Israel Matzav

A 'glitch'?

Some of you may be wondering what happened to the Iron Dome system in the Ashdod area on Saturday. The IDF says its malfunction was a technical glitch. But that appears to be just one of several excuses for the system not functioning.

Ashdod Mayor Yehiel Lasri said: "As far as we are aware the system was taken for calibration. We were told we would get the system back in the coming days." The IDF cited technical problems when trying to explain why the rockets were not intercepted.

The Home Front Command's South District Commander, Col. Doron Mor Yosef said: "The system was deployed hurriedly in light of the events and it took time before it could become operational in the relevant regions."

IDF Spokesman Brigadier-General Yoav Mordechai said it was "a technical issue and not a manpower problem. Both batteries are now operational."

Deputy Ashkelon Mayor, Amram Ben-David was disappointed the Iron Dome battery was taken from the city. "I don't think a city this big should rely on miracles. The army must redeploy the system here. I also think we should response proportionately, in a language they understand. Each rocket should see an entire street in Gaza destroyed."

Two Iron Dome batteries are currently stationed in the Ashdod and the Beersheba area. The IDF has decided to keep them there in the wake of the recent escalation. Army officials stressed that the system cannot provide a comprehensive solution to the high-trajectory rocket threat.

But instead of working on a comprehensive solution, the IDF is complaining that Hamas didn't do anything to stop the rockets.

Addressing the situation in the south, Mordechai said, "Hamas is the ruling element in Gaza, but at this stage it has remained passive."

"Through various ways, direct and indirect, we are checking to see how it is working to stop the escalation," Mordechai added.

"As of now, Islamic Jihad absorbed a painful blow from the IDF's response. It has been hit and it is feeling under pressure. Until now, they have had ten [members] killed, including Sheikh Ahmed Khalil, a member of Islamic Jihad's supreme military council. They also have a number of injured," he said.

As the de facto ruler of Gaza, Hamas should be held responsible. The rockets are an act of war and should be responded to accordingly. Hamas 'Prime Minister' Ismail Haniyeh and 'Foreign Minister' Mahmoud al-Zahar should be in the IDF's crosshairs. They're long past due.

I'll have Hamas' response in the next post.

Labels: Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gaza, Hamas, Iron Dome, Ismail Haniyeh, Mahmoud al-Zahar

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:57 AM