Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday morning, 17 Adar 5772, praised the performance of the Iron Dome system which continues to intercept katyusha rockets fired from Gaza at major southern population centers, including Beersheva, Ashdod and Ashkelon.

Barak stated that the development of the Magic Wand system for moderate range rockets must be an “urgent national priority”, with the senior minister well aware that terrorists in Gaza have the capability of launching such an attack at any time.

Due to the escalation in rocket fire into southern Israel since erev Shabbos, the IDF Homefront Command has reactivated the quiet radio station permitting residents of areas in rocket fire range to have the radio on but silent, only broadcasting in the event of an emergency, such a rocket alert tone or Homefront Command announcements.

The quiet radio operates in Beersheva and the surrounding areas at 97FM and 95.8FM. In Ashkelon, Ashdod and the surrounding areas, at 101.5FM and Ashdod and the area at 93.3FM.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)