Every Israeli knows what a Qassam rocket is -- the primitive rockets that our neighbors in Gaza have been lobbing at us for years.
What started as a tube with fins, loaded with solidified fertilizer as fuel, the "rocket" has improved over time and now causes mayhem in Southern Israel.
While Israel's best defense from a Qassam would be deterrence and the fear of serious Israeli reprisals, Israel has been instead working on defensive solutions such as the Iron Dome anti-rocket defense system and defensive materials.
This led to the revelation of one of Israel's military secrets, as reported by "Israel Defense"
At the "HomeFront as the Civilian Frontline" conference this past week in Tel-Aviv, Israel Military Industries (IMI) CEO Avi Felder exposed one of the most carefully guarded "Top Secrets" in the military industry...Felder said that IMI develops the most powerful Qassam rockets in the world today.
Felder said that the IMI Qassams are produced to test and evaluate the damage caused by rockets when fired at rocket-proof shielding products from the IMI. The defensive rocket shielding materials are used in protecting Israel's Southern communities.
Felder said that over the past few days of Qassam rockets being shot from Gaza at the Israeli home front, the IMI-owned subsidiary, "Ashot Ashkelon" which is developing active and defensive systems against Qassam attacks -- is located in Ashkelon, a city sufferring from the threat of missiles. "Ashot Ashkelon" now uses the fortification developed by IMI so that they can withstand Qassam and Grad rocket attacks.
He said that IMI protective shelters are located right next to the production lines, proving a safe solution for employees who do not have time to run to bomb shelters when the air raid/color red rocket warning system sounds.
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Since last Wednesday, Israel has been rocketed again and again by Gaza.
Shabbat was particularly bad, as GRAD rockets were fired at Ashdod, Asheklon,http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif Gan Yavneh, Beer Sheva...some direct hits took place as well. As of this morning, over 24 rockets have been launched at Israel from Gaza since Shabbat morning.
Ashkelon resident Moshe Ami, 56, died Saturday after sustaining serious shrapnel wounds by a rocket fired at Ashkelon as part of a relentless attack from Gaza. Another victim was lightly injured. Both were taken to the Barzilai Medical Center. (ynet)
The following picture (with rainbow in background) was taken this morning; you the vapor trail of an Iron Dome anti-missile rocket having successfully shot down a Gazan GRAD rocket this morning next to Ashdod. Photo Credit: Rotter
Going to be a long day...
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7:22 AMPolice 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.
Visiting Israel? Learn to Shoot at Caliber-3with top Israeli Anti-Terror Experts!
Greeted by cheerful dolphins, scuba divers, ski bums, and a large Azrieli Shopping Center located in the center of geographic Israel (in the Shomron instead of Tel Aviv) -- the IDF Homefront Command is trying its best to take a very scary concept and make it palatable to all: All of Israel is now in rocket range from any of our numerous enemies.
(click image map to see it very clearly)
This map gives you a very accurate indicator of the minimum amount of time you need to find serious shelter in case of an missile detection Air Raid siren going off.
Our friends up north unfortunately have close to zero lead time, and must find shelter "immediately" upon hearing the siren. Based on the other generous amounts of time that other regions have, "immediately" means 0-15 seconds...
Different people cope with emergency situations in a variety of ways, but my personal recommendation has always been: preparedness is the best way to deal with an emergency. That's why we built a bomb shelter in our home, despite it not being mandatory from a zoning perspective (though 2 years after we built our home, it did become mandatory). All our cellphones (and our kids phones) have the emergency IDF dispatcher hotline programmed to a speed dial and we know who to call for emergencies, and how to act in case of different situations -- earthquakes, sirens, etc.
Just this past weekend, I showed our kids how to put on gas-masks (currently, the IDF only plans on redistributing them within 2 years), and I'd rather kids be aware of them now -- then only seeing them for the first time during an emergency.
The IDF Homefront says their new program of missile/emergency preparations and awareness does not mean a war is imminent, so I'll let you draw your own conclusions.
In the meantime, for residents of Israel, I seriously advise taking some time to read through the IDF Homefront website in English, Hebrew, Russian, and even in Arabic.
The Arabic is mildly disturbing, considering the fun graphics of missile launches, Qassam rockets and fires with Arabic captions look slightly more like something from a Hamas website.
OK people - you know what to do.
Be prepared, discuss it with your kids, and don't bury your head in the sand. Missile threats are reality -- and the best way to prepare is to take the outlined, necessary steps from the IDF Homefront command.
And make sure your bomb shelter/MAMAD has an internet connection in it, so you can see real-time updates from the Muqata blog.
Lets be careful out there!
hat-tip: Shulamith I.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
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.
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 AMWalla 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.
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.
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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9:26 PM Gaza rockets fall in a Kibbutz, east of Gaza. Damage to cow barn, no injuries. Note: As opposed to when I previously blogged about the Second Lebanon War, I will not be giving specific locations of where rockets land (unless there are serious injuries and the military censor has already permitted it). During the last war, Israeli Arabs used "google earth" to pinpoint Katyusha strikes in Israel to help Hizbolla calibrate their targeting. We will not help the Palestinians (though why they still have internet access, VIA ISRAEL is a mystery to me).
And now...I'm going to try and go to sleep, and will only post very urgent items till early morning. I'm on a Magen David Ambulance shift tonight (EMT, and driver), so I need to try and get some sleep. See you in the AM.
--Jameel @ The Muqata, and crew.
8:56 PM IDF targets Gaza tunnels -- Israeli air strike destroys 40 smuggling tunnels near Rafah crossing, Philadelphi Route in less than four minutes; Palestinians say two people killed, 25 injured. Another Gazan reportedly shot dead while trying to cross into Egypt. (YNET)
8:47 PM Israeli Arabs rioting on Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. Police on their way. Israeli Arabs from Kafr Kassem are throwing rocks at Jewish motorists on Road 5, only 5 minutes away from Petach Tikva and Rosh Haayin. 3 Jewish motorists wounded lightly near Lod, by Israeli Arabs throwing rocks. One Jewish motorist wounded lightly by rocks on road 65 (Wadi Arah). As of 8:47 PM, 22 Qassam rockets (including Grad missiles) were launched at Israel today from Gaza. One of the Grad missiles landed in "Gan Yavneh", north of Ashdod. Raod 55 in the Shomron had many rock throwing incidents by Palestinians at Jewish motorists; by Azzoun, Laqif, and Nabi Alias. No injuries reported, but damage was done to cars.
4:16 PM A 9 year old's "Rocket estimation table"
Translated from INN. 9 year old "Shir" wrote a list for herself in case of rocket attacks on her home in Southern Israel. This way she knows how long it takes to run to the bomb shelter from everywhere in her home, from the time she hears the air raid siren.
From the living room -- 10 seconds to run to the bomb shelter. From Or's bedroom -- 10 seconds to run to the bomb shelter. From the dining room -- 6 seconds to run to the bomb shelter. From Shir's Bedroom -- 13 seconds to run to the bomb shelter From my parents bedroom -- 10 seconds to run to the bomb shetler. From the hall bathroom -- 10 seconds to run to the bomb shleter.
4:00 PM All sorts of things going on. Rockets just landed in the Eshkol region (east of Gaza). No reports of injuries. Over 150 Arabs rioting at the Kalandia Checkpoint in NorthEast Jerusalem. The Naharia (northern Israel) Hospital just opened its underground command center and emergency bunker provisions. MDA has brought it's Ambulance-MediVac Helicopter to Kiryat Gat (Southern Israel) to help deal with the ongoing rocket attacks. Rock Attack in the Galil -- Northern Israel against Israeli Jewish motorists by Israeli Arabs (outside the village of Dir Al-Assad) on Raod 85. No injuries -- there are reports of damage to cars.
3:59 PM Jameel's back. Just had to deal with a car accident outside our settlement. Car flipped over -- all occupants walked out. Simply a mind-boggling miracle.
3:38 PM I'm not sure about the text, but some graphic pictures of what's happening on the ground in Gaza. (Litvshe)
2:49 PM Rockets land in open areas east of Gaza. No injuries.
2:43 PM Last night, while the IAF/IDF "Bor" Primary Command Center in the Tel Aviv "Hakirya" neighboorhood was on full alert, Chabad-Lubavtich representatives arrived to deliver jelly-donuts and light Chanuka candles. (Source, Chabad-On-Line)
2:37 PM Furious Israeli Arabs riot over IDF Gaza Raid. Protestors force the closure of Northern road 77 next to Beit Rimon. Israeli Police responding.
2:32 PM Israeli Government Approves call up of 6,700 reservists. (Jameel notes, I wonder if that will include me...how will I keep liveblogging?!)
YNET Reports: The government on Sunday approved Defense Minister Ehud Barak's demand to operate a national economy emergency system in the Gaza vicinity communities and draft about 6,700 Israel Defense Forces reserve soldiers.
The reservists will be called up ahead of the possibility of expanding the military operation in the Gaza Strip, subject to the approval of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. A national economy emergency system was not operated during the Second Lebanon War.
2:28 PM Hamas declares victory over Israel in an official leaflet -- overcoming the IDF blockade on Gaza. The "proof" of their victory is that they hit Ashdod with 2 "GRAD" missiles.
2:20 PM Walla News reports that over 30 Fatah terrorists were killed this morning by an IAF raid in Gaza (the jail they were in was hit by an IAF bomb). Additionally, the Gush Etzion - Hevron road is temporarily closed because of rock throwing.
2:15 PM Israel Radio (Reshet Bet/Channel B) Reports of a young (Jewish) infant who was lightly to moderately wounded by rock throwing Palestinians at Tzomet Zif near Hebron. The infant was wounded when rocks crashed through the car's windows. Additional rock throwing has been reported in Beit Omar (also in the Hevron district).
2:13 PM Air Raid Sirens and "Color Red" warning system acitvated to the East of Gaza strip in the Eshkol region. Reports of one Qassam landed with no damage or injury.
2:11 PM Israel National News reports that Ashkelon's Barzilai hospital has evacuated the top (5th) floor out of concern for additional rocket attacks. The "Elder of Zion blog is keeping good track of all the incoming rockets -- see his December Rocket Calendar, here.
12:34 PM No wounded in the past 5 minute rocket attack on Ashkelon.
12:33 PM 3 explosions heard in Ashkelon...ongoing Sirens and "Color Red" warning system in Southern Israel communities.
12:29 PM Explosions heard in Ashkelon -- probable Rocket hits. MDA and emergency forces responding.
12:27 Air Raid Siren in Ashkelon. Incoming Missiles expected.
11:21 PM (Off topic from the war) Last year, I managed to get to Kever Yosef (Joseph's Tomb) in the city of Shechem (Nabulus), and I posted a video of the night time event (including live gunfire). A few days ago, more people rededicated the tomb and cleaned it up. Pictures here
11:12 AM IAF continues to pound Gaza terror targets. Reports of Hamas casualties in Rafiah (Southern Gaza). Reports from Israelies that IAF aircraft are partoling Israel's Northern border to send a clear message to Hizbollah, not to attack.
Video from earlier this morning in Gaza:
10:56 AM Reminder from the last Gaza Op. Israeli IDF bulldozers left some grafitti, permanently bulldozed into the Yassir Arafat Gaza airport's runway. You can see it for yourself via google maps/google earth here: 31.237564, 34.271239 (+31° 14' 15.23", +34° 16' 16.46").
10:53 AM Hamas announces via Jihad Radio: We will soon hit the Zionist enemy with a new type of rocket that they are not expecting. (sourced by Islamic Jihad Radio, via rotter.net).
10:48 AM Fellow Blogger Aussie Dave is also Liveblogging the war. Check him out here. YNET reports that Two additional Qassam rockets have landed in open areas in the Eshkol Regional Council.
Eleven rockets have been launched from the Gaza Strip since Sunday morning. No injuries were reported, but several buildings sustained damage.
10:42 AM Earlier this morning, rockets landing East of Ashdod, over 40 kilometers from Gaza. Sirens have been heard this morning in Yavneh. (YNET)
10:37 AM Al Jazeera reports that IDF armored columns approaching Gaza. Reshet Bet (IBA Channel 2 Radio) confirms IDF tanks at Gaza's borders.
Blueye reports that Gaza residents are receiving "telemarkteting" style phone messages from the IDF advising them that an attack is imminent.
8:24 AM Over 60 factories and 500 small businesses will be closed today due to security considerations in Israel's Gaza enevelope area. School is not in session due to the Chanuka vacation.
8:16 AM BBC cites reason for war: Obama and upcoming Israeli elections.
Gazans document IAF airstrikes - video and pictures.
Saturday Night/Sunday Morning
12:39 AM As Israel's southern communities continue to get hit by rockets, the IDF is moving tanks and ground forces into position for the upcoming (probably) ground assault into Gaza. This evening, the Homefront Command (Pikud Ha'Oref) announced the reccomendations for tomorrow. People within 20-30 kilomters of Gaza, including Ahsdod, Kiryat Gat, Rahat, Gedera, Yad Binyamin, etc. should be in areas where they can get to a bomb shelter within 45 seconds of hearing an air-raid siren. 10-20 Kilometers of Gaza (Netivot) within 30 seconds. 0-10 kilomters (Sederot, Ashkelon) within 15 seconds.
So far, over 228 Palestinians killed in Gaza, most of them were wearing Hamas uniforms. Over 750 wounded.
One Israeli has been killed in Netivot by a Qassam rocket, 10 wounded, 1 seriously.
"The IDF has also begun mobilizing tanks and reinforcement infantry troops to the Gaza region in the event a ground incursion is ordered. In an interview with the British SKY network, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that ground forces would indeed enter the Strip if the move was deemed necessary by Jerusalem. " (YNET)
Israel's Leftwing made sure to get their message out as well:
Around 300 activists took part in the protest, in order to condemn what they called Israel's "genocide and war crimes". The demonstrators marched through the streets of Tel Aviv until they reached the ministry's headquarters.
Many cried slogans such as "No to war – yes to peace", and carried signs saying "Israel's government is committing war crimes", "Negotiation instead of slaughter", and "Lift the siege from Gaza". (YNET)
Exclusive Photos: High Quality Targets destroyed by IAF fighters on Saturday in Gaza.
Translations by Muqata. Sourced from rotter.net in Hebrew, here.
Video of precision IAF Attacks on Gaza today.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Every Israeli knows what a Qassam rocket is -- the primitive rockets that our neighbors in Gaza have been lobbing at us for years.
