Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., January 12, 2009 Tevet 16, 5769 | | Israel Time: 19:50 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File
Comments:  0
Fifty-one rockets land in Gaza-area communities
By Yuval Goren
Tags: Hamas, Israel news, IDF, Gaza

"A great miracle" was what people yesterday in Ashkelon were calling the fact that a Grad rocket landed in a cemetery just after a funeral had ended. "There were seven funerals here today, and I'm telling you it was just luck that something terrible didn't happen here," the director of the Hevra Kadisha burial society, Eli Yifrah, said as he stood next to a gravestone shattered by the rocket, which landed just after 3 P.M.

A total of 51 rockets hit yesterday in southern Israel: 10 landed in Sderot, Ashdod, Ashkelon and the Sha'ar Hanegev region; five Grad rockets were fired at Be'er Sheva and landed in open areas; more than 10 rockets landed in the Eshkol region, one of which caused damage to a building near a community; eight Grad rockets were fired at the town of Netivot, landing in open areas outside the town. Rockets fired at Ofakim also landed in open areas.

Schools will remain closed tomorrow in Be'er Sheva, Netivot, Ofakim, Sha'ar Hanegev, Sderot, Ashkelon and the Merhavim region. Sapir College and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev will also not be holding classes.
Advertisement
One of the projectiles slammed into the upper floor of an eight-story apartment building in Ashdod, causing severe structural damage and sending parts of the building flying in all directions, as far as 20 meters from the strike site.

The building's 70 residents were immediately evacuated by the Home Front Command. Most spent the night in local hotels after the building was condemned because of the danger of collapse.

At about 11 A.M. yesterday, a rocket struck an open area in Ashkelon.

Three people were slightly injured in rocket attacks in Ashkelon, and eight were treated for shock at Ashkelon's Barzilai Medical Center.

Ashkelon's mayor, Benny Vaknin, who came to the cemetery after the rocket struck, said that in light of the situation, reinforced structures would have to be placed at the cemetery where people could take shelter if necessary.

He asked that as few mourners as possible attend funerals or memorial services, because of the risk.

Vaknin and the head of the Home Front Command's southern district, Col. Eitan Yitzhak, held a press conference yesterday in which they warned residents not to go outside on Saturday, and for those who wished to attend synagogue do so only where there are protected spaces.

Many business owners decided not to open their shops yesterday. "I think I might stay home for a little while until things calm down. In any case there won't be customers," one shopkeeper said.

Since the beginning of Operation Cast Lead, 351 Grad and Qassam rockets have been fired at Israel, and 41 mortars.

In the present conflict, the towns of Ofakim, Be'er Sheva, Ashdod, Omer and Rahat have come within rocket range for the first time.
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
IDF warns Gazans
The IDF is making every effort to prevent civilian deaths by warning of impending attacks.
Pro-Israel rallies
Thousands attend pro-Israel rallies across Europe, N.Y.
 Read & React
Legal expert: Rising Gaza death toll doesn't mean IDF acts are disproportionate
Responses: 92
Sources: Hamas leaders hiding in basement of Israel-built hospital in Gaza
Responses: 59
IDF: Hamas rocket fire down 50% since start of Gaza op
Responses: 28
Gideon Levy: Israel's leaders will pay for the bloodshed in Gaza
Responses: 13
Aluf Benn: Israel has a double standard when it comes to UN resolutions
Responses: 38


More Headlines
19:07 Israel bans Arab parties from running in upcoming elections
19:35 Bush: Hamas must stop rocket fire if it wants Gaza truce
17:25 IDF finds Hamas arms stockpile in raid on Gaza mosque
17:40 UN Human Rights Council condemns Israel over Gaza op
18:11 IDF reservist refuses to fight in Gaza over civilian deaths
11:24 Hamas reportedly rejects Egypt bid for long-term Gaza truce
18:44 Gaza rocket strikes Ashkelon home, residents flee to shelter
16:55 Gaza War Diary IV - Can people die of ambivalence?
11:28 Amira Hass / Gazans doing their best to avoid becoming death statistics
18:20 Peres: The IDF has never been better trained, as sophisticated
18:20 Get up to the minute coverage of the warfare in Gaza directly to your email
14:17 Sources: Hamas leaders hiding in basement of Israel-built hospital in Gaza
18:43 Olmert: Gaza war won't end until rockets and smuggling stop
12:09 IDF: Hamas rocket fire down 50% since start of Gaza offensive
14:05 Immigration officials: Gaza op hasn`t deterred infiltration of migrants from Egypt
13:12 France vows to punish assailants who hurled firebombs at Paris synagogue
15:44 Israel's 'Waltz with Bashir,' on 1982 Lebanon War, wins Golden Globe for best foreign film
13:50 ANALYSIS / Israel's victories in Gaza make up for its failures in Lebanon
15:58 Peace activists with medical supplies set sail from Cyprus for Gaza
Previous Editions
Special Offers
Advertisement
Summer in Israel
Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009
Blue And White Forever Israel Army T-shirts
Wear with Proud Donate the Soldiers Kit
You can make a direct IMPACT!
on the life of an Israeli soldier
State of Israel Bonds
During this time of market volatility, Israel bonds can help.
SURF RAMBAM
Keep current about new-wave medical care, education and research.
Summer Camp in Israel
The best place for your children this summer
Fattal Hotel Chain
Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
Jewish Singles Personal Ads
Find the love of your life on JDate.com
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved