Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., June 15, 2008 Sivan 12, 5768 | | Israel Time: 13:31 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 09:33 15/06/2008 IDF activates warning system meant to spot mortars from Gaza By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Israel, Gaza Strip, mortars  The Israel Defense Forces Southern Command activated an alert system over the weekend that is designed to forewarn of incoming mortar shells fired by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The system, which was given the code name "Nurit," has already been put to use by the Northern Command in an effort to detect and warn against mortar and Katyusha rocket fire. Nurit was prepared to go on line this weekend for a trial run, and IDF officers are hopeful it will provide adequate warning to residents of communities in the western Negev that have been pounded by Palestinian rocket and mortar fire. Advertisement Recently, the threat of mortar fire against the western Negev communities has grown, with dozens of rounds being fired each week at kibbutzim which lie adjacent to the Gaza security fence. Due to a number of technical difficulties, the Color Red early warning system that has been in operation in Sderot, Netivot, and the nearby towns is unable to detect mortar shells. Three Israelis have been killed by mortars in recent weeks, thus heightening the sense of urgency in providing a solution, albeit a partial one, to residents who need a minimal amount of time to take cover from the projectiles. The Southern Command has tested Nurit's capabilities in detecting the myriad threats emanating from the Gaza Strip. An analysis of these tests show that Nurit is unable to provide adequate warning to the residents, thus forcing defense industry experts in conjunction with the Defense Ministry's research and development arm to work on upgrading the system. Despite the improvements and the activation of the system this past weekend, IDF officials are proceeding with cautious optimism out of concern that the system will not be able to identify barrages of mortars in time for residents to take cover. In other words, the system would identify the mortars after they will have hit the ground. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Snoop Dogg in Israel American rapper Snoop Dogg slated to perform in Ramat Gan. Late date Scientists revive 2,000-year-old date seed found at Masada.   1.   IDF reduced to teaching people to hunker down 01:15  |  Absolute Sweden 15/06/08   2.   The answer machine 02:35  |  Peter 15/06/08   3.   IDF activates warning system meant to spot Olmert from Jerusalem 08:00  |  Dan 15/06/08   4.   This should give them 10 seconds` warning - very useful 10:25  |  Clickfool 15/06/08   5.   Immoral pals 10:44  |  Adrian de Klerk 15/06/08   6.   As long as your barbarian friends attack their neighbours cfool 12:24  |  x-ray 15/06/08

Read & React Rice: Settlement building may harm Israel-PA talks Responses: 77 Gideon Levy: Europe's hatred of Muslims makes it back Israel despite occupation Responses: 31 Olmert aides: Israel and Syria may hold direct talks soon Responses: 161 Zvi Bar'el: For Gaza quiet, Israel must be willing to work with Fatah-Hamas gov't Responses: 5 Rosner's Domain Judaism's swing vote: what to do with Jewish singles? What to make of the Journals of Rachel Corrie? (WTR) Poll: When should Israel have elections? Bobby Kennedy and the history of pro-Israel candidates NJDC: McCain's advisor soft on Iran (WTR) More Headlines 12:38 Olmert: Decisions on Gaza unaffected by political considerations 12:28 Rice: Settlement building may harm Israeli-Palestinian talks 13:06 Source: Israel to swap Lebanese killer Kuntar for abducted IDF troops 13:05 Arab leaders debate attending Med Union meet in July 12:34 Programming for peace / Israeli hi-tech companies outsource to West Bank 12:55 Epiphany in a Spanish neo-Nazi bookstore 09:55 Couple, infant daughter killed in Western Galilee car accident 01:17 Ramon: Barak ultimatum to Olmert will result in Likud takeover 09:55 Olmert aides: Israel and Syria may hold direct talks soon 11:34 Rights group: Shin Bet lied about interrogations 09:13 Children seized after daughter comes to school bearing swastika mark Previous Editions Select Day 13 jun 12 jun 11 jun 10 jun 09 jun 08 jun 06 jun 05 jun 04 jun 03 jun 02 jun 01 jun

Special Offers Advertisement In the heart of Tel-Aviv The Meier on Rothschild tower Jerusalem of Gold Luxury apartments in Jerusalem's finest location Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Istudy Learn Hebrew in 3 months Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy 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 |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel

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