WarSclerotic

Jerusalem Post – Breaking News.

( I just can’t let this pass… Forgive my French, but this man is a REAL asshole. – JW )

Erdogan: Israel striking in Gaza because of elections – Israel News, Ynetnews. Erdogan said he would speak by phone with US President Barack Obama later on Friday and that Ankara was also seeking talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the prospect of a full Israeli ground invasion. (AFP, AP)Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel of aggressively attacking the armed organization in the Gaza Strip. According to

Erdogan, Israel’s strikes were motivated by the Knesset elections scheduled to take place in about two months.

Two rockets explode in open area near settlement south of Jerusalem | The Times of Israel.

Hamas fires missiles towards the capital, no injuries or damage; IDF says over 70 rockets fired from Gaza Strip hit Israel on Friday; major protests against Operation Pillar of Defense in Jerusalem, Cairo, and Tehran; IDF prepares fifth Iron Dome battery for deployment

An Israeli Border Police officer searches for the remains of a missile that was fired from the Gaza Strip and landed near the West Bank settlement of Gush Etzion. (photo credit: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Hamas continues to fire into Israel. The IDF continues to attack terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip. The IDF spokesperson reports that over 500 strikes have been carried out by the military since Operation Pillar of Defense commenced on Wednesday afternoon. Hamas and terrorist organizations in Gaza have launched more than 70 rockets on Friday alone. The Times of Israel is liveblogging developments. Press “Refresh” for latest updates and click here for our previous live blog detailing events as they unfolded on earlier on Friday. (Click here to receive our free daily newsletter, compiling the day’s key stories.)

18:52

Defense Minister Ehud Barak approves call-up of additional reservists out of a quota of 30,000 that was approved Thursday.

The IDF Spokesperson announced on Thursday evening that 30,000 reservists were being called up as Israel prepared for a possible extended ground incursion into Gaza as part of Operation Pillar of Defense.

18:39

Air raid sirens are going off in Ashdod, Gan Yavne, and Gedera as Hamas continues to fire rockets at southern Israeli cities and towns.

Ynet reports that two rockets were shot down over Ashdod and the nearby town of Beer Tuvia.

18:33

A direct hit has been confirmed on a house near Kiryat Malachi, in southern Israel, Channel 2 reports.

Rescue forces are on their way to the scene, though no casualties have been reported as of now.

On Thursday, three people were killed in Kiryat Malachi when a residential building in the city was hit by a rocket.

18:33

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat urges calm among Jerusalem residents following the air raid siren that sounded across the city two hours ago.

“I would like to reassure the residents of Jerusalem, continue routine life in the city and abide by Home Front Command advisories. The Municipality has drilled all the scenarios and is prepared for them. Public shelters are ready in case we need to open them.”

The two missiles fired from the Gaza Strip by Hamas landed in open areas south of Jerusalem, causing no damage or injuries.

18:27

Hamas releases a video purporting to show a Fajr 5 missile being shot toward the Israeli parliament building in Jerusalem, the Knesset.

18:20

Air raid sirens heard in Gedera, Ashkelon and Ashdod.

18:13

Hamas confirms the group fired a long-range rocket at Jerusalem, located roughly 75 kilometers away from the Gaza border and previously thought to be beyond the range of Gaza rocket squads.

“We are sending a short and simple message: There is no security for any Zionist on any single inch of Palestine and we plan more surprises,” AP quotes Abu Obeida, spokesman for the Hamas militant wing, as saying.

Hamas officials say the rocket was a homemade “M-75″ rocket, a weapon that has never been fired before.

18:08

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat calls on the capital’s residents to keep calm, adding that they can go about their business as usual as long as they pay attention to updates and instructions from the Home Front Command.

“The municipality has drilled and is prepared to face every scenario,” he says, adding that the city’s public bomb shelters are “ready in case we are required to open them.”

17:58

Air raid sirens are sounding across southern Israel. Three rockets have exploded in open areas in the Eshkol border region causing no damage or injuries. One rocket was intercepted by the Iron Dome missile system over the town of Beer Tuvia. Another rocket has exploded outside Beersheba, no injuries reported.

17:55

The IDF Spokesperson denies the accuracy of Hamas’s claims that it shot down an IAF aircraft operating over the Gaza Strip.

17:48

The M-75 missiles that Hamas claims to have fired at Jerusalem traveled an estimated 70 or more kilometers (45 miles) before exploding south of the capital.

There is no known missile type known as the M-75.

Video footage taken by a resident of Hebron claimed to show the missile strikes south of Jerusalem. People standing beside the cameraman cheer when the blasts are seen.

Hamas’s Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades also claims to have downed an IAF aircraft operating over the Gaza Strip. There has been no confirmation of this report. Hamas claims the IAF is bombing the area around the crash site to prevent Hamas operatives from gathering wreckage.

17:37

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman speaks at length over the phone with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday, according to Channel 2 News. He reportedly thanks Clinton for her support and stresses that Hamas must unconditionally stop firing on Israel.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman meets with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, on Monday July 16 (photo credit: Miriam Alster/Flash90)

17:35

Israel Police confirms rocket hit open space outisde Jerusalem.

17:28

Rockets fired from Gaza are landing throughout southern Israel. Air raid sirens are going off in towns surrounding the Gaza Strip and Beersheba. A rocket has hit and damaged factory in the Sha’ar Hanegev border region, another landed in the Eshkol region and damaged a house. Two explosions are being reported near the coastal city of Ashkelon.

17:25

Air raid siren heard in Beersheba.

17:19

IDF Spokesperson confirms that two rockets launched from the Gaza Strip by Hamas landed approximately 14 kilometers (8 miles) south of downtown Jerusalem, near the settlement bloc of Gush Etzion.

17:16

The IDF Spokesperson confirms a rocket hit outside Jerusalem.

17:09

Hamas’s armed wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, says it’s launched “two M75 homemade missiles towards Jerusalem”.

@AlqassamBrigade

Alqassam Brigades

Al Qassam Brigades launch two M75 homemade missiles towards occupied Jerusalem#gaza #GuzaUnderattack #ShaleStones #Hamas #Resistance

about 1 hour ago via webReplyRetweetFavorite

17:08

Air raid siren in Sha’ar Hanegev region. No damage or casualties reported.

17:06

Business as usual in Tel Aviv: shoppers hit the city’s Carmel Market in droves, despite the air raid siren which sounded in the city earlier on Friday. One shop owner tells Channel 2 that when the siren sounded, panicked shoppers started running in all directions. “We invited them into our shop for shelter,” she says.

17:06

Channel 10 reports that two rockets landed near the West Bank settlement of Gush Etzion south of Jerusalem. Emergency services en route.

Rockets reportedly landed in open areas.

17:04

The sound of gunshots and police sirens can be heard in downtown Jerusalem shortly after air raid sirens went off in capital and surrounding towns.

17:02

Channel 2 reports a rocket hit an open space north of Jerusalem, no one was hurt.

16:55

Air raid sirens blare across Jerusalem and the surrounding area shortly after sundown as a rocket fired by Hamas, described as an “upgraded Qassam” was launched at the capital.

This is the first time rocket warnings have gone off in Jerusalem.

Residents in south Jerusalem say they heard the siren, waited a couple of minutes and then heard two booms — one a few seconds after the other.

Israeli TV says Hamas is saying it fired M-75 missiles on Jerusalem.

Earlier the armed wing of Hamas was quoted saying that “surprises” were in store shortly, but it’s not clear whether the incident was related.

16:41

Ynet reports that the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing, warns that in a short while there will be “surprises.”

Two rockets land outside Jerusalem following 2… JPost – Defense.

Hamas fires first rockets at Jerusalem – Israel News, Ynetnews.

After reaching Tel Aviv metropolitan area, missile range extended to Israel’s capital as well. Air raid siren sounded in Jerusalem area shortly after Palestinian organization promises ‘surprise’. Rocket lands in Gush Etzion area; no injuries or damage reported

Noam (Dabul) Dvir

After Tel Aviv metropolitan area, capital under fire too: An air raid siren was sounded in Jerusalem and surrounding communities early Friday evening. After residents reported hearing blast sounds, security forces confirmed that one rocket had landed in the Gush Etzion area.

This was the first air raid siren sounded in the area since the IDF launched Operation Pillar of Defense in the Gaza Strip. Air raid sirens were sounded in southern communities throughout the day and a barrage of missiles hit the area.

On Friday afternoon, an air raid siren sounded in Tel Aviv, followed by an explosion caused by a missile landing in an open area.

Rocket over Jerusalem (Photo: Or Saban)

Shortly after the air raid siren sounded in Jerusalem, Hamas‘ military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for the rocket fired at the capital area. according to the organization, it fired a homemade rocket called Qassam M76.

The rocket Hamas fired at Tel Aviv is nicknamed Qassam M75.

Shortly before the rocket hit the Jerusalem area, Hamas’ military wing promised “a surprise in a short while.”

At the same time the rockets were fired at Jerusalem, a factory in the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council in southern Israel sustained a direct hit. There were no reports of injuries.

Taking shelter in Jerusalem (Photo: Roy Antebi)

The rocket, which sounded at 4:45 pm, caught Jerusalem residents off guard just before the start of Shabbat. Residents of Tel Aviv and southern communities, who fled to Jerusalem, were surprised to hear the siren.

“We were sitting together and listening to music, when suddenly the siren sounded,” said two 16-year-old Jerusalem residents, Denise and Inbar. “The first feeling was shock. We thought it wouldn’t happen to us.”

Gil, 27, who lives in the Mevasseret Zion area, said he heard three explosions. “We heard one boom during the siren and two afterwards. We ran into the fortified room, my girlfriend and I. It reminded us of the days of the first Gulf War.”

Roi and Matan, students who live in Tel Aviv, returned to their parents’ home in Jerusalem to relax from the rockets fired at Tel Aviv.

“I guess the safest place in Israel is in Nablus,” said Matan, who was surprised by siren sounds twice in the past 24 hours. “Yesterday I was shocked by the siren in Tel Aviv, and today it chased me to Jerusalem.”

Recruitment of 30,000 reservists okayed

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat asked the capital’s residents to continue their routine life and obey Home Front Command orders.

“The municipality is prepared for all scenarios, and the public bomb shelters are ready in case we need to open them,” he clarified.

Reserve forces head south (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)

Meanwhile, thousands of reserve forces are flocking to southern Israel. Hundreds of military trucks carrying supplies, ammunition, water and fuel, as well as tanks, armored personnel carriers and jeeps filled the Gaza vicinity’s roads.

As part of the preparations for a ground offensive in the Strip, the IDF opened the war-reserve-stores units and many weapons were transported toward Gaza.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak gave the green light to the IDF to extend the recruitment of reserve forces to more than 30,000 soldiers if necessary.

Meanwhile, the Home Front Command has ordered local authorities to prepare for a long period of fighting of up to seven weeks.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the Kirya Base in Tel Aviv on Friday afternoon to discuss the continuation of Operation Pillar of Defense with Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, Shin Bet Director Yoram Cohen and senior officials.

More than 550 rockets fired at Israel

Meanwhile, the rocket fire has not stopped. Southern communities – including the cities of Beersheba, Ashkelon and Ashdod – were hit by more than 100 rockets since the morning hours. There were no reports of injuries in all incidents. The Iron Dome system intercepted several rockets.

An air raid siren was sounded in the Tel Aviv area at 1:29 pm Friday after Thursday’s siren, which was the first heard in the city since the 1991 Gulf War. A rocket exploded in an open area.

Earlier Friday, three soldiers were injured in a mortar shell explosion in the Eshkol Regional Council. One of them sustained moderate wounds while the rest were lightly hurt.

Meanwhile, an Air Force place attempted to assassinate the commander of the Rafah division of Hamas’ military wing, Muhammad Abu Shamala. It is unclear whether he was hurt. Palestinian sources reported that the man’s house was attacked and destroyed.

More than 360 rockets have landed on Israeli soil since the start of Operation Pillar of Defense. The Iron Dome system intercepted more than additional 190 rockets since the start of the operation, 90 of them on Friday.

The IDF has struck more than 550 targets in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the operation.

Roy Antebi, Omri Efraim, Saar Haas, Elior Levy, Yoav Zitun and Gili Dagan contributed to this report

Jerusalem Post – Breaking News.

( Not to forget: Gaza is a cheap sideshow compared to the real, existential threat to the State of Israel. – JW )

Palestinian rockets strike Jerusalem, Tel Aviv. Reserves call-up expanded.

DEBKAfile Special Report November 16, 2012, 6:19 PM (GMT+02:00)

Israeli tanks on standby outside Gaza

Signs of an approaching full-scale war increased Friday afternoon, Nov. 16.

The IDF obtained government approval to call up reserves in addition to the 30,000 already approved. Hospitals across the country were placed on emergency footing and patients not needing urgent treatment were sent home. The security cabinet meets urgently after 550 Palestinian rockets fired in three days. Jerusalem and Tel Aviv were targeted Friday by Hamas which reported firing two “homemade M-75” missiles each at Israel’s capital and commercial hub. There were no casualties in either town.
The Jerusalem siren was heard in outlying towns Mevaseret Zion, Motza Ilit, Beitar Ilit, Kibbutz Maaleh Hahamisha, Ora and Har Adar.
Israeli ground forces continue to stand by on the Gaza border awaiting government orders to go in.

One who believes is not afraid – YouTube.

Hamas shoots missile at Jerusalem – YouTube.

In a sign of extreme desperation, Hamas fires an inaccurate missile at Jerusalem and risks destroying “Islam’s third holiest sites.”  Hamas claims to be an Islamist organization.  Really?  Even Saddam didn’t risk firing at Jerusalem.

In their feeble attempt to “scare” Israel (still clueless about whom they’re fighting) they have handed Israel the biggest public relations coup possible.  One that will actually speak to the Islamic world ! – JW

–

American Jews keep wary eye on situation in Gaza, examine their own security precautions | The Times of Israel.

Support pours in from US Jewish groups as they prepare to help Israelis hurt or displaced by the recent escalation

A Bible covered with debris in a Kiryat Malachi apartment in which three people were killed from a rocket attack on Thursday (photo credit: Yossi Zeliger/Flash90)

American Jewish groups are closely following events unfolding in Gaza, and there is some concern that terror organizations will seek to retaliate against Israel through a strike at Jewish targets in the US and around the world, The Times of Israel has learned.

Officials at the Secure Community Network (SCN), an organization that coordinates between American Jewish groups and US security agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, say they are keeping a close eye on developments in Gaza and their possible effect on the safety and security of American Jewish institutions.

Paul Goldenberg, national director of SCN, has reportedly told officials of the Jewish Federations of North America that “SCN is very busy right now.” Contact between US security agencies and Jewish groups has been taking place on a “consistent” basis, with exchanges of real-time security alerts and information.

Jewish communities around the world have, in the past, been the target of terror groups seeking to harm Israel and Israelis. There is also concern that Israelis abroad could be targeted.

At the start of the current round of fighting in Gaza, Hamas warned that Israel had “opened the gates of hell” by killing Hamas military chief Ahmed Jabari, while a July terror attack in Burgas, Bulgaria, that killed five Israelis and wounded 32 more, is believed to have been perpetrated by Hezbollah.

Briefings taking place this week at SCN “include information on how Federations and other Jewish institutions can raise the bar on their security, and maintain a high degree of vigilance at a time when potential security threats are possible,” according to JFNA spokesman Joe Berkofsky.

The discussions between SCN and Jewish institutions are “a precautionary measure,” according to Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice president of the Conference of Presidents. “There hasn’t been any specific warning,” he noted.

SCN is a joint initiative of JFNA and the Conference.

While they look to their own security, American Jewish groups have also scrambled to help those in Israel who have been hurt or displaced by the rocket fire from Gaza.

“The areas of most immediate need are the most vulnerable, the elderly and the severely disabled,” according to Michael Geller, spokesman for the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). “These are people who are in their homes. Some people can’t get to shelters and are staying in place.”

In Kiryat Malachi, 30 families who were displaced when their building was damaged by rocket fire have been given temporary accommodations. While schools and local government have largely shut down in Israel’s southern towns, the JDC has mobilized staff to deliver hot meals to the homes of 500 elderly residents of the region who rely on JDC day centers for regular meals.

Meanwhile, JFNA announced Thursday it was opening a $5 million Israel Terror Relief Fund together with the Jewish Federations of Canada, the Union for Reform Judaism and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. The fund will go toward programs of the Jewish Agency, JDC, the Israel Trauma Coalition and World ORT, to “deliver immediate services and assistance on the ground throughout the South,” including “trauma counseling, financial assistance, portable bomb shelters, and potentially other initiatives, including bringing children in the strike zones out of harm’s way.”