Pillar of Defense! – Live Blog – Day Three
( I’m asking the community to post whatever significant updates they run across to the “comments” on this post. There is so much happening so fast that I’m feeling overwhelmed. Please help… – JW )
10:50 – Been at this since 5 AM. Time to fold my tent and recharge. Please keep each other informed by posting in the comments below. Shabbat shalom! – JW
10:35 – – COLOR RED – Palmachim
10:33 – – COLOR RED – Multiple locations
9:28 – Egyptian newspaper Al-Shorouk reported that a Sinai organization affiliated with al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for firing five rockets from northern Sinai toward Israel on Wednesday. (Roi Kais)
9:00 – COLOR RED – Be’er Sheva
8:48 – Palestinian sources in the Gaza Strip reported that Ahmed Abu Jalal, a senior commander in Hamas’ military wing, was killed in an Air Force strike east of the Maghazi refugee camp in the central Strip. Abu Jalal’s two brothers and another person were also killed.
8:15 – A total of 518 rockets have been fired at southern Israel since the start of Operation Pillar of Defense. Since the morning hours, 190 rockets have been fired at the southern district, some causing damage to vehicles and property.
7:35 – Update: 197 Iron Dome intercepts; IAF hit 613 total targets
7:32 – Cabinet meeting to approve increase of reserve call up to 77,000
7:16 – A state official said Friday that Israel will not “take its foot off the gas. We are hitting them forcibly and are preparing to aggravate the operation.
7:13 – Longest lull in rocket fire since last night. It’s been about 45 minutes.
6:18 – Rocket volleys continue nonstop. On average every 10 minutes. I’m not able to keep reporting on all of them. (I’m only human and only one human, at that.) I will report on any volley that causes real damage or injury, or on any other “surprises” Hamas has in store for us.
5:39 – Defense Minister Ehud Barak gave the green light to the IDF to extend the recruitment of reserve forces, in addition to the forces already approved earlier.
5:19 – IDF Spokesperson confirms that two rockets launched from the Gaza Strip by Hamas landed approximately 14 kilometers from downtown Jerusalem, near the settlement bloc of Gush Etzion.
4:53 – Rocket fell north of Jerusalem. No casualties or damage reported. Hamas claims to have fired a new missile they have developed at it. (ch 2)
4:51 — COLOR RED 9 sirens – Multiple locations
4:-49 – COLOR RED – Jerusalem
4:34 – COLOR RED – Kiriat Malachi
4:23 – Hamas’ military wing has promised “surprises” in a short while.
4:18 – COLOR RED 9 sirens – Multiple locations
4:17 – Local authorities ordered to prepare for 7 weeks of fighting
4:07 – Morsi threatens Israel with the strength of the Egyptian nation if they don’t stop attacking Gaza now. (From Ehud Yaari, Ch. 2 )
3:59 – COLOR RED 12 sirens – Massive volley – multiple locations
3:50 – COLOR RED 4 sirens – Multiple locations
3:47 – Meretz Chairwoman Zahava Galon says that Israel should begin immediate negotiations with Hamas to reach a ceasefire and bring an end to Operation Pillar of Defense.
3:30 Thousands of Egyptians are protesting in Cairo and Alexandria against Israel’s Operation Pillar of Defense in Gaza.
Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood called for the demonstrations, which come on the day that Egypt’s Prime Minister Hesham Kandil traveled to Gaza in a symbolic show of support for the territory’s Hamas rulers.
Egypt has recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv in protest of the Israeli operation.
3:17 – COLOR RED 6 sirens – Multiple locations
3:09 – Palestinian Ma’an News reports that Hamas has executed an alleged Israeli collaborator in the Gaza Strip.
According to the report, the man’s body has been brought to Shifa Hospital with papers containing his alleged confession to have assisted Israeli intelligence pinpoint rocket launcher sites and movement of terrorist leaders.
3:08 – 2 rockets hit Ashkelon, Shaar Hanegev; 2 others intercepted
2:53 – The IAF is currently exacting a heavy price from Hamas for today’s massive rocket attack. The towers of smoke are visable to Israel TV. I hope this is the “softening up” before the entrance of our army. – JW
2:52 – DF reports that of the over 500 rockets fired at Israel since Wednesday, only 26 have landed in urban areas.
The Iron Dome anti-rocket system has intercepted a total of 153 rockets fired by Hamas and other terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip — 55 in the past day.
Since Wednesday, 335 rockets have struck Israel, 67 of which hit on Friday.
2:28 – COLOR RED 6 sirens – Multiple locations
2:24 – Iron Dome intercepts 4 rockets fired toward Ashdod
2:22 – COLOR RED 3 sirens – Multiple locations
2:20 – COLOR RED 6 sirens – Multiple locations
2:12 – Iron Dome intercepts rockets fired on Beersheba, Ashdod
1:57 – Hamas TV and radio stations in the Gaza Strip are reportedly claiming that the Islamist group launched rockets at Jerusalem and struck the Knesset.
Residents of Jerusalem have not reported any explosions, and a Twitter user in the capital says that the parliament building is safe and sound.
1:37 – Rocket fell in open area near Tel Aviv – no casualties or damage.
1:31 – Sirens in Tel Aviv as well as multiple locations in massive rocket volley.
1:28 – 3 injured by shrapnel in last attack.
1:26 -A rocket that was fired from Gaza has exploded in Beersheba, apparently next to a residential building. Some of the rockets fired on the city simultaneously were intercepted by the Iron Dome.
1:25 – COLOR RED 4 sirens – Multiple locations
1:18 – COLOR RED 10 sirens – Multiple locations
1:08 — COLOR RED – Multiple locations
1:00 – COLOR RED Beer Sheva
12:58 – COLOR RED Beer Sheva
12:55 – COLOR RED 7 sirens – Multiple locations
12:33 – 6 rockets explode in Eshkol
12:32 – Eight terror tunnels in Gaza, near the Israeli border, destroyed by the IAF overnight, reports Channel 2 News.
12:20 – COLOR RED –Ein Hashlosha
12:19 – COLOR RED –Ein Hashlosha
12:17 – Iran: Thousands demonstrate in Tehran against ‘Zionist crimes in Gaza’
12:18 – COLOR RED –Ein Hashlosha
12:15 – COLOR RED –Ein Hashlosha
12:07 – COLOR RED – Multiple locations
12:05 – Iron Dome intercepts 2 rockets fired on Sderot
12:00 – COLOR RED – Multiple locations
11:55 – COLOR RED – Kisufim
11:43 – Major protest being planned in Egypt against Israel’s Operation Pillar of Defense against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, reports Channel 2 News.
11:38 – COLOR RED – Mulitple locations
11:30 – COLOR RED 3 sirens – Mulitple locations
11:20 – Iron Dome has made over 130 successful interceptions of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip over the last two days, according to the IDF.
10:52 – Iron Dome intercepts 4 rockets fired on Ashdod
10:44 – Rocket burns vehicle in Netivot area to a crisp; none hurt
10:43 – Iron Dome intercepts 4 rockets fired on Ashdod
10:28 – COLOR RED 3 sirens – Multiple locations
10:28 – COLOR RED 3 sirens – Mulitple locations
10:26 – Rocket hits the parking lot of a shopping mall in central Ashkelon. Some damage is reported but no injuries.
10:12 – Some 50 rockets have been fired into Israel this morning.
9:51 – – COLOR RED Mulitple locations
9:42 – Iron Dome intercepts rocket near Hof Ashkelon
9:32 – Egyptian Prime Minister Hisham Kandil arrives in the Gaza Strip. It is unclear whether the reported suspension of airstrikes will take effect during Kandil’s visit, since the terms of a short ceasefire were to include the halting of rockets from Gaza.
8:53 – COLOR RED Mulitple locations
8:32 – Iron Dome intercepts 5 rockets fired on Ashkelon
8:24- COLOR RED 6 sirens – Mulitple locations
8:18- COLOR RED 5 sirens – Mulitple locations
8:21 – IDF strikes home of Hamas PM Haniyeh; not hurt
8:14 At least 8 rockets explode in Eshkol, Ofakim
8:14 – 3 rockets explode in Shaar Hanegev, Hof Ashkelon
8:12- COLOR RED 4 sirens – Mulitple locations
8:09 – Rockets hit Eshkol, Bnei Shimon councils
7:56- COLOR RED Ofakim
7:53 – Iron Dome intercepts rockets fired on Beersheba
7:49 – COLOR RED Mulitple locations
7:42 – COLOR RED Beer Sheva, Ofakim
7:41 – Rocket explodes in Ashdod
7:29 -Rocket hits home in Sha’ar Hanegev council area; none hurt
07:12 A rocket fired from Gaza hits a parking lot next to a residential building in the city of Ashdod. No injuries reported.
07:10 Israel Radio reports a direct hit on a house in the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council. No initial reports of injuries.
06:43 Various reports from Gaza claim an Israeli air strike on a Hamas police station in Deir al-Balah.
06:35Egyptian officials have told Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip to institute calm, Israel Radio reports.
06:09 Hundreds of soldiers from the Paratroops, Golani and Givati Brigades, as well as Armored Corps units, have been
transferred to the Gaza border area for training exercises — apparently, in preparation for a possible ground incursion.
Rumors that IDF soldiers had entered the Gaza Strip, or were about to, circulated briefly in the early hours of Friday morning, but they have not been substantiated.
05:56 Dennis Ross, a former senior Middle East adviser to US Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, tells The Washington Post that Egypt faces a stark choice on what kind of role to play in the Gaza conflict.
5:20 IDF: Over 420 rockets from Gaza hit Israel in past 2 days
WarSclerotic 
November 14, 2012 at 6:33 PM
Reblogged this on servehiminthewaiting and commented:
Add your thoughts here… (optional)
November 14, 2012 at 6:38 PM
Godspeed
November 14, 2012 at 11:09 PM
i sent you a email on facebook
November 14, 2012 at 7:13 PM
Sounds like all hell is breaking loose.
November 14, 2012 at 7:41 PM
Luis can always grow his beard back !
November 14, 2012 at 9:48 PM
Perfectly right, sir.
November 14, 2012 at 7:45 PM
Big explosion near home of Hamas leader, Mahmood al-Zahar: correspondent
November 14, 2012 at 8:40 PM
He is already dead.
November 14, 2012 at 9:34 PM
Is Zahar’s death confirmed? Do we know for sure he was in his house at the time of bombing?
Zahar was already a lucky man – he was the last Hamas cofounder out of 6 still standing.
November 14, 2012 at 10:14 PM
I’d be surprised if Zahar was foolish enough to be in his home after days of heavy rocket attacks. Will assume he’s still active until we hear otherwise.
November 14, 2012 at 7:57 PM
The Israeli Foreign Ministry has announced that it has moved into emergency mode, in which the situation room will be manned 24-hours in the wake of the IDF hit on Ahmed Jabari.
November 14, 2012 at 8:21 PM
Reports of naval gunfire, cant confirm
November 14, 2012 at 8:30 PM
Any links to live Israeli TV? The link I have for channel 2 is lagging
November 14, 2012 at 8:33 PM
http://www.mako.co.il/news-channel2/live
November 14, 2012 at 8:36 PM
Thanks Joe! All the best!
November 14, 2012 at 8:58 PM
JW, any in english?
November 14, 2012 at 8:37 PM
About time! Let’s remind everyone what Hamas sees as their motive for attacking Israel, as expressed in Hamas’s own Charter .
Article 7 of the Hamas Charter reads:
http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/1609.htm
“The hour of judgment shall not come until the Muslims fight the Jews and kill them, so that the Jews hide behind trees and stones, and each tree and stone will say: ‘Oh Muslim, oh servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him,’ except for the Gharqad tree, for it is the tree of the Jews.”
Article 7 is taken from Hadith Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 177
and quotes the Prophet Muhammad:
http://www.hadithcollection.com/sahihbukhari/85/3715-sahih-bukhari-volume-004-book-052-hadith-number-177.html
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, “The Hour will not be established until you fight with the Jews, and the stone behind which a Jew will be hiding will say. “O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, so kill him.”
—
We already had three Grad attacks in Beer Sheva, 1st attack at 7:58pm, 2nd attack at 8:10pm, 3 attack at 8:17pm . I am writing this from the mamad, the safe room.
November 14, 2012 at 8:56 PM
Color red Dimona? Isn’t that the location of the nuke plant?
November 14, 2012 at 8:59 PM
Yes, Steve.
November 14, 2012 at 9:07 PM
I hope they tell Egypt to **** off
November 15, 2012 at 12:06 AM
i think Egypt maybe about to lose its air force for the second time
November 14, 2012 at 9:34 PM
There is nothing to be afraid of what may be in Dimona nowadays and I will not say anymore on this issue.
1.Israel has opened an operation in Gaza which may be the first accord of a wider war against Hamas, Jihadists, Hezbollah in the North and Iran to the East.
2.Israel has the capacity and the assets to conduct this grand scale war, if it will occur.
3.A ground operation in Gaza is possible if the jihadists are starting to target the cities in the centre of the country.
4.In this case, the hostilities wont stop like the last time – Cast Lead Operation .
5. Even prolonged and massive missiles launching can trigger the ground invasion of Gaza. In this case, the Army will seek to get rid of the Hamas and others in Gaza.
6.On the Northern Front, we expect Hezbollah to join the attacks against Israel and IDF is well prepared for this development. In this case, a ground invasion of Lebanon is to be expected after a short air campaign against the shiite militia.
7.In the later case, because a certain iranian involvement must to be taken into consideration, IDF will consider to refresh what seems to be postponed, the operations in Iran.
November 14, 2012 at 9:47 PM
So far, nothing about any of this on the Drudge Report. Not one thing. Haven’t check TV, but internet is somewhat lagging behind here.
November 14, 2012 at 11:18 PM
2115: Israeli public radio station Voice of Israel Network B is reporting that citizens within seven kilometres of the Gaza Strip have been asked not to report to work tomorrow. Shopping centres will not be open to the public either. All public events within 40 km from the Gaza Strip have also been cancelled.
November 14, 2012 at 11:19 PM
UK Time
November 14, 2012 at 11:40 PM
Unconfirmed reports of units moving towards Gaza border
November 14, 2012 at 11:48 PM
Israel’s security cabinet has authorised the military to mobilise more reserve forces “according to need”.
November 15, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Drudge Report just picked up the articles…finally. (4:00pm CST US)
November 15, 2012 at 12:15 AM
tel aviv struck?
November 15, 2012 at 12:25 AM
Not a big deal.. but some are refering to this latest engagement as “Pillar of Cloud” and some to “Pillar of Defense”.
November 15, 2012 at 12:37 AM
Hamas are claiming to be shelling Tel Aviv tonight
November 15, 2012 at 1:24 AM
IDF spokeswoman has denied rockets fired at Tel Aviv.
http://rt.com/news/hamas-shelling-tel-aviv-729/
November 15, 2012 at 1:32 AM
Yup just seen that. Hamas and IDF having a twitter fight
November 15, 2012 at 12:46 AM
If true, say goodbye to Hamas….
November 15, 2012 at 12:46 AM
Finally the right answer by Israel and IDF. Every other country would have run out of patience long before…
November 15, 2012 at 1:31 AM
Leaflets being dropped in north Gaza warning of imminent ground assault – reports
November 15, 2012 at 2:30 AM
Go IDF.
Finish Hamas and the other jihadis for good this time.
November 15, 2012 at 2:40 AM
Lots of reports of Egyptian military movements tonight
November 15, 2012 at 2:44 AM
Possibly sealing off the border area to stop attacks from Sinai
November 15, 2012 at 2:47 AM
Received an email from my Saudi student telling me to watch Jordan for the next 24-48 hours.
November 15, 2012 at 2:59 PM
Can you elaborate?
November 15, 2012 at 5:27 AM
News coverage light in US tonight. Taking a backseat to the Petraeus affair. Probably a good thing. Without intensive anti-Israel medial coverage, the IDF might be able to finish the job this time.
November 15, 2012 at 1:15 PM
In this stage, as the situation is developing, the ground invasion of Gaza is inevitable, in our opinion.
November 15, 2012 at 1:28 PM
Hamas stopping foreigners in Gaza who are trying to leave.
November 15, 2012 at 1:41 PM
“The Guardian’s Harriet Sherwood tweets that there are worrying reports Hamas is not allowing foreigners to leave Gaza.”
November 15, 2012 at 4:05 PM
They probably want hostages.
November 15, 2012 at 3:44 PM
Be’er Sheva under Grad attack
http://www.madisdead.blogspot.co.il/2012/11/beer-sheva-under-grad-attack.html
November 15, 2012 at 4:10 PM
Just read an article stating, “The Palestinian Authority asked the (UN) council without success to issue a statement urging Israel to halt its offensive. ” Two things come to mind. One, the IDF response is having an impact so now the PA is running to the UN to stop the ‘evil jooos’. Two, world opinion has finally changed somewhat concerning the PA’s tactics.
November 15, 2012 at 4:19 PM
JW, I hope all is well in Eilat. Were you able to sleep? Could you hear the explosions in the distance? Honestly, I would have tossed and turned all night listening for any approaching sounds.
November 15, 2012 at 4:23 PM
Steve…
Eilat is on notice that rockets may fall here. So far none have.
As far as I’m concerned, I fought in two wars and was under the missiles of Cast Lead. When I need to sleep, I sleep.
November 15, 2012 at 4:26 PM
Hopefully you’re able to snuggle up next to your AR-15 or AK47. Stay safe.
November 15, 2012 at 4:52 PM
Rocket falling in Rishon area. The ground invasion is on the way.
November 15, 2012 at 5:06 PM
Some general statements and policies by the IDF spokeman right now on israeli tv.
November 15, 2012 at 6:04 PM
If Egypt is sending its PM to Gaza tomorow then is it possible that Israel will move in tonight?
November 15, 2012 at 6:07 PM
Good question. The forces are now being assembled in the area if the decision is taken to go in.
November 15, 2012 at 6:32 PM
now hitting the Egyptian pm would send a message,and dont victory taste sweet,source in America says obama may be egging Israel on and its all part of a coordinated strategy to weaken Iran before we invade Iran,Lebanon may be next,there is talk too that its ground forces tonight
November 15, 2012 at 6:08 PM
Breaking News
“Israel military spokesperson Avital Leibovich tells @CNNbrk Israel is not preparing ground offensive”
November 15, 2012 at 6:11 PM
This does however totally contradict other reports
November 15, 2012 at 6:34 PM
This is totally false. I heard him in hebrew.
November 15, 2012 at 6:35 PM
well what else would you say,he has spent the last 2 weeks acting like nothing was coming,
November 15, 2012 at 6:38 PM
Well I believe a ground operation is coming soon, but hearing that the Egyptian PM is going to Gaza tomorrow then its anybodys guess when it will take place, I say something may happen tonight.
November 15, 2012 at 6:39 PM
Heard him in hebrew? Avital Leibovich is a female lt col 😛 Did I mistake your post?
November 15, 2012 at 6:52 PM
I meant I heard the IDF spokeman – a man – in hebrew on the israeli television.
November 15, 2012 at 7:08 PM
Ah ok 🙂
November 15, 2012 at 6:54 PM
His name is Yoav Mordechai, the IDF spokeman.
November 15, 2012 at 6:58 PM
They’re hailing us with bombs, blowing up our children and we’re dropping them love letters? What’s going on?
November 15, 2012 at 7:02 PM
No rocket falls in Tel Aviv zone, Iron Dome intercepted them all.
November 15, 2012 at 7:09 PM
BBC states that parts of rocket landed in sea off of Tel Aviv
November 15, 2012 at 7:36 PM
i have it the whole missile overshot into the sea,it just shows what i was saying recently about hamas and irans missiles being 40 years out of date and totally ineffective
November 15, 2012 at 7:37 PM
Lets hope they keep missing
November 15, 2012 at 7:36 PM
Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport has been shut down?
November 15, 2012 at 7:39 PM
Islamic Jihad claim responsibility for the rocket that was fired atTel Aviv
November 15, 2012 at 7:41 PM
Hackers are targeting the live Mako Ch.2 news feed from the website making it very difficult to watch. If you want to watch it use this link below. It is the unpublished direct link to the live stream that is embedded in the Apple iPhone app. Cheers, John
http://www.mako.co.il/embed/players/facebook/VideoPlayer.swf?vcmid=003432e70df02310VgnVCM100000290b320aRCRD&videoChannelId=678493a06d750210VgnVCM100000290c10acRCRD&galleryChannelId=003432e70df02310VgnVCM100000290b320aRCRD&autoplay=true
November 15, 2012 at 7:45 PM
John, thanks for the info. I was having trouble on my PC so I tried my Ipad and it worked fine. Now I understand why….
November 15, 2012 at 9:30 PM
Tanks entering the Sinai from Egypt…
http://cybertribenetwork.blogspot.com/2012/11/egyptian-tanks-moving-into-sinai-desert_15.html
November 16, 2012 at 4:45 PM
Im watching hamas firing rockets live, scary stuff
November 16, 2012 at 5:09 PM
Claims fighter jet shot down, rockets hitting Jerusalem
November 16, 2012 at 9:28 PM
Rockets fired from direction of Egypt toward Eshkol Regional Council (Haaretz)
November 16, 2012 at 10:45 PM
http://www.stratfor.com/video/israel-prepares-gaza-ground-operation?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=official&utm_campaign=link
November 17, 2012 at 1:08 AM
Joel Rosenberg’s blog is saying that 75,000 reservists are being called up.
http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/2012/11/16/israel-at-war-day-3-missiles-fired-at-jerusalem-tel-aviv-netanyahu-orders-75000-reservists-mobilized-is-ground-war-coming/