The inclement weather in Israel on Wednesday, which was accompanied by badly-needed rainfall, provided a veil of cover for Gazan-based Hamas terrorists, who maximized the hours of heavy rainfall and fog.

Terrorists fired rockets, mortar shells, Kassams and 122mm Grad Katyushas into all areas of southern Israel, seeking to enlarge its range of terror. Rockets on Wednesday reached as far as the Yavne corridor, as well as Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ofakim, and other areas, but the focus of attention was on Beersheva, the capital of the Negev.

Beersheva was atop of Hamas’ list of threats, and the terror organization beginning on Tuesday night made good on its threat, landing its first Katyusha in the city. But on Wednesday, rockets were flying with increasing frequency as residents of the city were being abruptly initiated into the lives of the Greater Sderot Area residents, realizing what it means to be ‘under attack’, a reality that has accompanied Sderot and the surrounding areas for some eight years.

IDF Homefront Command officials by all accounts performed considerably better than during the Second Lebanon War, and officials had a handle on the situation and addressed technical malfunctions promptly and proficiently. It appears that while Beersheva does have an early-warning siren system, it does not reach all areas and it did malfunction on Wednesday as well, at least part of the time. Perhaps one of the more obvious improvements is the visibility of Homefront officers, who are in every city, exhibiting a presence, providing residents with an address for their fears and to receive instructions.

Homefront officials urge Beersheva residents to stay tuned to 97FM, the ‘quiet channel’, which only airs sirens in time of attack and to broadcast emergency instructions to listeners in the area. The remainder of the time, the channel remains quiet.

At least 5 Katyusha rockets slammed into Beersheva today and Mayor Rubik Danilovich had words of praise for the army and representatives of the Homefront Command, particularly the decision to close the city’s schools on Wednesday. One of the rockets pierced the roof of one of the city’s larger schools, landing and exploding in a 9th grade classroom. Had school been in session, the results would have disastrous. Schools remain close in the city indefinitely, as well as the other cities in the rocket firing range.

The number of residents requiring treatment for psychological shock/hysteria is climbing, with officials in Soroka Medical Center reporting about 100 hysteria victims have been treated since Tuesday night’s first rocket attack in the city. The Health Ministry opened a center for treating hysteria victims, located opposite Soroka.

Ben-Gurion University in the Negev announced it too would remain closed, at least through the end of the week, at which time the situation would be reevaluated.

ASHKELON

President Shimon Peres on Wednesday morning visited the rocket-stricken city, which is being hit hard. He paid a visit to City Hall’s situation room, in a fortified underground structure, then moving to Barzilai Hospital to offer words of encouragement and comfort to the victims and their families. From there, he went to see a kindergarten, operated in a bomb shelter. During that visit the sirens sounded and security agents prohibited the president from moving until he was given the ‘all clear’, at which time his entourage left the city. The media was prohibited from announcing or reporting on the presidential visit until he left the city, for obvious security reasons.

Ashkelon has sustained significant property damage and the city exhibits the scars of rocket attacks, with most stores closed, shopping centers remaining testifying to the city’s difficult situation, closed and void of activity.

A DIFFICULT DAY

Rockets on Wednesday landed past Ashdod, almost falling in Gan Yavne but falling in open areas nearby, signaling Hamas threats are indeed legitimate. Security officials estimate the terrorist regime in Gaza has at least another 2,000 rockets and statements from Gaza seem to reject any notion of surrender.

ROCKETS LAND EVERYWHERE

Other areas including the Eshkol Region, Sderot, Gaza-belt communities and the communities situated in those areas were hit hard, as is their daily reality, and Baruch Hashem, only two or three people sustained light physical injuries in the entire south, but one should not minimize reports of ‘light injuries’, which at times translate to injuries that result in the loss of a finger, permanent disabilities of long months of rehabilitation.

When doctors rate injuries “light”, “moderate”, “serious” and so forth, they base the categorization on a victim’s condition verses the possibility of dying or trauma to major bodily organs. Light can still involve much heartache for a victim, not to mention physical pain.

AIR FORCE POUNDS TERRORIST TARGETS

Despite the inclement weather, the air force did not rest and fighter planes and combat helicopters were pounding targets towards eliminating Hamas’ rocket-firing abilities. Two areas hit hard were the former Gaza Jewish communities of Alei Sinai and Dugit. Amazingly, with the round-the-clock news coverage of events in Gaza, in Israel and around the world, one is hard pressed to hear mention of Ariel Sharon’s Disengagement Plan, which set the state for the current state of war, permitting Gaza to become Hamastine, a terror-based regime.

GROUND FORCES ARE STANDING BY

The rains are expected to let up in the coming 24 hours, bringing in unseasonably cold weather. Whatever the case, the winter will only add another challenge to IDF infantry soldiers, with close to 10,000 soldiers standing by for the green light to enter Gaza, a move that will be accompanied by armored, aerial and other support. They are ready, willing, and well prepared but all are aware their mission is a difficult one, one that must be accompanied by our tefillos and a large dose of siyata d’shmaiya.

PM OLMERT MEETS WITH SENIOR MINISTERS

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Wednesday met with Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. The security forum also met with IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi and other senior officials, deciding there would be no ceasefire or pause in Operation Cast Lead at this time.

Olmert also met with cabinet members and the government has given its blessing for the continued military offensive, well-aware that at present, Hamas poses too big a threat and this threat must be eliminated. One should remember that the aerial distance from Gaza to Ashdod is about 40km (24 miles) and the aerial distance to Bet Shemesh for example, is only about 43km.  There is concern that Hamas may indeed reach other major population centers and this is compelling ministers to order a continuation of the ongoing operation.

RESTRICTIONS ON ALL RESIDENTS IN ROCKET-STRICKEN AREAS

The Homefront Command has instructed local government heads and citizens to visit its homepage (www.oref.org.il) and to become familiar with current directives.

Weddings and other gatherings are prohibited, as is congregating outside. Some 800,000 residents are basically under curfew, instructed to remain indoors, near shelters.

In short, depending on the distance of one’s community from the Gaza border, there are appropriate restrictions. The military however is calling on all citizens, from Gaza-belt communities to Beersheva, to remain close to shelters and to remain indoors. Residents are instructed to stock up on non perishable food goods, as well as batteries and basic emergency equipment. Bottled water is also essential.

Compliance to Homefront directives appears high, but residents in Beersheva are still new to the current realties and whereas in Sderot residents to not run to an attack scene to see what has taken place, in Beersheva, the curiosity factor seems to be getting the best of many residents.

As the daylight begins to fade away and sunset approaches, residents are bracing for another round of warfare, realizing terrorists use the dark to their advantage as well.

IMPORTANT NOTE: YWN offers three different options (all free, of course) for keeping in touch with the news as it happens. Should you wish to receive breaking updates via SMS text message (in the USA), or two different email alert options, please click HERE to sign up – and join the already tens of thousands of subscribers. 

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)