Israel’s Security Cabinet convened in a special session Wednesday evening led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to review the day’s events.
Hopefully the security cabinet will also reach some decision by the end of the night on how to deal with the escalating violence from Gaza and its rising spread into the Palestinian Authority.
The meeting came after a tense day in which the prime minister traveled to the IDF Gaza Division command center, where he met with the lookouts who identified the terror cell launching a rocket attack at southern Israel, and was struck in situ by the IDF. Netanyahu expressed his appreciation for the work and activity of the command center which on Wednesday, probably saved lives.
Netanyahu also met with the Sdot Negev Regional Council and with local council heads from the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip: Sdot Negev Regional Council Chairman Tamir Idan, Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi, Hof Ashkelon Regional Council Chairman Yair Farjun, Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council Chairman Alon Schuster and Eshkol Regional Council Chairman Gadi Yarkoni.
Children in the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council district stayed home from school on Wednesday, as did those in Be’er Sheva, after a night in which rocket fire once again dominated the thoughts of most Israelis in the south.
“Israel views with utmost gravity the attacks against it on the fence, on the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip, on Be’er Sheva . . . everywhere,” Netanyahu told reporters. “I said at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting that if these attacks do not stop, we will stop them. I want to tell you today as well — Israel will take very strong action.”
As Egyptian and United Nations officials worked intensively in Gaza to bring down the tensions, hoping even at this late point to avoid the escalation that seems to be inexorably leading to another war, Israel’s population quietly began to show the focused behavior and grim determination that was seen just prior to the start of the 2014 counter terrorism war with Hamas known as Operation Protective Edge.
Radio stations carried non-stop interviews with security, police and military officials, offering words of support and courage, and encouraging listeners to call in with their feelings about the powerful Grad missile attack that had destroyed a woman’s home in Be’er Sheva just a few hours earlier.
Pundits began reviewing the events that have taken place so far and discussing the pros and cons of the various strategies suggested by Knesset members and government ministers.
Radio Darom — Radio of the South — announced a drive to collect “whatever you can give, whatever you can help with, even toothpaste!” — for the mother and her three young children left homeless in the rocket attack.
Brief announcements were also made, reminding listeners of how many people are allowed to gather in one place in outside venues, and in interior venues, at sites up to 25 kilometers from the Gaza border, and up to 40 kilometers from the Gaza border. (This minimizes the risk of injury in the case of a rocket attack, when suddenly everyone has to make a run for the shelter, and there isn’t enough space to accommodate all those in danger.)
Yes, Israelis are making preparations. Just in case.