Gaza Rocket Attacks on Israel

7:22 AM Police and IDF Homefront command have ordered Be'er Sheva residents to move to secured areas (bomb shelters, etc) due to additional/possible imminent rocket attacks.

7:19 AM Due to the GRAD rocket attack on Be'er Sheva, all schools in the Be'er Sheva region are canceled, except for Ben-Gurion University.

6:22 AM Hamas launches GRAD rocket at Be'er Sheva, the capital of South-Central Israel. One moderately wounded. Indications of additional rocket launches continue...

12:43 AM Air Raid Sirens sound in Ashkelon and Ashdod, as Hamas rockets land in the Ashkelon area. No physical injuires or damage reported. Two treated shock in the Ashdod area.

Israeli Air Force retaliating and Palestinian Sources in Gaza report of a huge explosion in Gaza city.


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Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

Pagan Altar Unearthed At Ashkelon "Holy" Bones Site

As if the "Atra Kadisha" organization needed to look even dumber, today Israeli archeologists unearthed a pagan altar "mizbeach" at the pagan graveyard -- located where the new emergency room will be built for the Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon.

Dr. Yigal Israel of the Israeli antiquities authority inspects an ancient pagan altar that was uncovered while clearing ground for construction of a hotly disputed hospital emergency room in Ashkelon, Israel, Thursday, May 20, 2010. Israeli archaeologists say the 2,000-year old incense altar proves an ancient cemetery at the site that has been at the center of protests by ultra-Orthodox Jews does not contain the graves of Jews. (AP Photo / Tsafrir Abayov)

Of course, the Atra Kadisha is continuing their funeral for the holy bones, and the location of where they will be buried is still secret -- since G-d fearing Jews do not want pagans buried in a Jewish cemetery.


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Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

Bones, Graves, Riots, Ooops

With our bodies, we will protect the graves of our fathers
AND FILL UP
THE JAILS
for their honor and to save them

The pagan bones found at the site of the Ashkelon Barzilai Hospital have caused quite a brouhaha over the past few weeks.

Ultra Radical Chareidim (not to be confused with the non-radical Chareidim) have rioted over these pagan bones, and have stated the bones should not be moved to allow the building of life-saving emergency room, despite the halacha which allows Jewish graves to be moved.

The Jerusalem Post reported that the damage costs came out to over a million NIS.

Riots that shook the capital’s haredi enclave of Mea Shearim on Sunday night are estimated to have cost some NIS 1 million in property damage, as garbage bins, traffic lights and vehicles – among other things – were vandalized in connection with the relocation of ancient graves in Ashkelon, a Jerusalem municipal spokeswoman said Monday.

YNET now reports that the funeral procession of the pagan bones has started.

Hundreds of members of the Eda Haharedit are holding a funeral procession in Jerusalem's Shabbat Square for the bones that were evacuated from Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon. During the ceremony, they are asking forgiveness from those whose graves were disinterred.

Before the gathering, the Religious Affairs Ministry gave authorization to the Eda Haharedit leaders to take the bones in a coffin to the ceremony and bury them in a modest ceremony.

There's only one small "oops"

Officials on the case refused to report whether the burial will take place in the Jewish section of the cemetery.

Kikar Shabbat reports that not one burial society has agreed to bury the pagan bones...in a Jewish cemetery.

While the rioteers scream from the rooftops about the sanctity of their fathers' bones, not one of them is actually prepared when push comes to shove, to actually bury them in a Jewish cemetery.

Ooops.

I wonder where they will actually be buried...

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Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

Day 23 of the War, Sunday, January 18, 2009

Day 23 of the Gaza War, Sunday, January 18, 2009
Daily sticky post, constantly updated.

More liveblogging at IsraellyCool and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/muqata Keyword #GazaWar

Note: Using the "Refresh" (F5 key) command in your Web Browser will show you the latest updates -- Refresh on an Apple/Mac is apple+R.

Additional New posts from today can be found below this post.

As a general rule we will try and keep operational details to a minimum, that includes troop movements and the exact location of rocket hits. If items are reported in the Mainstream Israeli Media we will report them as well.

11:43 PM Hi people, Jameel here. Sorry, I'm not at liberty to discuss what is currently going on in my area. In other areas of the Shomron this evening, terrorists opened fire on the settlement of Alei Zahav. No injuries. I'm done blogging this evening -- join us tomorrow for another fun filled day of case fire.

10:04 PM JoeSettler here. Jameel had to run as there is an active terror alert in his area. He will post about it (if allowed) when he gets back.

9:56 PM Sorry people - gotta go. Terror alert in my area.

9:40 PM Breaking News. The CAT head scan of the niece of Gazan doctor, Dr Ayash whose 3 daughters were killed in his building reveals conclusively that the shrapnel in her head is NOT from IDF muntions...rather like those from Hamas-used rockets. (Channel 1 TV minutes ago)

7:08 PM Though I reported it last week, the big news today in Israel is the announcement that tremendous natural gas reserves (more than 3 trillion cubic feet) were found within Israeli territorial waters, about 90 kilometers (56 miles) from Haifa. Reports have started that there is enough natural gas to grant Israel energy and economic independence for generations to come. (more here and here).

Hoping, hoping, this isn't an overestimation (we could use some good news, right?)

6:04 PM Battle Weary IDF soldiers returning from Gaza.

(source)

5:44 PM Hamas issues ultimatum to Israel: Withdraw IDF troops within a week and open the border crossings, or we'll start firing rockets at you again.

5:17 PM Mortar slams into DoubleTapper's position in Southern Israel (he's called me 3 times yelling at me that I should post it, because his ears are still ringing. No Damage, No Injuries)

3:54 PM Political Cartoon Roundup (source)








2:48 PM Israel public opinion is against the "cease-fire". In a Israel TV Channel 2 poll conducted today, 64% of Israelis are against the cease-fire, 27% in favor, and 8% undecided. (source)

2:26 PM Grad rocket hits house in Ashdod. 1 wounded from shrapnel. (ynet) Sirens did not sound before rocket hit.

2:21 PM Reports that Hamas is initiating its own cease-fire for a period of a week, to allow IDF forces to retreat out of Gaza.

2:08 PM Israeli press reports that a Jew was stabbed in the Golders Green neighborhood in North West London, by a knife wielding Moslem who was yelling, "Free Gaza, Free Gaza". The teenager was hospitalized in serious condition. (source). Note; I still haven't found a source for this in the UK news...

1:59 PM YNET reports that 2 additional rockets fell in the Western Negev region. That makes 12 rockets shot at Israel so far, since Israel's unilateral cease-fire.

1:55 PM IAF gets high marks -- Hamas hotbed, radical Islamic University in Gaza heavily damaged. Photo gallery here.

1:49 PM 103FM Israeli Radio reports that IDF soldiers left messages in Hebrew in Gaza City on the walls of buildings: "Gilad, We were here. [looking for you]"

1:41 PM Reports that IDF tanks returned fire in the direction of the rocket launches at Israel earlier today.

12:59 PM No reports of injuries or damage in rocket attack on Ashkelon minutes ago. (You can ignore the Air Raid sirens, there's a ceasefire...)

12:56 PM Air Raid Sirens in Ashkelon.

12:46 PM Mortar rockets fired from Gaza at IDF Erez checkpoint. (Channel B Israeli Radio)

12:23 PM During the rocket attack on Kiryat Melachi about 40 minutes ago, a rocekt was also launched and landed in the Kiryat Gat area.

12:19 PM Ashdod Port: Customs seized shipment of humanitarian aid to Gaza, found to be full of weapons, and warfare related electronics.

12:11PM Some 100 tunnels were destroyed just ahead of the cease fire. Imagine how many more we could be destroying if there was no cease fire.

12:05 PM Forensic and field reports indicates that Palestinian who died last week after throwing rocks at cars in the Shomron (which resulted in a Settler being mistakenly arrested for murder - but then released after no bullet wounds were found on the victim) actually killed himself.

One of the rocks he threw at a speeding car bounced back and hit him on the head. Now that's poetic.

12:02 PM Rockets in Kiryat Melachi. Again it fell in a some poor chicken coop.

9:39 AM Security forces confirm that Hezbollah launched rockets on Israel's North last week via Palestinian proxies.

8:54 AM Walla reports from Palestinian sources that IDF tank columns can be seen leaving parts of Gaza.

8:39 AM So this is a unilateral ceasefire. Gunfire from Gaza at IDF positions, IDF tank responds with a shell and automatic gunfire (Channel 10, minutes ago). Our IDF troops are now sitting ducks in Gaza, and can only respond to attacks.

8:36 AM Rainbow over Ashkelon this morning.

(source)

7:52 AM Reshet Bet reporting that Helicopters are attacking sites in Gaza. Residents of Sderot report they hear the heavy fire.

7:28 AM From Ha'aretz Flashes last night: 2:52 Muslim chosen to speak at Obama inaugural prayer allegedly tied to Hamas (AP)

7:22 AM We're back. Quiet night in Israel.

2:19 AM Almost made it to bed, Israel breaks ceasefire as IAF hits rocket launcher about to launch from Northern Gaza. That didn't last very long at all. (Scoop from Rotter)

2:13 AM Sorry Jameel, but JoeSettler is going to sleep too. I'm exhausted. But tomorrow I may write a new post on JoeSettler that may be half coherent.

2:08 AM Jameel going to bed. JoeSettler might be staying up a bit more. Will continue at a normal hour.

1:46 AM We're all just waiting for 2:01 AM to see what Hamas does.

1:35 AM Israel ceasefire will cause huge relief, says Britain

LONDON - British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Saturday that Israel's ceasefire in the Gaza conflict would cause "huge relief".

"There will be huge relief at the announcement by Prime Minister (Ehud) Olmert of the end of Israeli military operations in Gaza," Miliband said in a statement released by the Foreign Office.

1:24 AM IAF rockets hitting Islamic university in Beit Hanoun area of Nothern Gaza, where many tunnels are believed to be located that go towards Israel.

1:21 AM Reports of precision IAF targetting on many targets throughout Gaza. Did Israel lull Hamas into a false sense of security, with the objective of wiping out high quality Hamas targets before 2 AM? Details to follow.

1:18 AM IDF attempting to get in "last licks" before 2 AM unilateral ceasefire goes into affect. IAF jets and helicopters hitting targets in Han Jounis and around the Gaza strip.

1:00 AM Despite the upcoming unilateral IDF ceasefire, IDF forces are advising Palestinians in Gaza NOT to return to their homes, specifically in Northern Gaza, due to possible flareups in fighting which would needlessly endanger innocent Gazan civilians. (source)

12:46 AM Newly released IDF Spox photos from IDF operating in Gaza. (source)





12:28 AM Globalized Intifada -- its not only against Israel anymore. See this link at ZombieTime about Pro-Hamas rage around the globe. The DovBear blog has a link to virulently antisemitic cartoons from Arab press around the globe. I wonder how Neturay Karta feels about such cartoons.

12:24 AM According to this evening's cabinet decision, the IDF will remain in Gaza till the rocket attacks on Israel cease. According to Hamas, as long as the IDF is in Gaza, they will continue their rocket attacks against Israel (and they have been continuing their attacks all night)

No commentary needed.

12:06 AM Grad rocket lands in Ashdod minutes ago -- stuck deep in the road.



12:01 AM It's a new day, Israel has announced a unilateral cease fire, and Hamas in launching multiple rockets against the South. Nothing new.

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Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

Regards from Another Planet

Participating in a Maged David Adom emergency medicine seminar offered me the unique opportunity to see Israel from down south...as our seminar was moved here, to Ashkelon, at the last minute.

This isn't a different area of Israel, but a different planet. The area we're staying in -- southern Ashkelon, only a few miles from the Gaza strip, is not just a virtual ghost town, but a different planet, with rules of its own. Our 5 star hotel is booked by MDA...and the EU. Over a dozen "diplomatic" EU vehicles are parked outside, all used for jaunts into Gaza, to see the wonderful paradise the EU helped create. Why the EU stays in Israel in Ashkelon, instead of Gaza, is a mystery.

Upon starting our seminar, the ground rules were given out -- what to do in case of rocket attacks. Here in Ashkelon, a wailing up and down air-raid siren informs us we have less than 20 seconds to seek shelter. The ranking MDA official told us that just yesterday, it was sounded, so he's pretty confident the system is working correctly.

Meanwhile, the course has already been extremely informative, as I learned about the following conditions (among other things)

Ulticaria
Reasons for Club fingers
HyperThyroidism
Marfon Syndrome
Cushing's Syndrome

And...(I found this important) if someone is suffering from fever convulsions, I should check their blood sugar level as well to ensure that hypoglycemia isn't starting.

Regards from Qassam City,

Jameel

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

IDF Flees Qassam Rockets

In one of the more shameful acts of Israel's flight from terror, the IDF today closed its basic training "Zikim" facility in the Ashkelon-Gaza vicinity. This base had previously received it's share of Palestinian rockets, and a direct hit last year wounded 69 soldiers, some of them critically. Instead of retaliating, Israel's government and the IDF have chosen to flee.

The flag lowering "ceremony" saw four of the seven company flags usually flying on the base taken down, as the "training facility" part of the base was officially closed.

Though the IDF stated that "...the decision was made regardless of the rocket threat looming over the area, and that the fact that the base itself was hit by Qassam rockets several times, played no part in the decision," you would have to be rather naive to believe them.

Former Zikim IDF company commanders stated that "...the overall feeling was that the IDF was fleeing the base. Civilians are dealing with rockets landing in this area everyday," said one officer, "it's only appropriate that the military will have recruits here."

"If this was a legitimate ceremony you would have seen a lot more senior officers here, and probably the media," said another. "I guess the military is ashamed of what's going on."

The Gaza vicinity communities were not too happy with the decision to vacate Zikim either: "Whatever the reason, you have to think about how Hamas is seeing this move," one of the communities' security director told Ynet. "In their eyes it's a victory." (YNET)

This reminds me of how during the September 2000 Palestinian war on Israel, the resident of the West Bank Jewish communities would drive around in their regular cars, while the IDF would only allow their soldiers to drive in armored cars.

The IDF now flees the Gaza Qassam rockets -- and the message from Israel's Government to the Gaza vicinity towns of Sederot and Ashkelon is; "good luck, don't forget to turn out the lights."

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

Change of Venue

Got a phone call yesterday from the Magen David Adom district dispatcher -- concerning the annual 2 day Emergency Responder/EMT and Ambulance Driver refresher course I'm registered for this coming Sunday and Monday.

"The venue has been changed from Jerusalem, we just wanted to make sure that's ok with you", the caller said.

"OK, where has it been changed to?"

"Ashkelon," the MDA representative told me, "and make sure to bring your ambulance driver's license, as you're all going to be on-call..."

With the sudden increase of rocket attacks from Gaza towards Sederot and Ashkelon, what better way for MDA to prepare, than to move the entire course of over 100 EMTs to Ashkelon?

"Is the convention center in Ashkelon rocket proof?" I asked.

The MDA person had no idea...

Replaying this conversation to my wife, she admonished me. "What a question! You drive everywhere, don't drive a bullet proof car, go all over the country...volunteer up north during the 2cnd Lebanon war, visited non-rocket-proof homes in Gush Katif, and now for MDA, you're suddenly asking if the convention center is rocket proof?!"

She's 100% correct...and I don't know why I asked. Perhaps the media is doing such a fine job of describing how bad it is there, that it subconsciously sinks in.

Rocket proof or not, I'll be there on Sunday. Let's hope its quiet.

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

Questions on my mind

Question: President Bush is currently visiting Israel, snarling up traffic in all directions. He came with an entourage of dozens of cars, trucks, jeeps, and 6 helicopters. How did all this stuff get here?

Answer: Galaxy C-5 transport planes landed at Ben-Gurion airport last week. Here's are some pictures of what this massive plane looks like.






Hah. They call this a landing. Crosswinds? El-Al pilots laugh at cross winds...



Question: Where was yesterday's rocket attack in Ashkelon launched from?

Answer: The remains of Dugit -- A settlement destroyed and evacuated during the Disengagement, 8.08 miles (as the missile flies) from the Shopping Mall in Ashkelon.





Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

Party On?

A child's shoe at the scene of the rocket attack (14.5.08),
Ashkelon Shopping Mall.
photo by EFE

In light of yesterday's rocket attack, where over a hundred people were wounded at an Ashkelon Shopping Mall, should yesterday's gala dinner and celebration in Jerusalem hosted by Shimon Peres as part of the Israel's 60th birthday "President's Conference" have continued as planned?

Should Israel's leadership have gone to Ashkelon to comfort its residents or convened an emergency session with the IDF on how to provide minimal security for Israel? Or should they have continued, "business as usual" with the dinner, heaping lavish superlatives on George Bush and the United States insisting "the party must go on?"

Driving home, I listed to Shimon Peres' speech last night at the dinner party over the radio. Despite his initial mention of the terror attack, his speech was rosy and euphoric. Not mentioning Israel's missing soldiers in Gaza and Lebanon, Peres glowed as he addressed world leaders. VIPs and wealthy businessmen. The crowd cheered and clapped with his every mention of Sederot, the IDF, and America's friendship, specifically that of George Bush. There was only one statement that left the crowd strangely silent, "We have not lost our will for peace."

No one clapped, no one cheered.

The more the daily reality of Palestinian terror and violence contrasts with Shimon Peres' view of Middle East peace, the more his resolve and ideology is strengthened. It's almost Messianic. Sedeort? Ashkelon? Suicide Bombers? Gaza?

Forget yesterday. Ignore today. Let's look for tomorrow.

Dreams can be achieved through pragmatism yet the Peres dream for peace is based on fantasy.

While Peres and Olmert continue to party, the rest of us are mourning the dead and praying for a full recovery for our wounded.

Party on? I'll pass.



24 year old Adi Afgin, has requested that people pray for the recovery of his wife and 2 year old daughter who were both seriously wounded in yesterday's rocket attack in Ashkelon.

His 2 year old daughter's name is "Ta'eer bat Avital" and his wife's name is "Avital bat Penina"

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

Hiding Behind Ammunition in Gaza

In today's latest exchange between IDF soldiers and Gaza Palestinians, IDF soldiers were attacked from Palestinian positions in Beit Hanoun (Northern Gaza Strip). One IDF soldier was wounded.

"The IDF reported that it had attacked a group of gunmen spotted near forces operating in Beit Hanoun. Soldier belonging to the Givati patrol brigade exchanged fire with Palestinian gunmen in the area. During the military activity, an IDF soldier was lightly injured in the leg and rushed to hospital." (YNET)

Palestinians claim that 4 children and their mother, were killed Monday morning in an IDF strike in the northern Gaza Strip -- a shell hit a house in the town of Beit Hanoun. (JPost)

However, IDF radio reports as follows (something not yet appearing in any English language report).

"Unofficial IDF sources report that Palestinian woman and children were not killed by an IDF tank shell.

IDF Givati brigade soldiers engaged 2 Palestinian terrorists in a gun-battle -- the terrorists shooting from within the house of the woman and children. Each terrorist was wearing an over-sized knapsack, apparently loaded with ammunition. When hit by IDF gunfire, the terrorists' ammunition exploded, causing the deaths of the woman and children inside the house. Source: Galei Tzahal IDF radio, in Hebrew)"

For the first time in recent months, the IDF is not apologizing in knee-jerk reaction fashion for the deaths of civilian casualties in a war zone, making the IDF radio report even more believable.

As a result, even more Qassam rockets have been raining down on Sederot and Ashkelon. The following news story was from Friday, but I didn't get a chance to post the pics till now)

Four Palestinian Qassam rockets were fired at Ashkelon on Friday morning, one of then landing in the city's southern cemetery.

The al-Quds Brigades, the Islamic Jihad's military wing, claimed responsibility for the rocket fire, as well as for a shooting attack which left two Israeli guards dead in an industrial zone in the Sharon region.

Eli Yifrach, the cemetery's manager, told Ynet that "luckily the rocket landed before the employees arrived for work. It fell inside the cemetery and many graves were damaged.

"One of the graves was completely destroyed, and we are now working cautiously with the police so as not to desecrate the dead. This is a very sad sight." YNET Pics Link

Money Quote from PM Ehud Olmert at yesterdays's Mimouna Celebrations:

"Without being arrogant, God forbid, I think that today we can say that the Israeli people have a government that can defend it; that it has leadership that knows how to care for its people's security and future." (JPost)

Olmert? Arrogant? G-d forbid.

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד