IDF preparing for mass evacuations in case of Hezbollah missile strike
Army fears new Lebanon confrontation would result in heavier warheads being launched at Tel Aviv.
By Amos HarelThe Israel Defense Forces Home Front Command is putting together a plan for the mass evacuation of civilians in the event of missile and rocket attacks. Hezbollah's rockets can currently hit practically everywhere in the country.
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A policeman at the site of a Hezbollah rocket strike Nahariya during the Second Lebanon War in 2006 |
| Photo by: AP |
The plan will be studied as part of next week's nationwide Home Front Command exercise. Defense officials are preparing for war scenarios including massive missile strikes on the home front.
The authorities are assuming that many rockets would be fired at the northern border, rockets with heavier warheads would be aimed at the greater Tel Aviv area, and some IDF bases might be the first targets.
Sources at Home Front Command say that in the event of war, the state would only evacuate civilians in certain areas such as the northern border, which may come under heavy bombardment.
The main challenge, a senior Home Front Command officer told Haaretz, involves assisting civilians who would leave their homes on their own initiative. During the 1991 Gulf War, the authorities had a mixed reaction to people leaving their homes; sometimes they condemned this outright. This time they would treat the phenomenon as a given to be dealt with.
"In '91, people went to work during the day, and at night wanted to get their families out of the center of the country, because the Dan Region was considered a high-risk area," the senior officer said. "But at that time, 42 missiles fell. This time the scenarios are talking about thousands of missiles and rockets."
Some civilians might decide it's better to move to the lower-risk areas, he added.
In the Second Lebanon War in 2006, many residents of the north left for the center of the country and West Bank settlements, which were out of Hezbollah's missile range at the time.
"It will be impossible to ignore such a phenomenon anymore. We'll have to prepare for hundreds of thousands of evacuees during a war. We think some 70 percent will make their own arrangements at the homes of relatives or in hotels," the officer said.
"Another 30 percent will need help from the state. We are still at an early stage of studying the method. In real time, we'll have to go with the flow, based on a system we'll set up ahead of time."
GOC Home Front Command Yair Golan recently wrote a document outlining the main points of the evacuation plan, which was distributed to the General Staff and the Defense Ministry.
The state should be responsible for helping local authorities take in civilians arriving from high-risk zones, Golan wrote. Funding should be made available to local authorities that need it, public buildings should be found that can serve as temporary shelters, and the authorities should have volunteers, doctors and social workers at the ready.
Golan also proposes that lists be made of families willing to take people in.
Underground areas like parking garages should also be considered for housing, as would tent cities in nature reserves, and even low-risk army bases.
Preparing cities to take in people fleeing high-risk areas will involve closer links between the IDF and local authorities, a process that has been underway since the Second Lebanon War. Sixty-eight cities and towns will take part in next week's drill.
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that is where people will have to go
Because they were "encouraged" to leave by their leaders. This is the reasoning that many Zionists use for the Palestinians having no right of return since 1948, that the Arab armies encouraged them to leave (even though it's not true).
"Some civilians might decide it's better to move to the lower-risk areas, he added" Many would decide it's better to leave the country.
Stay on your own side of the border and it won't happen
John on what side of the border where we when Hezbollah kidnapped and kiiled members of the border patrol in 2006. What side of the border where we when Hezbollah fired rockets into civiian areas as a diversion for the kidnapping operation. Do you not realise that for every action their is a reaction. You stay on your side of the border and it won't happen. John the American you should be more worried about radical Islamic terrorism in your own country instead of posting your Jihad propaganda here.
Staying on own side of the border surely helped in the previous wars Israel was forced to fight, did it ?
Even Mubarak has issued a warning Whem will Netanyahu learn thst he needs some friends. He has put the world against Israel.
Instead of ASSUMING that because they have lots of rockets they are about to be used,we should spend MORE time NOT giving them reason to further hate us.We should be URGENTLY trying to talk to Syria in order to make peace(like Jordan and Egypt) whatever concessions it may take.I'm sick of us using this for an excuse that they would see it only as a sign of weakness.It is better than getting a large percent of us killed,and the rest ill or leaving?
When an Army has weapons, they use them. They are not for show. It is only a matter of time before they launch those rockets. You are being naive.
You're talking about the IDF, right?
"When an Army has weapons, they use them. " With only one exception, of course - the most moral army in the world, the IDF! You have just made the case for the removal of Israel's WMD.
While I'm in missile range I find it interesting since assuming they launch many missiles at many parts of the country, it would literally force us to turn Lebanon into a parking zone, and give us the international "currency" to do so, perhaps making Hezbollah sleep for a decade and make their benefactors think twice if their investment is worth it. Maybe we'll do another F-16 run above Assad's palace like the last time as well.
the f-16's wont have a place to land. Thats what happens when you avoid modern techniques such as missles of your own.
That is my prognosis recalling how all Israeli actions have been twisted around by most of the international media. The Western world has not changed. Jews are expected to behave"better" while Hezbollah ...well everyone forgot 2006 war origins.
Do you really think that Israel does not possess its own arsenal of rockets. Do you really think that there are no contigency plans for places for the F-16's to land. Once again Israel will surprise you and your Islamic friends.
It won't be that way next time. King Assad's now armed with SAM 8 missles, and probably the TOR-400, not to mention the new MIG-31s. Anyone who makes a "run above Assad's palace" nex time just might find himself on Al-Jazzera, saying hi to his Mom and little brother Moshe. mon
Why make all these plans. Wherever the israeli government evacuates the missles can reach. At least now the Gov and people who supported them know how it feels like when they were attacking lebanese civilians. The cost of making peace remains the cheapest option.
If missiles fall on our cities then Damascus, Beirut and Teheran must be turned into glowing parking lots.
Hezbollah rockets can hit practicly anywhere but then there are plans for mass evacuation? How does this go together? Where to exactly? Sinai? I guess for me it means send my kids abroad and stay put in my windowless little hallway with a pillow over my head every time the freaking air raid alarm goes off. Living in the north, I am at least privileged not to live in a city and at ground level. Further: when the rockets start raining I hope there will not be the hesitant response as in 2006. I am against all violence from all sides and would love a different government, but despite all declarations on different official levels we are pretty much on our own.
Israel's enemies always gloated in their amassed weaponry and hyped up fighting squads and predicted her imminent demise only to be left personally shell-shocked by their embarrassing historical outcomes against the IDF. The same Iranian, Syrian, & Hezbollah hands that are rubbing themselves with glee over the prospect of unleashing their powerful instruments of death against Israeli flesh and blood will be the same ones used to nurse their deflated egos and to wipe the tears from their eyes when they behold the aftermath of the war.
Good Idea, as a resident of the North that went through the summer Lebanon war up in the north(I couldn't leave for medical reasons) I think it is time the gov, and local authority realized that people dont want to live under fire and need help to evac. During the 2nd Lebanon war my local authority shut down completely and we were left to our own, abandoned,my kupat Holim was shut as it didn't have a shelter, and we felt alone! No one offered help, and it was up to us to figure out where it was safe to send our children to. Can you imagine having to drive daily into Haifa to Rambam for radiation with sirens wailing, bombs falling and no help from the gov? We dont want that again do we!
There is nothing like a deterent to stop these mad adventurist in the Israeli military establishment from going to war except the fact that they might get a bloody nose out of their adventure this time
the 2006 war started by IDF.. oh wait.. it wasn't..
Why have war when we can have peace?
Please tell me Mike who are we supposed to make peace with. Do you really thing that Nasrallah and his Iranian masters are just waiting for a chance to make peace with Israel. They cannot even say the word Israel. They only way that they will make peace with us is by destroying us. It is so easy for you to sit in your armchair and spout about making peace. Do you not think that we Israelis are also tired of sending our children to fight war after war and do not also want peace. Do we not have peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan. It was not mus who came across the border in 2006 and kidnapped and killed and fired rockets in to civilain areas. Did that part slip your mind Mike.
The only hope for Israel is to get the Nato and/or several countries involved in the next war ... Hezbollah is not bluffin' this time. In 2006, HA was bluffin' ...I did not why understand why Israel stopped after one Month! HA was about to get defeated, the IDF arrived to Litani river ... Few more weeks and HA would have surrendered. Israel is paying the price of the mistakes done in the past in Lebanon. Israel should never betrayed its normal Lebanese allies (Right wing Christians) in 1982 and 2000. Israel shouldn't have left Lebanon in 1982 or in 2000 and gave Hezbollah all the power !
Accoriding to you, Israel was in control to the Litani? So I guess Bint Jbeil is behind the Litani? Oh and the rockets were all still being fired from behind the Litani?
may as well prepare for the thousands of missiles to fasl already, mand to also dust off the theatre nukes to be used on lebanon and Syria in the event thast such missiles do start to drop. Both lebanion abd Syria need to have their feete held to the fire. They probably wont make a move until then 22km of new fence are done which will prevent Israeli armor to get through
Without jumping to conclusions, I fear the worst.
How do you think the Lebanese feel knowing Israel has nukes?
John do you have any idea of geography at all . Do you realise that Lebanon borders on Israel and if nukes were to be used then the radioactive fallout would desolate most of North Israel and perhaps even the entire country. The nuclear option is only intended to be used if it appears likely that Israel is about to be defeated and over run by the Arab armies.
"The nuclear option is only intended to be used if it appears likely that Israel is about to be defeated and over run by the Arab armies." I hope Netanyahoo and Lieberman understand this.