Israel, the mid-east, and Russia - Part 2

[Shammu]

Israel says Hizbollah smuggling weapons from Syria

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's army said on Tuesday the Lebanese guerrilla group Hizbollah was smuggling weapons from Syria but added it did not regard Syria as a target for attack.

"In the last few days, the smuggling of weapons from Syria to Lebanon has continued," Major-General Gadi Eisenkot of the Israeli army command told a news conference.

"We don't see Syria or the Lebanese army as a target but at the same time we see the smuggling of weapons from Syria to Lebanon to be used in attacks against Israeli civilians."

Eisenkot said several trucks carrying weapons that had entered Lebanon from Syria had been destroyed by Israeli air craft on Lebanese territory.

The Israeli army has said it was a Syrian rocket that killed eight Israelis in the northern city of Haifa on Sunday. Hizbollah claimed responsibility for that attack.

"The (army) is using enormous force against Hizbollah and we have hurt it...but the organization has many more rockets," Eisenkot said.

"They are still capable of firing rockets at Israel."

Israel says Hizbollah smuggling weapons from Syria

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Experts:Some Arab Nations Rebuff Hezbollah Due To Iran-NYT   

NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- Fears of Iran's increasing influence in the Middle East prompted several Arab nations to blame Hezbollah for its role in the recent clashes with Israel, according to experts quoted in Monday's edition of the New York Times.

Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and several Persian Gulf states chastised the Iranian-backed Lebanese militia for "unexpected, inappropriate and irresponsible acts" at an emergency Arab League summit meeting in Cairo over the weekend.

It is nearly unheard of for Arab officials to blame Arab group engaged in conflict with Israel, especially as images of destruction by Israeli warplanes are beamed into Arab living rooms. Full-throated condemnations of Israel are routine in such circumstances, the Times reported.

The way some officials see it, Arab analysts were quoted as saying, Israel is the devil they know, but Iran is the growing threat.

"For the first time ever, open criticism was heard from countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan against the unilateral actions carried out by radical organizations, especially Hezbollah of Lebanon," said Hanna Seniora, a Palestinian analyst with the Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information.

"There is a school of thought, led by Saudi Arabia, that believes that Hezbollah is a source of trouble, a protege of Iran, but also a political instrument in the hands of Iran," gotcha98 Abu Odeh, a Jordanian sociologist, told the Times. "This school says we should not play into the hands of Iran, which has its own agenda, by sympathizing or supporting Hezbollah fighting against the Israelis."

"Who's benefiting?" asked a senior official of one of the Arab countries critical of Hezbollah who was granted anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. "Definitely not the Arabs or the peace process. But definitely the Iranians are."

Experts:Some Arab Nations Rebuff Hezbollah Due To Iran-NYT   

[Shammu]

Hezbollah and Hamas doing the bidding of Iran and Syria


Meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia the leaders of the world's industrialized nations, the so-called Group of Eight, issued a statement Sunday deploring the cross-border raids into Israel that have triggered escalating violence in that region.

Yet, in a concession to the French and Russians, they backed off at naming the behind-the-scenes perpetrators --- Iran and Syria --- instead condemning "the extremist elements and those that support them."

Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt --- all primarily Sunni Muslim states --- pointedly criticized Hezbollah and, by extension, its Shiite patrons.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said, "These acts will pull the whole region back to years ago, and we simply cannot accept them."

Jordanian sociologist gotcha98 Abu Odeh told the New York Times, "There is a school of thought, led by Saudi Arabia, that believes Hezbollah is a source of trouble, a protege of Iran, but also a political instrument in the hands of Iran. This school says we should not play into the hands of Iran, which has its own agenda, by sympathizing or supporting Hezbollah fighting against the Israelis."

The latest crises began June 24 in Gaza, when the military wing of the Hamas government engaged in a cross-border raid into Israel that killed two soldiers, while kidnapping another.

The Israelis had withdrawn their troops from Gaza last year.

The Israelis reacted swiftly by decimating much of the Gaza infrastructure --- water, electricity and roads.

On July 12, Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers while killing three in a cross-border raid from southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah --- a minority party with veto power in the Lebanese government --- has controlled southern Lebanon since the Israeli withdrawal in 2000.

The Israeli response has been a brutal pounding of Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon and southern Beirut, but causing casualties in Christian neighborhoods as well.

As in Gaza, it is making it known that a heavy toll will be paid for even passive support of the militant groups --- a tactic that has backfired in the past.

Both radical Islamic groups receive funds and training from Iran. Both Hamas leader Khaled Meshall --- evicted from Jordan and now living in Damascus, Syria --- and Hezbollah's Sheik Hassan Nasrullah are frequent visitors to Tehran. In 2004, the parties agreed to more closely coordinate attacks on Israel.

Israel had contributed to those ties in 1992, exiling 400 Hamas militants to southern Lebanon, where they learned more about explosives from Hezbollah, which initiated the tactic of suicide bombs..

Hezbollah receives an estimated $100 million annually from Iran, enabling it to become the No. 2 employer in Lebanon, where it has established a wide range of social services.

It also has done the bidding of Syria, which was forced to withdraw its troops from Lebanon last year after it was blamed in the assassination of popular former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

According to Nasrullah, Hezbollah has received 12,000 rockets from Iran --- despite Security Council Resolution 1559 that called for it to be disarmed. The range was thought to be 25 miles, but Hezbollah has shown that it can go deeper into Israel. Its rockets have pounded the northern Israeli coastal city of Haifa. Hezbollah also used an Iranian drone to attack an Israeli warship off the Lebanese coast.

Hamas also has received Iranian arms shipment, although several have been intercepted by Israel.

For Iran --- no longer stymied by or playing second fiddle to Iraq's Saddam Hussein --- this is a chance to exert its influence and that of Shiite Muslims in the region. Its goal, according to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is "to wipe Israel off the map." That the Hezbollah incursion came when the Group of Eight was discussing Iran's nuclear program is not coincidental.

For its friends in Syria, who lost face when forced out of Lebanon, this is an opportunity to be a player there again, perhaps to regain the Galilee Heights from Israel, which it lost in 1967.

For Israel, it is a matter of survival. The world now has a better understanding of its need for security zones. And its clear that Iran's intentions toward Israel should not be construed as idle threats.

Hezbollah and Hamas doing the bidding of Iran and Syria

[Shammu]

Iranian remarks indicate role in Israel/Lebanon fight

By ALI AKBAR DAREINI
Associated Press Writer

TEHRAN, Iran - The speaker of Iran's parliament warned Israelis on Tuesday that no part of their country is safe from Hezbollah attack.

The comments by Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel called into question Tehran's official position that it is not involved in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

"The towns you have built in northern Palestine (Israel) are within the range of the brave Lebanese children. No part of Israel will be safe," Haddad Adel told thousands of anti-Israel demonstrators in Palestine Square.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki indicated that Iran may be playing a covert role in the fighting when he said Monday that a cease-fire was feasible. He spoke after talks with the Syrian government in Damascus.

Iran and its ally Syria are the principal backers of Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group that provoked the current fighting when its guerrillas seized two Israeli soldiers last week.

On Monday, Israeli military officials said their planes had destroyed a long-range missile in Lebanon, named "Zelzal," that Hezbollah had received from Iran.

Israel has alleged that 100 members of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards are in Lebanon acting as advisers to Hezbollah. Iran has denied the accusation, saying Hezbollah is strong enough to defend itself.

In his speech, Haddad Adel praised Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, calling him a "brave lion," and said the Palestinians and Lebanese had every right to fight Israel.

Referring to the Israeli offensive in Gaza that began after militants captured an Israeli soldier, Haddad Adel said to Israel: "If you have the right to start a massacre to free one prisoner, Palestinians and Lebanese have far more right to fight you to free hundreds of their prisoners, including Cabinet ministers and lawmakers."

The speaker, who is not among the most influential officials in Iran, also scoffed at reports of a division within Lebanon between Hezbollah supporters and those who criticize the group for provoking Israel into a destruction campaign in Lebanon.

He said Israelis "want to turn the Lebanese people against Hezbollah and disarm it, but they are unaware of the fact that Lebanese people know the value of resistance, and the value of Hezbollah's weapons, more than they did beforehand."

He also warned that there would be no peace until the United States stopped supporting Israel.

Addressing Washington, he said: "Either cut your support for Israel, or don't expect peace and compromise with the world." The crowd responded with chants of "Death to Israel!"

Iranian remarks indicate role in Israel/Lebanon fight

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Syria, Iran press defiant

Newspapers in Iran and Syria are in a defiant mood after being accused by Israel of involvement in the Hezbollah attacks on its territory.

Little direct response to the Israeli accusations has been observed, but Iranian and Syrian commentators have taken the opportunity to attack Israel, the West and even Arab leaders over the crisis.

One paper which does confront the Israeli accusations is Iran's Kayhan .

"We wish Israel's lies were true," it says. "The officials of the wild Zionist regime allege that Iran has equipped Hezbollah with long-distance missiles and Iranian officials honestly deny these allegations.
   It is shameful to find some Arabs showing weakness in the face of the Israeli aggression and its terrorist ways, blaming the explosion on the Lebanese resistance.
Al-Thawrah commentator

"They are right to do so. Because, to be honest, this is the sad truth."

Another Iranian paper, Siyasat-e-Ruz , calls on the government to "use a variety of mechanisms to help Hezbollah".

"The Islamic Republic of Iran shouldn't restrict its reaction to the Lebanese crisis to blaming Israel or staging demonstrations."

The paper urges the Iranian military "to support Hezbollah logistically and give it essential information... in order to drive the missiles into Tel Aviv".

According to Iran's Resalat , it is Israel's actions, not those of Hezbollah, Iran or Syria which threaten Middle East peace.

"By sending threatening messages to Iran and Syria and attacking Lebanon and Palestine, it proves that it is a regional threat for all the Middle East."

'True face of terrorism'

Iran's Arabic-language paper Al-Vefagh argues that the crisis "reveals the true face of terrorism that extends from Tel Aviv to Washington, across the European capitals".

In Syria, a commentator in Al-Thawrah takes to task Arab leaders who fail to support Hezbollah.

"It is shameful to find some Arabs showing weakness in the face of the Israeli aggression and its terrorist ways, blaming the explosion on the Lebanese resistance," he says.

"They ignore the real reasons behind what is happening - Israel's arrogance, its expansionist aggressive approach, its insistence on occupying Arab land, its incessant threats to the Arabs and its attempts to silence any resisting voice."

Syria's Tishrin hails Hezbollah, saying that "only it had the courage to take the decision of confrontation".

And a commentary in the Syrian ruling party paper Al-Ba'th calls for "an international campaign with the participation of Arabs and the countries rejecting the policy of international hegemony and terrorism... to put an end to the brutal aggression on Lebanon and to lift the siege on the Palestinian people".

Syria, Iran press defiant

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Arab Summit Proposal Gains More Support

Jul 18, 2006 — CAIRO (Reuters) - Two more Arab governments have backed the call for an Arab summit on the violence between Israel and Hizbollah and the Palestinians, bringing the total to eight, Arab League officials said on Tuesday.

Lebanon and Djibouti joined Algeria, Egypt, Qatar, Sudan and the Palestinians in supporting the Yemeni proposal of an emergency summit, but the number remains short of the necessary majority of two thirds of the 22 league members, they said.

Syria, a major player as the only Arab government which openly supports the guerrilla groups Hamas and Hizbollah, said its position depended on the aim of the summit.

"Syria stipulates that the purpose should be to support the steadfastness of the Lebanese and Palestinian resistance," said the Syrian ambassador to the League, Youssef Ahmed.

"But if it's a matter of endorsing policies in which the interests of individual Arab countries prevail over the Arab national interest then certainly we will not be in favor of the summit," Egyptian state news agency MENA quoted him as saying.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has said Arab countries must agree on the main points before the leaders meet.

Arab foreign ministers had an emergency meeting in Cairo on Saturday on the violence and called for a ceasefire.

Only Saudi Arabia has criticised Hizbollah directly, referring to its military operation on the border last week as an ill-considered adventure. But in private, other governments friendly with the United States consider the Hizbollah operation a mistake, diplomats say.

Arab Summit Proposal Gains More Support

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Jews protest Israeli action in S.F. Jews rally against Israeli agency in S.F.
By Josh Richman, STAFF WRITER
Inside Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO — A few hundred protesters chanted, beat drums and waved signs and flags Monday outside the Israeli Consulate during a rally organized by local Jewish groups to decry Israel's military actions in Lebanon and Gaza.

Police arrested 17 people who had linked arms and blocked Montgomery Street, choking off Financial District traffic at midday. The protesters were cited for traffic violations and released later in the day.

Oakland-based Jewish Voice for Peace helped organize the rally, along with Jews for a Free Palestine and the Break the Silence Mural and Arts Project. JVP director Mitchell Plitnick said "Israel bears an enormous amount of responsibility for escalation in Gaza and Lebanon."

He believes Israel has more reason to attack Hezbollah in Lebanon than Hamas in Gaza,

because — although both have attacked Israel and abducted Israeli soldiers — Hamas is "acting as an arm of an occupied people. ... They are allowed to resist." Even in Lebanon, however, Israel's reaction has been disproportionate, targeting civilians and infrastructure rather than just Hezbollah strongholds, he said.

"I'm heartbroken about what's happening, heartbroken and furious," said protester Kali Grosberg, 69, of Oakland. "It feels to me like it's leading to a major conflagration in the Middle East and could spread to all parts of the world. ... Anything done by any side to inflame rather than negotiate is a travesty of human existence."

Leila, 26, of San Francisco, who wouldn't give her last name, wore a "Proud to be Lebanese" T-shirt and said she was protesting to support her native country. She said she has been unable to call her family in Tripoli, hit by Israeli airstrikes.

Jewish groups organized the event, but the crowd also included people waving Palestinian flags and shouting anti-Israel slogans. After most of the Jewish organizers had left, some in this latter group were heard calling for continuation of violent intifadah, or uprising, against Israelis.

Israeli Deputy Consul General Omer Caspi said the protesters "should demonstrate in front of the Lebanese Embassy or the Palestinian Authority offices in Washington. ... They hold the solution to the problems."

He said more than two million residents of northern Israel are "being held hostage by Hezbollah" while Lebanon ignores a United Nations mandate to deploy troops to help disarm and dismantle Hezbollah.

A pro-Israel counter-demonstration across the street Monday attracted roughly a third as many people. "I just wanted to support Israel and their right to defend themselves," said David Marinoff, 53, of Oakland, noting that Israel withdrew troops from Gaza and Lebanon only to see those lands used as bases for more attacks. "Hezbollah is a cancer, and if we don't get rid of it, it'll just come back."

But Ceanna Stephens, 29, of Oakland — among those arrested — issued a statement later Monday through Global Exchange, the human-rights watchdog group for which she works, saying "We do not condone any sort of violence, whether it comes from Hezbollah or the state of Israel.

"Israel's reaction to current events has been unbelievably cruel, and has caused intense suffering and death among many Palestinian and Lebanese civilians who have done nothing wrong," she said.

"This is a humanitarian crisis, and it is my obligation as a Jewish person for peace to speak out."

Jews protest Israeli action in S.F. Jews rally against Israeli agency in S.F.

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Hezbollah has WMD capabilities?
Security officials detail updated assessment of terror group's arsenal
Posted: July 17, 2006
11:16 a.m. Eastern

© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

HAIFA, Israel – Israel yesterday placed residents from Tel Aviv northward on rocket alert as Hezbollah missiles continued to pound northern Israel, with more yesterday and today slamming into its third largest city, Haifa, the furthest Hezbollah rockets have traveled.

Until the latest round of fighting began last Wednesday, Israeli and other intelligence agencies publicly estimated Hezbollah's missile arsenal had a maximum range of about 45 miles.

Tel Aviv is about 90 miles from the Lebanese border. The placing of Tel Aviv yesterday under rocket threat was tantamount to an admission by Israel that the country's security agencies are not entirely sure of Hezbollah's missile capabilities and that Israeli officials are taking seriously threats this weekend by the terror group's leader, Hassan Nasrallah.

In a televised address, Nasrallah warned, "We will continue. We still have a lot more and we are just at the beginning. We promise [Israel] surprises in (any) confrontation."

Nasrallah said his group can strike beyond Haifa.

Intelligence officials detailed for the Galil Report updated assessments on the Hezbollah threat to Israel, including the possible possession by the Lebanese militia of missiles with warheads capable of carrying chemical and biological weapons.

Security officials also listed three possible Hezbollah missile targets in Tel Aviv if the terror group decides to fire rockets into the Israeli city.

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Report:Iran Wants Hezbollah Attacks Curbed
By UPI Wire
Jul 18, 2006

BEIRUT, Lebanon - July 18, 2006 (UPI) -- A London Arabic paper is quoted as saying Iran has sent its foreign minister to Syria to urge the Hezbollah to restrain its rocket attacks on Israel.

Ynetnews.com, quoting al-Sharq al-Awsat, says Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki's visit comes after Iran was warned by a European country that Israel is ready for a confrontation with Syria, which recently signed a defense alliance with Iran, to liquidate the Hezbollah.
Continue reading this article below

Mottaki would also urge the Hezbollah to release two captured Israeli soldiers to avoid an escalation of the hostilities, the report said.

Iran also reportedly is concerned over criticism by several Lebanese politicians against the Hezbollah.

Report:Iran Wants Hezbollah Attacks Curbed

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Israel May Agree To Lebanon Prisoner Swap
By UPI Wire
Jul 18, 2006

JERUSALEM, July 18, 2006 (UPI) -- Israel's Security minister said Tuesday the country may consider a prisoner exchange with Lebanon to recover two soldiers kidnapped by Hezbollah.

Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter said the swap would not take place until after the completion of Israel's military operation in Lebanon, the Jerusalem Post reported Tuesday.

"If one of the ways to bring home the soldiers will be negotiations on the possibility of releasing Lebanese prisoners I think the day will come when we will also have to consider this," Dichter said.
Continue reading this article below

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said he will not negotiate with Hezbollah or Hamas, which is also holding an Israeli soldier prisoner.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Monday after meeting with Syrian Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa in Damascus that a prisoner exchange would be possible if a cease-fire was implemented, the Post report stated.

"We believe that we should think of an acceptable and fair (deal) to resolve this," Mottaki said. "In fact, there can be a cease-fire followed by a prisoner swap."


Israel May Agree To Lebanon Prisoner Swap

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Israel Military Levels 1 Km Swath Of S Lebanon -Report   

Copyright © 2006, Dow Jones Newswires


NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- The Israeli military has leveled an area in southern Lebanon extending one kilometer from Israel's northern border to prevent Hezbollah from setting up posts, an Israeli military official said Monday, the newspaper Haaretz reported on its Web site.

Dan Halutz, chief of staff for the Israeli Defense Forces, also told lawmakers that the IDF has no plans to send ground troops into Lebanon.

Earlier in the day, Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz said that Israel intends to create a buffer zone in southern Lebanon.

Israel Military Levels 1 Km Swath Of S Lebanon -Report   

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Austin-Based Analyst: Israel's Demands Likely Won't Be Met

July 18, 2006, 12:27 PM

A company in Austin is paying close attention to the situation in the Middle East.

Stratfor provides political intelligence information to companies with interests in the Middle East. One of Stratfor's analysts says Israel's cease-fire demands are not likely to be met, particularly the call for the Lebanese army to control Hezbollah positions.

"That last demand is nearly impossible for Lebanon," said Reva Bhalla, a Stratfor analyst. "Within the Lebanese army, there is no political or even physical capability to actually take on Hezbollah. There's a significant portion within the army that has a strong sympathy for Hezbollah as well."

Bhalla says Israel's cease-fire offer could be an effort to reverse international condemnation for their attacks in recent days.

Israel's Demands Likely Won't Be Met

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Rice, Egyptian FM disagree on Mideast ceasefire


WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit publicly disagreed on the timing of a proposed ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

Rice and her visitor held a brief press availability during a meeting in the State Department and were asked about calls for an immediate ceasefire in the region.

"A ceasefire is imperative, and we have to keep working to reach that objective. It is imperative. We have to bring it to an end as soon as possible," the Egyptian foreign minister said, as the joint appearance ended.

"We should do it now."

Rice immediately stated the US position, that a ceasefire was only advisable once the root cause of the fighting -- including, in the US view, Hezbollah's aggression -- was addressed.

"We all agree it should happen as soon as possible, when conditions are conducive to do so," Rice said.

Rice, Egyptian FM disagree on Mideast ceasefire

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Rocket fired at Ashkelon while IDF shelled north Gaza

 
IDF officials said a rocket fired towards Ashkelon was launched from the area of the former Erez industrial zone of north Gaza.
 
It was not yet clear what type of rocket it was. The rocket was launched at the height of an Israeli land and sea assault on north Gaza, the IDF said.

Rocket fired at Ashkelon while IDF shelled north Gaza

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Massive rocket barrage hits northern Israel after several hours of calm

One person was killed Tuesday evening while running to a bomb shelter, raising the death toll of Israelis killed in rocket attacks since the fighting in the north began to 13.

About 60 people were injured in Tuesday evening's rocket attack and were evacuated to hospitals in Safed and Nahariya.

Some 130 rockets were fired at the north by Tuesday evening, 100 of them fired in a heavy barrage within one hour and a half, Northern District Police Commander Major-General Dan Ronen told Ynet.

Hizbullah suffered a harsh blow , but still managed to fire a heavy barrage of rockets at the entire northern area. Five or six rockets hit open areas near Haifa. Other rockets hit the Kiryat Haim area, Nahariya, Carmiel, Maalot, Tiberias, Safed, Hatzor Haglilit and Rosh Pina.

The buildings in Nahariya were seriously damaged. Moshe, who was at the scene of the rocket attack in Nahariya, told Ynet: "I was five meters (16.4 feet) away from the man killed. He ran to the bomb shelter, and the rocket reached him and hit him right next to the shelter."

Nahariya, Tuesday evening

Nuriel Trigobof, 30, from Nahariya, who was in a reinforced room at the time the rockets hit Nahariya, recounted: "The falls were right in front of my building. There were three blasts and two building were damaged."

"One of the missiles directly hit the reinforced room. I heard the missile coming and then everything trembled. I saw the smoke. I called my family to see that everything was okay. We hear the launches in recent days and after six second we hear the hits," he added.

Yoel Nissimov has been living in the neighborhood hit by the Katyusha barrage for five years now.

"Our life has turned into a nightmare," he said Tuesday evening. "The city has suffered the worst blow among the northern communities in the past week. Losing two residents from a direct hit and another resident killed in the incident in Haifa – and all this within a number of days. This causes a feeling of pain, among myself and many people here, along with helplessness regarding the coming days."

Malka Algrabli was driving by the nearby street when she noticed the barrage passing over her car.

"I stopped, left the car with its engine on, and just lay down on the road. The cloud of smoke was huge, I saw death in front of my eyes. I thought about my children, may parents and my husband. At such moments your entire life passes before your eyes. But there is no choice, we have to make it clear to the government in Lebanon that there is a government and an army here and that we are no 'suckers.'"

Likud members' solidarity visit interrupted

Large rescue forces were dispatched to the areas where the rockets fell in order to attend to the injured and put out fires. Simultaneously, sirens were activated in many northern communities.

Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu and other members of the Likud faction were touring the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa at the time of the rocket attack. The officials were taken to a secure room and then left the place.

All this happened after several hours of calm. Earlier, Hizbullah launched 17 rockets, three landing in Haifa. One of the rockets hit the Haifa train depot where eight workers were killed Sunday, but this time there were no injuries. The building suffered damage.

Rockets were also fired at Safed, one of them landing in a factory in the industrial zone.

Haifa police reported that the rocket that hit the industrial zone was different from rockets fired at the city so far and had a smaller caliber.

Yitzhak Farid, a manager near the railways, told Ynet the rocket fell soon after an official visited: "The minute we entered the protected area, the second rocket fell dozens of meters from the first landing site and in the same building. This time no one was injured."

Damage caused in Nahariya (Photo: Nuriel Trigobof)

Simultaneously, five rockets hit Safed, one of which apparently hit a gas pipe used to pump freon, and firefighters were ordered to wear protective gear while working to contain the fire.

Additionally, several rockets landed in open fields south of the town and sparked a few blazes. Two firefighters were injured from smoke inhalation. At other bomb sites, seven residents were treated for shock by Magen David Adom paramedics.


Massive rocket barrage hits northern Israel after several hours of calm