Features Israel News Profiles

Living on rockets, miracles and the Iron Dome

October 20, 2012 | Jewish TribunecloseAuthor: Jewish Tribune Name: Jewish Tribune
Site:
About: no bio enterdedSee Authors Posts (7044)

Rocket in Netivot open area (Photo: Daniel Hagbi/Sderot Media Centre)

Anav Silverman, Tazpit News Agency

SOUTHERN ISRAEL - Days and nights in southern Israel have been punctuated by a growing number of sirens and rocket explosions, with more than 60 rockets striking Israeli cities and communities this past week. Last Monday morning alone, 55 Qassam rockets and mortar shells were fired from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip on Simchat Torah. The rocket strikes damaged buildings, properties and a kibbutz petting zoo that is usually filled with children, but was empty because of the early morning hour. 

Hamas and Islamic Jihad both claimed responsibility for the rocket strike, following an Israeli Air Force airstrike the day before (Sunday) that targeted global jihad terrorists operating in Gaza.

For residents in Netivot, Sderot and the Gaza-border communities, the rocket routine is not a new one. 

Last Tuesday night, three rockets were fired, with one towards the city of Netivot and the others landing near Sderot, which has been the target of rocket attacks for nearly 12 years. Speaking with Tazpit News Agency last Wednesday, Netivot resident, Elisheva Ratzon described the panic she experienced the previous night.

“I was on the computer, reading on the news that a rocket had struck Sderot earlier, when all of a sudden, the rocket siren for Netivot went off,” said Ratzon. “It was about 10:30 at night and the rocket struck just as I ran into the shelter in my apartment. There was an extremely loud boom. ”

Sitting at her computer in her office where she works as an accountant, Ratzon explains that she still experiences great panic every time a rocket strikes her city.

“It’s a difficult experience, but even more so when my grandchildren come for a visit.  Then I get even more nervous. This situation is especially tough for families with young children.” 

The desert city of Netivot is home to more than 27,000 residents and is about 14 kilometres (9 miles) away from Gaza. Although there were no casualties or damages from last Tuesday night’s rocket attack, a Netivot home was severely damaged in a direct Grad rocket attack two weeks earlier in September, which was miraculously empty at the time. Another home was also damaged.

More than 500 rockets have been fired at Israel since the start of 2012.

“Life is not easy here,” said Daniel, Ratzon’s nephew, who is a student at a yeshiva in Sderot. “If we didn’t have the Iron Dome in place, to shoot down the Grad rockets targeting larger cities, like Ashkelon, Ashdod and Beer Sheva, the situation would be much, much worse.

“Right now we are living on prayers, miracles and the Iron Dome,” he said. 

Tags: featured Hamas IDF Iron dome Israel Defence Forces Qassam rockets Sderrot southern Israel