Eye on the Enemy: Tel Aviv’s Parking Lots Will be Shelters in Case of Attack
Changing response policy to the rocket fire - not in our favor
Walla!News
The multiple incidents of firing rockets at Eilat recently disturbed the leadership, but military sources explain that the change in the military's response to terrorism in Sinai should be at the political level. While they have been searching since (Thursday) morning for the remains of the rocket apparently fired towards the southern city last night , "IDF" estimates that the phenomenon is expected to increase. "There are a variety of options, including a change in policy, but it is not the "IDF"'s mandate to make decisions of this kind, but only at the political level," said a senior security official and he agreed to "meditate all kinds of responses and actions on all kinds of levels."
As said last night around 22 o'clock explosions were heard around Eilat, and it is estimated that the Grad rocket was fired from the Sinai Peninsula. This is the third incident of firing rockets at Eilat area since four months, after two rockets exploded in Eilat in April- one in an open area and the other at a construction site in the city. In June, two rockets were fired from Sinai at Mitzpe Ramon and Ofda .In addition to launching rockets in 2010 at Eilat and the Jordanian city of Aqaba.
Also at yesterday's incident, there was no warning before hearing the explosions, as Eilat security systems are not connected to the radar that should detect rockets launched towards the city. Mayor of Eilat, Meir Yitzhak Halevi addressed the matter to Walla!News and noted that there is an intention to change the status quo. The mayor noted that the "IDF" has examined an operational location to place the Iron Dome battery in the city, just in case. He added that the message received recently from government officials, is that "Israel" acts in coordination with the Egyptians to change the situation in the Sinai. "The situation in the Sinai not only affects the city of Eilat, but also tourism in the Sinai, and thus it is also an Egyptian interest to have a quiet area," said the mayor.
"Israeli" security establishment indicated that the coordination between "Israel" and Egypt in terms of what is happening in the Sinai Peninsula, in light of the attack at Kerem Shalom and the wave of ousting senior Egyptian security leaderships afterwards, has not changed and there is ongoing good security coordination. "No one knows what will happen but the relationship is kept as it was," another security official said and added , "the agenda of Mohammed Mursi is unclear. His steps are suspicious not only to "Israel", but to the Egyptian army too. Now there is a good security coordination."
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Sources close to Netanyahu attack Peres: " he forgot his job"
Walla!News
An unprecedented assault rose from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, aiming at President Shimon Peres after his interviews on tv channels in which he stated that "Israel" should not act alone on Iran, and expressed confidence in the Obama administration. "Peres forgot the role of the President", said tonight (Thursday) sources close to Netanyahu. "He forgot that he made at least three main mistakes related to state security: He was wrong when he thought that after the Oslo Accords, there will be a new Middle East and the process caused the death and injury of 1,000 victims in terrorist attacks at the territories given to the Palestinians, he was also wrong when after the disengagement he said there will be peace in Gaza while they are firing there missiles at "Israeli" citizens, and biggest mistake was in 81 ', when he thought the bombing in Iraq is a mistake. Fortunately for the citizens of "Israel", Begin ignored him. "
Netanyahu's criticism of the president reached its peak, after accusing Peres in leading the opposition against the intention of Prime Minister and Minister of Defense to operate in Iran. More sources reported today that "Khamenei said yesterday that "Israel" will be erased from the map, so the regime in Iran should not have a nuclear weapon."
Compared to the strong reaction of the associates of Netanyahu, Barak responded with restraint. "President's words are familiar and known," said a source close to the defense minister. "This is not the first time he presents his views." Barak's associates stressed that "the dignity of the President should be kept; he is a man of many rights." They also emphasized that in the core words of Peres, is the assumption that an "Israeli" attack could bring only a temporary delay in Iran's nuclear program and not destroy it. "That's the position of the Defense Minister all the time."
The speeches of the Prime minister and defense minister came after Peres's interview with TV Channel 2. The President acknowledged the possibility of an attack on Iran and said he was confident that US President Barack Obama will prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb. "President Obama is determined to stop the Iranian nuclear program, and it is clear to us that we alone cannot do it but we need to go along with America".
President explained, "I do not speak for anyone, and not on my behalf, and I'm not so sure I heard it so clearly, I am just explaining my opinion. I estimate that they (the US) will not do it before the elections, the elections will be held in more than 80 days. "Israel" said that we can postpone or stop, so it's a surprise. Sometimes things that do not sound surprising surprise ".
In recent months, as noted, disagreements increased between Prime Minister and President about the conduct of relations with the US and the crisis surrounding the Iranian nuclear issue. While Netanyahu is careful to express considerable doubt in the statements of President Obama, Peres is quite the opposite, and throughout the past year he reiterated his confidence in the American government. In recent weeks, PM associates also expressed anger over the public positions of Barak opposing the Iranian issue.
Meanwhile, last week the tone between Jerusalem and Washington escalated, culminating with the briefing, initiated by US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Chief of Staff Martin Dempsey, where it stressed that "Israel" is unable to eliminate the nuclear capabilities of Iran and that the best of their knowledge there is no decision taken for an "Israeli" attack. Today came the response of the "Israeli" ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren, who is considered very close to the Prime Minister, stressing that a few years delay might push "Israel" to decide to attack Iran alone.
Tel Aviv's parking lots will be shelters, in case of attack
Channel 10 and Nana news
Tel Aviv-Jaffa municipality announced on Wednesday that in the hour of emergency, the parking lots will be converted into huge underground shelters. So far and according to the need of the plan about 60 lots were validated, in a region of 85 thousand citizens capable of accommodating 800,000 citizens during the occurrence of any missile attack.
It was reported from the municipality that all of the lots that were validated meet the criteria of the Home Front Command and were prepared by a company of engineers. In the coming weeks directions' banners will be hung at the entrances. This preparation began in last year's maneuver that took place in Hepima lot, where it contains 4 underground shelters (one in each lot) which can accommodate approximately - 1,600 people.
Among the lots that will be used in an emergency situation: the new lot of the main station, the lot of Dizengoff Center, Yisraeli lot, city park lot, the lot of a shopping mall in Ramat Aviv, the lot of the towers in Sderot Rothschild and so on.
They said in the municipality of Tel Aviv that "lots' owners and their representatives welcomed this initiative and expressed their will to contribute to this issue and cooperate with the municipality."
These lots are added to - 241 public shelters, including 111 fortified shelters able to absorb about - 50,000 people throughout the city. Mayor Ron Holdai said, "as part of the Municipality readiness during emergency and the restoration of public shelters, the municipality has identified areas under the ground in the city as part of the additional immunization options."
He added, "In this context, 60 lots including also Hepima park were identified as very high level shelters. I see great importance in the context of preparedness of the city to the state of emergency. The map and a list of shelters are uploaded on the internet.
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Defense attacked Steinitz: "Replace the head of Military Intelligence"
Walla!News - Amir Bohbot - Tal Shelo
Security system launched Wednesday an unprecedented attack against Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz, in light of his remarks about the defense budget in the face of threats against "Israel". A senior security official, said in a conversation with Walla!News that the Minister of Finance is not aware of the security situation in the Middle East. According to his estimates, there is no need to tanks and armored personnel carriers. If his estimates will be pink on the Middle East, we will appoint him to be the head of Aman, instead of Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi. Chief of Staff and Defense Ministry Director-General presented the reality on the ground. Anyone who tries to belittle the threats on "Israel" should take responsibility for his decisions that may harm the state's security ".
The same source touched on the Governor of the Bank of "Israel", Stanley Fischer, who claimed that the IDF is implementing plan Brodet that examined the defense budget. Every word we add to Fisher statements on the IDF's efforts to add the feasibility and deduction, reduces the importance of the achievement. "
In the afternoon, the Treasury finished a three-hour review at the Cabinet meeting on the budget. As a part of the review , a map of the economic threats was presented and a scenario including the effects of extreme events, such as breaking down the euro zone, its significance, reducing demand and the decline in revenues for higher taxes and cuts.
The Finance Ministry presented its position that the IDF was not applying his scheduled efficiency program, and owns the treasury 9.2 billion shekels. In addition, there are 2.2 billion that should be truncated as Trajtenberg report's recommendations, so that the sum total is that the IDF had 11.4 billion shekels, according to the Finance . "When there is a major security incident facing at the same time a major economic event, the Government must decide where it goes", said Minister of Finance. "Increasing the defense budget means harming the future growth of civil services and cuts in education, health and welfare.
Data from the Treasury shows than all neighboring states around "Israel" are in a significant economic crisis, and did not arm themselves since years and because of it is hard for them to start an arms race. The defense budget of "Israel" far exceeds the total Defense budgets of its neighbors and upon the concerns from a global crisis, one should understand that it comes at the expense of social and economic needs ".
Fischer stated that "efficiency is the responsibility of each government; the ministers must understand that we must cut whether from security or other budget for you cannot increase the deficit. Representatives of Finance presented a large slide show with the map of counter economic threats in addition to data that shows the great debt they claim the security system has accumulated on the state treasury. "
Walla! News has learned that during the long debate on multi-year defense plan, Defense Minister Ehud Barak mentioned the management department of the national debt and expressed his views about the size of the deficit, contrary to the position of finance minister and the PM. Prime Minister said to Barak said, "Mr. Defense Minister, we're not managing the national debt." A number of ministers responded sarcastically which apparently angered Barak who said: "If I could, I could have turned on the table, but is too heavy."
Source: "Israeli" Press, translated and edited by moqawama.org
