Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., April 11, 2008 Nisan 6, 5768 | | Israel Time: 04:29 (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

Israel Defense Forces GOC Home Front Command Yair Golan. (IDF spokesperson) Last update - 07:37 09/04/2008 IDF home front chief: Israelis ready to meet any threats By Yigal Hai, Yuval Azoulay and Jack Khoury, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: Yair Golan  The major general in charge of the home front, Yair Golan, said Tuesday that the Israeli public is ready to deal with the threats facing it. Golan spoke on the Knesset's Channel 33 during this week's national emergency drill. Sirens went off throughout the country at 10 A.M., and the Home Front's broadcasting station in Ramle was included in the exercise after having been established several months ago. The broadcast also ran clips instructing people where they can best find cover at home, and children were told how to take cover if missiles strike. Advertisement The Home Front Command and local authorities received reports on sirens that failed, with most of the complaints coming from rural areas. Home Front officials said all reports would be examined and any shortcomings fixed. As the sirens wailed, pupils in schools and kindergartens were led to protected areas and bomb shelters, as were employees in municipalities and government ministries. Home Front officials said their overall impression was that there were no major problems, but promised to evaluate the results in the coming days and fix any shortcomings. During the exercise, rescue forces were flown to the Galilee to a mock disaster zone to practice rescuing victims from a collapsed building. Other rescue teams practiced a similar evacuation in Nazareth. The exercise was set to continue Wednesday to simulate the rescue of wounded from collapsed structures on Jerusalem Boulevard in Jaffa. There will also be exercises for evacuating the elderly from their shelters in Sderot; other exercises will be carried out in Haifa Bay to simulate the containment of a dangerous-materials spill. More exercises will simulate dealing with areas struck by missiles bearing chemical warheads. In Tel Aviv, the building that houses government offices was used to simulate missiles falling on the city. Dozens of civilians were evacuated from the offices and halls of the Population Census Directorate at the Interior Ministry and were taken to protected areas in the corridors of the building ¬ whose walls are built with reinforced steel and cement. The people were cooperative and dozens of civilians waited in the protected areas for the 12 minutes the exercise lasted. "The morning began normally at eight with the officials receiving the public," said Amos Arbel, head of the Interior Ministry's branch in Tel Aviv. "We did not inform the public about the exercise that was planned. I instructed the employees on what they were expected to do when the alarm sounded. They were told to shut the safe and put away all sensitive documents," he said. "We led the people to the corridors of the building, which is the most reinforced area in terms of construction material. I am satisfied with the exercise's results. There was nothing unusual and there was no panic that we expected because of the crowds. The office was evacuated with 30 seconds." The principal of the Savionim elementary school in Ma'alot, Shlomit Tze'elon, was ready for the alarm to sound. She had no doubts that the exercise would be successful and that the 350 pupils would fit in the school's two bomb shelters. Her only concern was that the exercise would turn into the real thing. "The whole world knew that at 10 A.M. there would be an exercise, and I worried that someone would use this to make it a real emergency situation." Related articles: Hezbollah No. 2: IDF drills are preparation for war on Lebanon Olmert: Emergency drill is not cover for attack on Syria Israelis: We didn't hear sirens during landmark civil defense drill Bookmark to del.icio.us   Banning Beijing boycott Israel's Olympic panel warns against mixing sports and politics. 20,000 strong A study released by an Israeli think tank shows Hamas' military buildup in Gaza is at its peak.   1.   re: Galilee rescue and evacuation please clarify 03:45  |  David James Vickery 09/04/08   2.   #1 David James Vickery - No need for your concern 05:44  |  * BEN JABO 09/04/08   3.   david vickery 06:30  |  ruti 09/04/08   4.   second class 06:48  |  bibliovitz 09/04/08   5.   #4, bibliovitz... 07:06  |  Silvienne 09/04/08   6.   We should fight with the will to defeat the enemy. 08:29  |  Jean Van Daem 09/04/08   7.   Yes; I am ready to face the threats... 10:03  |  S 09/04/08   8.   When are you joining the IDF, Jean van Daem? # 5 10:20  |  Clickfool 09/04/08   9.   HOPE Irans puppet Nasrallah gets the news in his hideout 11:45  |  PETER SM 09/04/08   10.   bibliovitz lacks class 12:08  |  sam74 09/04/08   11.   #4 Bibliovitz 18:48  |  * BEN JABO 09/04/08   12.   #6, Jean Van Daem... 05:16  |  Silvienne 10/04/08   13.   #8 Clickputz 23:58  |  * BEN JABO 10/04/08

Read & React Israel plans diplomatic offensive to show Hamas behind deadly border raid Responses: 102 Israel having hard time establishing effective deterrent against terror Responses: 59 Vatican cardinal: Jews too 'emotional' over Good Friday prayer Responses: 105 Israel Harel: Peace Now sinned by blaming absence of peace on Israel Responses: 70 Rosner's Domain Obama should prepare the world for disappointment And pro-Palestinians have high hopes for him (WTR) McCain thinks that Hagee wants peace (WTR) Guest: Who's going to take down Iran? Shut Up, I'm Talking! a dialogue More Headlines 03:16 PM to IDF commanders: Think of Palestinian suffering at roadblocks 01:36 FM Livni says will save Pesach seat for abducted IDF soldiers 01:33 Israeli think tank: Hamas has 20,000 armed men in Gaza Strip 22:01 Carter Center won't confirm rumors ex-U.S. leader to meet Hamas officials 01:32 Rabbis say AM:PM to close on Shabbat 23:30 2 Palestinians arrested for plot to poison Ramat Gan diners 02:56 PM: Israeli response to Negev attack will weaken Hamas 03:39 Turkey seeks to block Knesset debate on Armenian genocide 22:18 Tycoon Gaydamak said to have made fortune in Russia-Angola deal Previous Editions Select Day 10 apr 09 apr 08 apr 07 apr 06 apr 04 apr 03 apr 02 apr 01 apr 31 mar 30 mar 28 mar

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