Boker Tov Israel - Sunday July 23

10:30 PM I'm exhausted. Here are a few of the significant news stories breaking now:

1. (Finally) The Israeli government announces that Haifa and the Northern communities are in a "matzav cheirum" (emergency war situation). This allows for much needed financial benefits for workers and companies.

2. Ariel Sharon's medical condition takes a turn for the worse, as reported by the Tel HaShomer medical center this evening. His kidneys are not functioning as well as they should, and their is fluid building up in his body. Family members dismissed the pessimistic reports from the hospital and said there is no change that they are aware of.

3. Olmert Informs the French Foreign Minister: There are over 1 millions Israelis in bomb shelters now.

4. Over 5000 Duman of forest near Kiryat Shmona were burned and destroyed as a result of Katyusha induced fires.

That's it -- Im off to bed.

'night.

--Jameel.

6:20 PM Air Raid Sirens in Haifa, Krayot and Western Gailil.

Muqata going off line for a few hours now. Be back soon.

6:07 PM Shin Ben Director Yuval Diskin: Expect that Gaza will become just like Lebanon. In today's cabinet meeting, Diskin said that if Israel doesn't significantly change the facts on the ground in Gaza (entirely shutting off Gaza from Egypt, preventing the Hamas from improving their abilities and finding an alternative Palestinian leadership), the Israel will find itself facing a Hamas infrastructure similar to Hizbolla. (Ynet in Hebrew)

6:02 PM Four more rockets land in Sderot -- no injuries, no damage. 10 Qassam rockets have been fired at Southern Israel today from Gaza.

Over 2000 insurance claims have been filed by Northern Israel residents with the government to repair property damage from Katyusha rockets. The majority of the claims are from Tzefat and Haifa. (IDF radio)

5:30 PM Northern Israel under major barrage of rockets.

Rockets landing Haifa, Carmiel and Akko. Direct hit on house in Haifa. gas fire erupts by now under control by Haifa firefighters. Two lightly wounded reported.

4:52 PM Picture from Jerusalem.

I took this picture with my cellphone camera on my way home this past Thursday. It's a huge home-made banner at the exit of Jerusalem that says as follows (translated from the Hebrew)

Solider!

Thank you for protecting us!
May you come home safely.

4:35 PM IDF radio reports that reservists with background in Military Civil Administration are being drafted in small numbers. This indicates the possibility of the IDF planning to administer South Lebanon for a limited time using a Military Civil Administration.

4:20 PM Qassam rockets land outside of Sderot; no injuries, no damage

4:05 PM IDF radio reports that over 100 rockets fired in the past 2 hours at the North.

3:30 PM One person wounded seriously from rocket strike in Akko. (IDF radio)

3:19 PM Reports of rockets also landing in Carmiel and Akko. Three lightly wounded in Kiryat Shmona.

3:16 PM Reports of direct Katyusha hits on homes in Kiryat Shmona and Akko. Rockets reported landing in Tzefat as well. MDA responding.

3:08 PM Air Raid Sirens continuing in Tzverya, Carmiel, Akko, Afula, Achihud, Chatzor, Machanayim, and Natzrat.

3:05 PM Air Raid sirens in the North. Rockets land in the area of Haifa and the Krayot. MDA responding.

3:02 PM IDF Continuing to shell South Lebanon, Syria warns Israel of war if IDF soldiers approach Syria. (IDF radio)

2:59 PM Newsflash: Binyamina Residents advised by IDF Homefront Command to be in close proximity to secure rooms/locations.

2:49 PM IDF locates and destroys a Hizbolla rocket launcher next to a Mosque in South Lebanon. Finds cache of arms inside. In a Mosque? Next you'll tell me they use ambulances to transport weapons as well...(pictures here don't bother with the movie...nothing interesting)

2:35 PM Israel's firefighters are battling numerous fires in the North, started by Katyusha strikes. Perhaps someone should lodge a complaint with GreenPeace?

2:27 PM Uh Oh...Iran’s Ahmadinejad tells Israel to “pack up’ and leave.

TEHERAN - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called Sunday for Israel to “pack up” and move somewhere outside the Middle East, the state news agency IRNA reported.

“I advise them to pack up and move out of the region before being caught in the fire they have started in Lebanon,” said Ahmadinejad, who has repeatedly called for the Jewish state to be relocated elsewhere on the planet. Hattip: Khaleej Times

Wow...relocate to elsewhere on the planet? Impressive. Though I'm not really shaking in my boots.

2:22 PM Neighbor's son who completed 3 years of IDF service and was discharged last Monday, received emergency call up orders on Friday. He's painting his face green and going up to Lebanon today...We wish him a safe and successful mission!

2:21 PM No reports of injuries in previous rocket attacks

1:17 PM Air Raid Sirens in Tzefat, Hatzor Gelilit, and Rosh Pina

1:01 PM Announcement from Torah.org:

Torah.org, is launching a new "Pray for Israel" campaign to get people praying and learning for the ill and injured, by getting people onto it's mailing lists ("Lifeline" for learning links, and "Cholim" for prayers).

Click here for more details:



12:57 PM One katyusha rocket landed earlier on a house in Haifa. The residents were in their bomb shelter and emerged unscathed.

12:23 PM Israel Solidarity Rally in San Francisco

On 7/19/06, Deborah Schultz <deborahschultz@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Friends -
-- Worried about the situation in Israel?
-- Concerned that you don't have all the facts?
-- Wondering what you can possibly do from here?

The answer is SIMPLE. THIS SUNDAY is your opportunity. Take a few hoursout of your day andJOIN the entire BAY AREA COMMUNITY as we STAND AGAINST TERRORISM and STANDWITH ISRAEL.The time is NOW and your attendance at the event really can sway publicopinion. Please SPREAD THE WORD to all your lists, sites andorganizations!

For Details click here

12:16 PM Pictures of cows who were hurt in Katyusha rocket attacks in the Galil last week. Viewer Discretion is seriously advised. More Pictures here.

12:14 PM Air Raid sirens in Haifa and Akko...No confirmed rocket hits.

12:10 PM FALSE ALARM -- Air Raid Sirens which were head in Binyamina and Zichron Yaakov a few minutes ago were false alarms.

12:05 PM One of the killed was from a direct Katyusha hit on a car in Haifa driving to Nesher. 12 wounded, 1 serious, 1 moderate.

11:17 AM MDA reports that there are 2 dead and 3 in serious condition from the rocket attacks on Haifa and the surrounding areas a few minutes ago.

11:11 AM Reports of 1 dead and several wounded in this morning's rocket attack on Haifa.

10:57 AM Air Raid Sirens head in Haifa and Northern Israel. 12 rocket strikes in Haifa area. Details pending...

8:30 AM This morning, Katuyusha rockets lande in Western Galilee - no injuries, no damage.

8:28 AM As I reported on Friday, when the Commander of Israel's northern region mentioned that "we aren't sure if there's an additional soldier MIA or not..." -- this morning the IDF cleared for publication that a 5th soldier was killed in the Avivim area firefight on Thursday, and his body was just recovered. YNET has the story:

Following a day of uncertainty, the army located the body of a fallen soldier from the Egoz unit who was killed during battles against Hizbullah Thursday in the southern Lebanese village of Marun a-Ras. His name has not yet been released for publication, as he is a ‘lone soldier’ who immigrated to Israel without his family and joined the army on his own initiative. Thus, the number of IDF casualties in the battle has risen to five. Six more soldiers were wounded in the fighting.

8:27 AM Good Morning Blogworld. Quick news roundup before running to work.


Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael