Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., March 04, 2008 Adar1 27, 5768 | | Israel Time: 13:28 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Rescue crews collecting shrapnel from a Qassam rocket (Daniel Bar-On/Jini) Last update - 11:33 03/03/2008 Lebanon war lessons implemented as Ashkelon comes under fire By Ruth Sinai and Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: israel, rockets, hamas  The missile fire on Ashkelon is giving the army's Home Front Command an opportunity to implement the lessons of the Second Lebanon War. On Sunday the HFC added five sirens to the alarm system to ensure the Color Red alert, which warns of rocket fire from Gaza, can be heard throughout the city. Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai on Sunday ordered the immediate renovation of about 120 public bomb shelters in Ashkelon. O Advertisement fficials said additional sirens will be installed if necessary. The cost of the added shelters, estimated at about NIS 3 million, will be borne by the Ministry of Defense and work carried out by contractors hired by the ministry is expected to start within a few weeks. Soldiers and community counselors were dispatched to the city Sunday to instruct teachers what to do during missile attacks, as Ashkelon's schools are not reinforced against missile fire. The HFC recommends that children be gathered in interior rooms, and that they even sit under their desks. On Friday, soldiers distributed pamphlets with similar instructions, in Hebrew, Russian and Amharic, at shopping malls and other public centers in the city. The pamphlets will be distributed Monday in Netivot, where the HFC will conduct the town's first informational campaign about missile attacks. For now, the alarm system will not be operated in nearby Netivot. Fewer than half a dozen missiles have struck the city in the past several years. All of the public shelters in Ashkelon were opened Sunday for people who find themselves outside and without other options during a rocket attack. The HFC, in cooperation with the Association of the Deaf in Israel, on Sunday began distributing about 160 paging devices to hearing-impaired Ashkelon residents that will notify them of a Color Red alert. Defense Ministry to fund renovation of Ashkelon shelters Meanwhile, Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai on Sunday ordered the immediate renovation of about 120 public bomb shelters in Ashkelon. The directive is a response to the recent escalation of fighting in Gaza and the firing of Katyusha and Grad rockets in the South. The cost of the renovations, estimated at about NIS 3 million, will be borne by the Defense Ministry. The work will be carried out by contractors hired by the ministry and is expected to start within a few weeks. All of the public shelters in Ashkelon were opened yesterday for people who find themselves outside and without other options during a rocket attack. The Home Front Command, in cooperation with the Association of the Deaf in Israel, on Sunday began distributing about 160 paging devices to hearing-impaired Asheklon residents that will notify them of a Color Red alert. Related articles: PM: Ability to implement all home front improvements is limited Home Front Command head: No total protection from Qassams 5 hurt in Ashkelon as close to 50 rockets hit southern Israel The perspective from Ashkelon: Don't test our patience Bookmark to del.icio.us   In the line of fire Rights Group: Over 50% of Gaza casualties weren't militants. Uncle Sam blames you U.S. blames Hamas for sparking violence in south Israel, Gaza.   1.   Unbelievable 07:05  |  MR 03/03/08   2.   There`s another lesson you might want to consider 08:01  |  Colin Wright 03/03/08   3.   Hamas and its crazy ideology. 08:28  |  Jean Van Daem 03/03/08   4.   #1 Unbeleivable^2 09:52  |  Eugene 03/03/08   5.   2: Poor Colin, still not dealing w/fact 10:01  |  David Teich 03/03/08   6.   #2 colin wrong as usual! the maxim is never start 10:48  |  v hardman 03/03/08   7.   Easier to life the Starvation Blockade and stop targetted murders 10:48  |  Clickfool 03/03/08   8.   Return Gaza to Egypt!! 10:53  |  US CITIZEN 03/03/08   9.   2: Poor Colin, still not dealing w/fact (2nd try) 17:41  |  David Teich 03/03/08   10.   #6 Clickfool, Are you daft? 17:49  |  Ian Robertson 03/03/08   11.   2: Poor Colin, still not dealing w/fact (3rd try) 18:52  |  David Teich 03/03/08   12.   Attn censors 11:42  |  David Teich 04/03/08   13.   2: Poor Colin, still not dealing w/fact (4th try) 11:43  |  David Teich 04/03/08

Today Online Bradley Burston: Nine immoral solutions for Gaza - a guide Responses: 31 Israel: Latest sanctions against Iran not enough Responses: 64 Obama says United States should not meet with Hamas Responses: 63 Nehemia Shtrasler: There is no way out but to talk to Hamas Responses: 33 Researcher: Moses was tripping at Mount Sinai Responses: 83 Rosner's Domain What to Read: What was Samantha Power thinking? Rosner: Obama, Clinton aides court hawkish Jews in Ohio Hillary Clinton comes out swinging as Ohio primary nears Obama`s top adviser says doesn't believe in imposing a peace settlement Politics with an elliptical soccer ball More Headlines 13:21 Rice arrives in Israel in bid to renew peace talks 12:25 IAF strike kills two Gaza militants; Qassam rocket damages Sderot home 12:17 Israel: Latest sanctions against Iran do not go far enough 04:15 Olmert: All military options for Gaza are on the table 11:48 UN's Ban: Israel says Hezbollah has 30,000 rockets in S. Lebanon 09:14 Young Russian Jews say 'Da' to Birthright, but 'Nyet' to aliyah 09:16 Researcher: Moses was tripping at Mount Sinai 09:36 Fatah man loses children in IDF raid, but Hamas won't let him bury them 13:24 Knesset punishes female workers who skipped Int'l Women`s Day events 00:00 Haaretz journalist Ehud Asheri dies of cancer at 57 04:56 Barak seeks legal okay to move Gazan civilians from homes Previous Editions Select Day 03 mar 02 mar 29 feb 28 feb 27 feb 26 feb 25 feb 24 feb 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb

Special Offers Advertisement Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates 7589 rockets fired so far HELP US TO HELP THEM Marina Royale Herzelia Pituach Your Luxurious Suite While Staying in Israel Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations 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 |

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