A bubble no more: Tel Avivians prepare for war
By Roni Singer-Heruti"Bro, don't ask, they've bombed Hadera too," a young man whispered into his phone as he waited to be seated at Tel Aviv's Brasserie restaurant. But everyone around him heard the whisper clearly and minutes later, many of the patrons were busy making phone calls and sending text messages to everyone who lived in the area or had heard about the blast.
Friends in Herzliya heard a "boom," friends in Rishpon hurriedly packed a bag after hearing the tremendous blast, and police dispatchers for the central and Tel Aviv districts fielded numerous calls from residents from Hadera to Herzliya, who reported hearing the strike.
The waitress reassured people at one of the tables that "there's nothing to worry about; the Zelzal won't get us here, we're in a protected space."
Her words, Friday evening at the popular restaurant, made it clear that Tel Avivians had long since ceased living in a bubble, and that the war had left its mark here too.
Not far from there, on the walls of the Gan Ha'ir shopping mall, signs were hung last week directing passersby to the bomb shelter. "Central and crowded places in the city have prepared the shelters at the demand of the Home Front Command, and it was decided that underground parking lots in these places would serve as protective spaces," the Tel Aviv municipality's deputy director of operations, Rubi Zluff, explained this past weekend.
The readiness of Tel Avivians for the war is best indicated by the amount of junk that has piled up in the streets in recent weeks: "We're picking up endless amounts of garbage and junk, much more than usual," Zluff said, explaining that people have been cleaning out the shelters in their building to get them ready if necessary.
Private shelters in residential buildings are the responsibility of each residents' committee. The city's 235 public shelters have been readied by the municipality, but remain locked by order of the Home Front Command. "Based on a drill we held recently you can say that from the moment it becomes necessary, we can open the shelter in the city within two hours," Zluff said.
By contrast, Colonel Yehiel Kuperstein of the Home Front Command told Haaretz this past weekend that "Tel Aviv residents will have at most a minute's warning before a rocket lands in the city."
The municipality is therefore well aware that the shelters will not be the answer, at least not the first time that frightened residents hear the siren.
"The directive for now is not to run to the shelter but rather to go into a reinforced room or protective space," Kuperstein said. "Our findings to date indicate that most of the casualties were whose who were outside. And this is also the place to stress that you must not leave the protected space until 15 minutes have gone by."
Tel Aviv has prepared a large supply of drinking water, contacted food suppliers in case of shortages, prepared seven community centers to house residents in case they have to vacate their homes, and beefed up the municipal operations center.
Meanwhile, Tel Aviv life continues as usual and the beaches are full. Along the beaches, incidentally, no protective areas have been prepared so if a siren sounds, bathers must follow the Home Front Command orders - find shelter or lie down on the ground.
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Why the ceasefire? Why is Israel allowing Hezbolla to regroup? Why is Israel allowing Hezbolla to fight another day, which will mean more death to Isralie citizens?!!!!!!!!!!Who cares what the world opinion is! History has clearly taught that these people as well as other terrorists will never go away unless they are annialated. I can't believe this! A highschool drop out would have more sense than this. Finsish the fight.
The Arabs call the land Palestine. The Israelites call it by its acient name, Israel. Both Arabs and Jews orininated from the same forefather-Abraham-4,000 years ago. The Jews through Isaac and Jacob. The Arabs through Ishmael and Esau. G-d chose Abrahams line through Isaac and Jacob to be the recipients of several covenants that established them as His special representatives on earth. G-d made unconditional promises to them that involved making them a unique nation with an everlasting title deed to specifically defined land. Historically the descendants of Ishmael and Esau have felt that somehow they were cheated. This created an enmity that has lingered through centuries.
Jesse, Try reading up on Hezbollah before you try to sound intelligent. Hezbollah is armed with modern weapons and highly trained and disciplined. Israel knew this would not be an easy mission. "If you can't beat a few Fighters with 2WW type weapons, how can you convince the Arab generation to make peace?" Funny, Jesse doesn't sound like an Arab name. Help me to understand. Do arabs only respect force? According to you I guess so. Are all muslim arabs taught as young children the ideology of hate and intolerance of any other religion? I hope not.
You people need to understand that most of us U.S. citizens do not support your policies, jewish or arab. Most of us here could care less if you both kill yourselfs off, in fact we wish you would. The world would be a much safer and nicer place without you all. Have a beautiful day :)
If we hadn't entered Iraq not only would we have Iran and N. Korea to worry about. They did find some MWD's in Iraq and the ones not found got sent to Seria. I'm sure someone as knowledgeable as youself pays lots of taxs.
The west must recognize that all is fair in love and war. The enemy, Hizbollah/Hezbollah (whatever these psychotic freaks are called)and their allies in the form of radical Islamic crusaders are helt bent on the destruction of not just western power and influence or Israel but the eradication of many of the freedoms that women, minorities and other cultures and religions enjoy on this planet. They will use any means necessary to divide the west in the PR Media War. For example their use of extreme tactics attacking civilians, suicide bombers and launching missiles intp population centers but they decry the "unfairness" and war crimes when strategic but effective attacks are launched against them. Hezbollah and their radical Islamic allies need to be DESTROYED by any means necessary, including Nuclear annihilation. If Israel and the west do not meet the Islamic threat head on, it will proliferate like syphullus and be a plaque mankind.
It is time that Israel not follow my countries example, and instead fight this war to win it! Shame on our president for bowing to world opinion and easing up on our enemies. Regardless of how Bush or his advisors spin it, that is what is happening. Stand firm Israel, God is with you in this battle, regardless if you recognize it or not. Don't be pressured by the world including my country America.
For your information, the Germans did not have these type of rockets in WW 2. Israel will win, but with a lot of hearache. Again it is Israel against three nations, and Israel is still kicking ass and taking names
Now it is time to play in Tel Aviv. Instead of rockets landing on Haifa...they may land on your Capital. Wake up...fight this war the way any war is fought...with fierce determination and overwhelming force!!! Destroy Hezbollah now...show no mercy...because the muslims will give you none!!
Man, it's so wild and unbelievable that I keep hearing that argument over and over. "Just give back the land, peace will be yours" How stupid are you, that's what I really want to know? Why don't you go to these websites and see for yourself what these Islamo-Fascists leaders are saying on TV. http://www.memritv.org/ http://www.PMW.org.IL Or I dare you to download and watch the documentary "Obsession, RADICAL ISLAM'S WAR AGAINST THE WEST" They only thing they call for is "Death to Israel" and "Death to the West" (mainly the USA of course) They never say anything about land for peace, all they do is teach and preach hate and lies to their children. These Muslim leaders are disgusting, and I feel so sorry for the children who are being brainwashed and indoctrinated with this filth, lies, garbage and hate. There is only one option for Israel(and for all of the West as well) ,utter and complete destruction of this ideology from the face of the earth
you, sir, are the moron...all land in this world, at some point, has been taken by force...who is to say that your homeland of Ukraine belongs to your people...are you telling me that only Ukranians have lived there since the beginning of time...WRONG...everyone from Arabs to Goths to Pols to Slavs to Russians have occupied that territory...so that country has been taken by force by YOUR people. You have no logic here sir...your theories are derived from abstract beliefs that you have no concept of...i wish you luck, for you will need it with reasoning like this...
i fully support Israel and what they are trying to do...the Lebanese government and the people of Lebanon have been fully aware of Hizbollah, the militants, or terrorists, occupying their country for some time now...sending COUNTLESS suicide bombers (alot children)into the heart of Israel and blowing up thousands of innocent civilians (alot children), in public areas...knowing these people could start conflict with Israel in the south, the Lebanese continued to allow Hizbollah to organize, and substantiate a force powerful enough to send rockets into Israel. just think if two soldiers from any country were captured...there would be retalition against Lebanon for letting this go on. By allowing these things to happen, Lebanon has brought crisis on themselves, and Israel is doing nothing else but sticking up for their right to have a soverign nation...and exist as human beings...maybe Lebanon should start worring about Hizbollah instead of Israel.
Why do all hezballah wear civilian uniforms? Usually a military uniform helps a solider blend into their environment...oh yeah...hezballah is hiding in civilian neighborhoods. Why do all extreme muslim groups fight like this?
the only thing you are incorrect on is that Iran should be the first to go. taking out the real threat will show the little thugs that israel means business. I think that will create a sustainable peace in the Middle East.
Praise Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!!!! Gold will be $50,000 by the end of September Jesus Christ will come back to earth and the Jews will either convert to Christianity or will be dead. I love George W. Bush for what he is going to bring to the world in the coming months. Praise the Lord.. Praise the Lord...
Simple and Clear: *2 IDF kidnapped ----------)60 IDF killed *100+ Hizbullah killed--------) 7000+ alive. *2000+ Katusha fired -----) 11 launch-site bombed *1000 lebanese civilians killed--------------------------) allow me to introduce their kids and relatives as our future terrorists. from year 2000 till recent 2006.... I was unaware that Hizbullah fired any Katusha randomly and for the heck of it and killed Israeli civilians.... When Israel gave civilians 48 hours to escape. Hizbullah stoped firing Katusha for 48 hours.....Does that tell you that every hizbullah militant in every corner in Lebanon is getting a command to stop....Which means that the Hizbullah's command center is still untouched and all militants get orders and excute according to their command center. After all this said....What ws the purpose of this war and what victory are both sides talking about?
God gave Palestine to the jews? I thought it was the brits that did! :-( Anyway, enough religious fanatism, no one should take pride in destroying Beirut or Tel Aviv, I believe all races to be equal, to have the same needs to live in peace and security, same feelings towards family and country, enough killing for now 'in the name of god'. It is sad to see Lebanon and Israel being destroyed with Syria and Iran sitting back and watching.
Well its a truth. Nasrallah dont lie.... So if Israel will hit central Beruit, i think Israel's shld better prepared in Tel Aviv
God gave the land that is called Israel to the Jews. Period. End of story. No matter who lived on the land over the years the fact is God gave it to the Jews as their land and that is forever. There will never, ever, ever be any lasting peace with the Arabs. Ever. And everyone knows this. There will be wars and rumors of wars right up until the Lord Jesus returns from heaven and rules the world. Then we will see who God gave that land to!
Apologies; I meant the following as a reply to #9. It seems to me that the previous reviewers claims about Israeli aggression are false; check ?Myths & Facts? online at the Jewish Virtual Library. I doubt that the recommended massive Israeli pullout would bring peace; I think that there?s good evidence that Israel?s enemies want nothing less than her destruction. At any rate, the Arab claims against Israel are hypocritical. The Arabs have a pretty aggressive past, including 1300 years of apartheid perpetrated against the Jews.
Hizbullah act due to olmert action...! nasrullah will hit tel aviv if olmert hit beirut... and telaviv defeat soon..
It seems to me that the previous reviewers claims about Israeli aggression are false; check ?Myths & Facts? online at the Jewish Virtual Library. I doubt that the recommended massive Israeli pullout would bring peace; I think that there?s good evidence that Israel?s enemies want nothing less than her destruction. At any rate, the Arab claims against Israel are hypocritical. They have a pretty aggressive past, including 1300 years of apartheid perpetrated against the Jews.
You better start worrying Dr Panzer, Hezbollah and all the ALLAH are coming to cut your throat, better say thank you to the Israëlis now because your turn will come
Tel Aviv and Haifa are bastions of the Israeli left. Haifa not so much anymore. They're beginning to confess and repent for what they did to Gush Katif -- sending 40,000 + soldiers and police to evict unarmed Jews from Gaza and destroy their communities because the "settlers" offended their delicate leftist sensibilities. Is Tel Aviv next? Nasrallah says it is.
Dr.Panzerfuast you need to read the Bible....neither the Jews nor Arabs own that land, G-d owns it and He gave it to Isreal with very specific borders and with no conditions. Even though the Jews were dispersed all over the world for 2000 years, and the land was occupied by many different peoples, He brought a remenat back to that land in 1948 to fullfill his promise to the Jewish people and the world. G-d's covenants are forever, and He cannot break His word.
Dr. Panzerfaust, you need to read the , Bible....the land of Israel doesn't belong tifico either the Jews or Arabs, it belongs to G-d, and He gave it to the Jews with very speci
Hey, Ivette, I suppose you are either an idiot or just never learnt the 20th century history. Why do you say the current war is "more than ligitimate"?? It was exactly Israel, not Arabs, that first assaulted and grabbed most of the territory the UN gave to the Arabs in 1948 to build their own state in the Palestine, along with the state of the Jews. Later, as the UN ordered Israel to retreat from the occupied areas, the Jews impudenlty rejected this UN order and never followed the UN resolutions later on, keeping the occupied areas under their control, all in violation of the international laws. So why the hell do you say this war is "more than ligitimate"? Idiots!! The solution is as clear as a day: Israel MUST pullout from the Arab areas it grabbed in 1948/49, in 1967, in 1973 and in 1982, and leave those lands to its original owners, the Arabs. Just give back what you grabbed UNLAWFULLY, and it's gonna be alright then. Why so many people do not understand this simple rule?
Having traveled all over the world I can say that Israel is the greatest place on earth do in large part to it's remarkable people, the Jewish people. My hats of to them, they build a beautiful, moral properous nation from nothing in less than 50 years ago. While the Israelis build a booming nation that provides the world with science and technology and the Jewish people have made tremendous historical contributions to society, What have the arabs given the world? terrorismo. Death and destruccion to all, even to their own people. I hope Israel goes all out and uses ALL of it's force and wipes out this murderous group of human scum that is Hezzbolah. Israel will prevail as it always has. Don't stop and continue in this more than legitimate fight!
You know that Nasrallah never lied! he's not like Olmert a lier! Nasrallah said if you hit Dahyah I'll hit haifa...and He did it. He said if you hit Beirut I'll hit Tel Aviv. It is up to Olmert, he's killing children in lebanon and his soldiers in the other side....for nothing but arrongancy and response to USA orders...yes his son is in NewYork so doesn't care! Nasrallah is killing soldiers and Olmert is killing innocents and distroying civil targets! But when Olmert will hit beirut...Iy will be the big mistake....nasrallah will use the new surprise...new kind of rockets and new kind af another surprise. Hizbullah is winning!
They will never be peace on Israelis terms. No more. Israel lost its golden chance to sign a once in a life time peace deal with old corrupt Arab leaders. But they all died now. The new Arab young bloods are new breed, educated, smart, and above all have pride and dignity. And they just passed the ultimate test. If Hezbollah crushed tomorrow, it is still won a major victory, One month against the most brutal, criminal, equipped army with non stop supplies of weapon. Soon enough, our corrupt leaders will exit and then Israel will have to deal with 300 million HEZBALLAH, from all direction. If I was an Israeli I will not count on the peace treaties with Jordan and Egypt. They as good as the paper written on. If you can?t beat a few Fighters with 2WW type weapons, how can you convince the Arab generation to make peace? It?s an impossible sell. We all know now how cowardly the IDF is on the ground.
Maria speak for your self; I as an American citizen want my tax money back. What justification did we had to go in to Iraq. Saddam had no ties to Al Qaeda, he had no WMDs, and at least it was a functioning country. You know what poses the biggest threat to USA at this moment. THE KOREAN MISSILES. Thats where my tax money should be spent; not protecting some penut sized country. The Jews and the Arabs deserve one another.
What cease fire? Your under attack for cry`n out loud! Those "civilians" in southern Lebanon are in fact combatants, or at least there by their choice. Your really fighting Iran, and the insane Mullah`s, and they want you DEAD. Why do the people of Israel, the U.S. and Britian have to do ALL of the worlds heavy lifting? The vaunted U.N. sat by for SIX YEARS, and watched the islamo-fascists build a fortress in Southern Lebanon. Please, don`t Piss on my shoes, and try to tell me it`s raining any longer!. How many complaints did the U.N. "peace keepers lodge with their superiors or any one else, as the arms flowed in to Lebanon, and the Hisbo prepared to make war on Israel? The fact is that the Lebanon government was a co conspirator with Hisballah, and the government chose to sleep with the devil, and now they bitch when they get their due. Let the Europeans wring their hands and chastise Israel, they`re not under attack (yet), and it`s not their children that are threatened.
The "civilians in the south voted for Hezbollah! They cheer Hezbolah on! Everyone in southern Lebanon should be told to leave now!!!! Don't allow the USA to dictate to you Israel about fighting a war! Look at Iraq for crying out loud. Our brave troops toppled Sadam and began building schools and Painting buildings with cute colors! The first rule of war, (that is if you are really fighting a war like your prime minister said, what a joke) is to meet your enemy with overwhelming force. Our country gave away victory because we would not continue to use overwhelming force. Iraq is a lost cause now because of that. We were too concerned about showing restraint, and a nice image of our military to the Iraqis. years ago I remember the statement by a scholar who said, " the only thing understood in the Middle East is power" USE IT NOWE and protect your people for Heaven's sake. The American people are behind you along with all those who love peace in the world!!! Forget the cease fire!!!
I am starting to become very disappointed in Israel. I firmly believe that the only thing our enemies will understand is extreme destruction and death. I realize that we Jews are a very ethical people as a whole, but this Jew is getting tired of seeing Israel taking it on the chin and after every lull in the war (over just the pasat 50 years), the enemy comes back stronger. It is time to treat our Arab/Muslim enemies with the only response they will undertand - extreme mass destruction and death. If that means vaporizing Lebanon first (as a warning to Syria and Iran) so be it. If that does not work, vaporize Syria. And if that does not work, the same for Iran. What is Israel going to wait for? Chemical, biological and nuclear weapons to first fall on Israeli soil and then lauch their nuclear weapons? Then it will be too late. WAKE UP ISRAEL, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.........PLEASE Steve headbeep@msn.com
Haaretz campaign interview with Aluf Ben 2006-03-10: "It will be a country with less external violence and more personal security. ... It will be a country that is fun to live in" Or how about at the American Israel Policy Forum in June 2005 on the benefits of the Gush Katif expulsion: "It will bring more security, greater safety, much more prosperity, and a lot of joy for all the people that live in the Middle East. ... We are tired of fighting, we are tired of being courageous, we are tired of winning, we are tired of defeating our enemies." Isn't it fun that Olmert is running this war. Why are his 2 draft dodging sons not here to join the festivities? When they start bombing Tel Aviv, make sure to remind Olmert not to shoot at the apartment buildings in Tyre where they hide the launchers. Isn't it better to die than harm innocent Lebanese civilians who cheer for Nasrallah. Read today's NYT to see how much they love him. Abbas and Hamas are cheering your destruction.Mea culpa anyone?