Small businesses still unprotected against missile attack

There were still no clear guidelines for unprotected business owners in the event of an attack.

By MIRIAM BULWAR DAVID-HAY (TRANSLATED)
More than 10,000 small businesses in Haifa and the North - about half the total - are unprotected in the event of any missile attack on Israel, according to the general manager of the Israeli Association of Trade and Industry in Haifa, Alon Schwartz, reports www.mynet.co.il. According to the report, Schwartz made the statements at the organization's weekly managerial meeting recently. He said a survey carried out by the organization in June 2007 had found that more than 10,000 small businesses, or about 50% of the small businesses in the North, were unprotected from missile attacks, and that sirens could not be heard in 40% of industrial zones in the north, putting business owners and employees at risk during any attack. Schwartz said there were still no clear guidelines for unprotected business owners in the event of an attack, and they did not know whether they should close their premises or leave them open, where they should hide, or whether they should send employees home or keep them at work. He said the situation was potentially life-threatening, and in the wake of the findings, he had warned the Defense Ministry and asked for guidance. No response was reported from the ministry.