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Last update - 04:02 04/01/2008 Ashkelon decides against activating rocket alarm system By Mijal Grinberg, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: government, Ashkelon  Should Ashkelon activate its rocket warning system? That was one of the main topics of discussion at its city council meeting Thursday, hours after a Grad Katyusha rocket fired from the Gaza Strip landed in the north of the city, where a new neighborhood is being built. It was the second time a Katyusha has hit northern Ashkelon, and nine shorter-range Qassam rockets have hit the southern part of the city. The defense establishment installed a warning system in Ashkelon some time ago, but it has never been activated. Mayor Roni Mehatzri argued at Thursday's meeting that this remained the right policy because activating the system would merely increase residents' fears. "Statistically speaking, there are 80 alarms for every hit, so there should already have been at least 400 alarms in the city," he said. "Is that what we want? For our children to go in fear?" Advertisement Warning that such fear could destroy the city, Mehatzri argued that it was better to live with the risk. Moreover, even if the system were activated, there is not enough time between the alarm's warning and a rocket hit for people to reach a public shelter. Yet ordinary buildings offer limited protection because neither Ashkelon's houses nor its schools are reinforced. Nevertheless, the city council agreed unanimously on one point: Ashkelon must not become a second Sderot. It therefore decided against either activating the warning system or demanding that the government reinforce homes and schools. But it did decide to form a task force to submit recommendations to the council on how best to mobilize the public to pressure the government to put an end to the rocket fire. "We don't need reinforcement, we need to end the terror," Mehatzri concluded Bookmark to del.icio.us   Remembering Anne Replica of Anne Frank annex opens in Liverpool church. After Iowa Is there room for both McCain and Giuliani's campaigns?   1.   I TOLD YOU SO ! 04:09  |  GHOST OF GUSH KATIF 04/01/08   2.   Hey, Barak : Does this Mean ANYTHING to You ? 05:01  |  Tod Zuckerman 04/01/08   3.   ashkelon 05:12  |  marcel 04/01/08   4.   10 to 1 05:30  |  resistence 04/01/08   5.   the end to rocket fire? simple! 08:12  |  Leona 04/01/08   6.   Askelon decides against activating rocket alarm system 09:02  |  Roxy 04/01/08   7.   WORLD CLASS STUPIDITY 09:30  |  Steve 04/01/08   8.   Leona : how to stop kassams immediately 09:57  |  Brill 04/01/08   9.   Leona 10:13  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 04/01/08   10.   Spanish proverb "Take what you want, but pay the price" 10:53  |  Clickfool 04/01/08   11.   Mayor of Ashkelon 12:07  |  Chris Linthwaite 04/01/08   12.   Mr Resistance 12:42  |  joseph 04/01/08   13.   Ahskelon is 2nd Sderot. Ashdod will be 3rd. Yavneh 4th..and on 13:14  |  Danny 04/01/08   14.   Risk Assessment 13:18  |  Chris Linthwaite 04/01/08   15.   Only one solution 13:18  |  Allon 04/01/08   16.   Leona, who controls the southern border of Gaza? 13:22  |  Allon 04/01/08   17.   Shabbat Shalom all 13:22  |  Allon 04/01/08   18.   conspiricy theories 13:38  |  wondering minds 04/01/08   19.   Not really a bad decision! 07:15  |  Shlomo 06/01/08

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