By Abraham Rabinovich
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
August 10, 2006
http://www.washtimes.com/world/20060810-120416-4570r.htm
JERUSALEM -- A radio station that broadcasts silence has become popular in
Israel since the war with Hezbollah began a month ago.
The station was initiated by state-run Israel Radio for residents in the
northern part of the country who fear that they might not hear sirens
warning of a rocket attack while they are sleeping.
The "silent station" is an alternative wake-up device next to their bed
and breaks its silence only with announcements of impending rocket attacks.
When the announcement comes, the residents have less than a minute to get to
cover.
The cover recommended by the authorities is not a public shelter but a
room with reinforced concrete walls and metal doors and metal shutters,
which every home built after 1992 should have.
The bylaw was enacted after the 1991 Persian Gulf War when Israel was
struck by 39 Iraqi Scud missiles. Although many homeowners have grumbled
about the rule, the "protected spaces" have saved the lives of more than one
family in the current conflict.
For those who live in older houses, the authorities recommend taking
shelter in any interior room that does not face the street. Persons on the
street when the sirens sound are directed to take shelter in the staircase
of any nearby building so as to escape the metal anti-personnel pellets with
which the rockets from Lebanon are filled.
Thousands of people living on or near the northern border have chosen to
live in the shelters because they have proved to be safe.
Residents of border towns like Kiryat Shemona, which has been hit by
more than 4,000 rockets from Palestinians and Hezbollah over the decades,
are accustomed to spending a few days if necessary in their shelters, many
of which are fitted out with air conditioners, rugs and television sets.
However, no one anticipated spending weeks in the shelters, venturing out
only occasionally for fresh air or to use the bathrooms in their nearby
apartments.
Since the current war started, the town has been hit by more than 700
rockets. While 18 persons have been wounded and more than 1,200 homes
damaged, there have been no fatalities thanks to the shelters. Only 6,000
residents out of more than 22,000 remain in the town, the rest having found
temporary housing elsewhere in the country.
With tourism deterred by the war, hotels in the middle of the country
and the southern resort of Eilat have invited thousands of border residents
to spend several days with them, free of charge. A philanthropist has
organized a tent city on a southern beach where 6,000 northern residents,
mostly children, are waiting out the war, with abundant free food. Radio
talk shows take numerous calls from citizens offering to host northern
families.
It was only this week that the Israeli government recognized it was too
much to expect civilians to endure the strain for so long without relief.
Government agencies became involved this week in busing border residents
to resorts and other quiet areas for a few days of respite on a rotational
basis. Eager not to give the impression that the border is being evacuated,
government officials call these sojourns an "airing out."
Gregory S. Williams
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