Ashkelon mayor and the Qassam
צילום: רן ידעי
Ashkelon to get rocket alert system
Red Dawn rocket alert system to be activated in southern town of Ashkelon, following recent Qassam attack on industrial area
Following the Qassam attack on the southern town of Ashkelon Sunday, officials at the Home Front Command decided that the Red Dawn alert system will be activated in the area within the next few days.
IDF sources said the rocket launching came as no surprise.
"It should be kept in mind that our withdrawal from the settlements in the northern part of the Gaza Strip helped the terror groups extend their fire range," an IDF official told Ynet.
"This is what we have been fighting against over the past few days," he added.
The alert system will be installed in several areas in the town's industrial zone, including the Rotenberg power plant and the Katza oil pipe (Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline).
The system will provide the workers with a 20-second alert prior to the rockets' landing.
A high ranking Home Front Command official told Ynet before prior to the Qassam launching at Ashkelon that the town was already connected to the Red Dawn alert system, but that there was no need to activate it.
'Shooting must be stopped'
The Ashkelon city council is expected to hold a meeting with head of the Home Front Command as well as with IDF and police officials, in which the recent escalation in Qassam attacks will be discussed.
Ashkelon mayor Roni Mehatzri was furious Monday over the current security situation to which his city was exposed.
"Unfortunately, to the best of my understanding, the Qassam rocket was fired from an open field in the former Dugit settlement evacuated by the IDF. I don't understand how such attacks are allowed, especially when there is available intelligence about the possibility of rocket launching from these sites," he said.
"Why do we have to wait until they improve their rocket range? Everything must be done to stop this shooting on Ashkelon," he added.
Mehatzri stated that on Sunday he spoke with Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and head of the Home Front Command.
"I told them that the installation of the Red Dawn system should be the first priority. The defense minister told me they were doing everything within their power to prevent the attacks on Ashkelon," he added.
Shmulik Haddad contributed to the report
