iran saw some 500 ballistic missiles and around 1,100 drones fired at Israel. The attacks killed 28 people and wounded over 3,000 in Israel, according to health officials and hospitals.
In all, there were 36 missile impacts and one drone strike in populated areas, causing damage to 2,305 homes in 240 buildings, along with two universities and a hospital, and leaving over 13,000 Israelis displaced.
Ariella Karmel and Emanuel Fabian contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.