The Day In Israel: Wednesday Dec 9th, 2009
David Lange
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The IDF Home Front Command is reportedly preparing for the possibility that Hamas will fire missiles up to a range of 80 km from the Gaza Strip, with a focus on preparing officials of regional councils and municipalities within the range – including Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan – for the possibility of missiles and rockets landing in their communities.
The IDF believes that Hamas has obtained Iranian-made Fajr missiles, either the Fajr 3 or Fajr 5. The Fajr 3 is five meters long and can carry a 45-kilogram warhead. To increase the rocket’s range, Hamas has the option of shrinking the warhead to 25 or 30 kilograms, enabling it to strike deeper into Tel Aviv.
This missile is also in Hizbullah hands in Lebanon.
The Fajr 5 is slightly larger – 10 meters long – and has a range of up to 75 km, which could reach Tel Aviv, as well as communities further up the coast. Intelligence assessments are that Hamas smuggled the missiles into the Gaza Strip through tunnels, possibly as separate components.
That leaves a lot more room for error from Hamas with their “simple abilities” and inaccurate-in-targeting rockets, not to mention “misconduct” that may occur “as a result of confusion” during a war.
Meanwhile, it looks like the IDF will have to update its rocket range map.
Updates (Israel time; most recent at top)
11:06PM: Introducing our latest weapon: Zionist Die-lon.TM
Two tons of plastic nylon bought from Israeli settlements were confiscated by customs officers in coordination with the Palestinian police on Wednesday in Salfit.
Abdul Hamid Mezhar, head of the customs department at the Ministry of Economy, said that products manufactured on illegal Israeli settlements threatened Palestinian traders and the economy.
The customs officers said that the confiscated nylon would be destroyed in front of the media.
7:25PM: The IDF and Border Police today thwarted a potential terror attack in Jerusalem, discovering two pipe bombs in a 20-year-old palestinian man’s bag.
4:30PM: A brief look at the Comedy for Koby tour, which I attended last week.
If you are wondering who Koby was, read here and here.
3:14PM: The Knesset has voted in favor of a ‘continuity law’ allowing the Israeli parliament to continue legislative discussions on a bill obligating a national referendum on withdrawals from the Golan Heights or east Jerusalem.
6:10AM: When it comes to telling children stories, this Sheik scores an epic fail.
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David Lange
