While the cabinet gave its approval for activating 40,000 IDF reservists, they are not all being called for service immediately. The first wave will number 15,000 reservists, who will be replacing compulsory service brigades.

The first reservists began arriving on Tuesday morning, some sent to the south immediately while others took up position in Yehuda and Shomron, replacing the compulsory service forces and thereby permitting the compulsory service soldiers to head to Gaza. Many of the first reservists will also be added the Homefront Command force, which is critical as the Hamas rocket fire intensifies.

The Homefront Command’s Tabor Division is made of compulsory service soldiers and commander and it is among the first that is being replaced in the Yericho area, where they have been operating in recent weeks.

The soldiers will then head to the Tel Aviv area as the military expects rocket launches in that direction too. The soldiers will be preparing extrication and rescue equipment in the Tel Aviv area in the event of a rocket strike chas v’sholom in the Gush Dan region.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)