Sunday, November 18, 2012
The “Iron Dome” Interceptor System
With the remarkable success rate of interceptions, the Israeli developed “Iron Dome” system is attracting attention from many corners of the globe.
As of today 18th November, here are a few facts about the system:=
Cost of the project app $0.65 billion
Cost per interceptor $50,000 (note that 2 are fired for each planned interception)
Success rate currently 90%, over 265 missiles intercepted.
Number of units currently operating 5 ( planned to have 10-15 covering the whole country)
The fifth newly installed battery – Friday - hit the rockets launched at Tel Aviv, a long range rocket
This is important because:
a) Iron Dome was theoretically set up for short range rockets only
b) This sends a message to Hizbollah with a much larger and more sophisticated arsenal
And what does Hizbollah possess?
Quoting Dr Ronen Bergman who uses Western intelligence sources:
• 30-40,000 short range 107mm rockets
• 42,000 122mm – range of just over 30km
• 5-6,000 mid to long range
• 50-100 Scud D. Range 700 km. Currently under wraps in Syria
Medical Supplies in Gaza
Operation Pillar of Defense
Information Overview: Medical Supplies in Gaza
Background Overview:
The long standing shortage of medicines and medical supplies in Gaza stems primarily from a dysfunctional relationship between the Palestinian Ministries of Health in Gaza and Ramallah. The conflicts between the two offices have resulted not only in a shortage of medicines and supplies, but also in restricted access to medical treatments for patients outside of Gaza.
The Coordination and Liaison Administration to Gaza:
1. The CLA works to ensure that patients from Gaza have the access they need to get medical treatments.
2. Of the thousands of patients that requested permits to enter Israel for medical treatments, 99.3% were approved. Patients were only denied permits when it was determined that they could receive necessary treatment inside Gaza (Sept 2012).
3. From January to October 2012, more than 14,500 permits were issued by the Gaza CLA for patients and their chaperones to leave Gaza through the Erez Crossing.
4. All the requests for medical supplies (equipment and medicine) submitted by the international community to the Gaza CLA have been approved for entry into Gaza.
5. On average medical supply requests (medicines and light equipment) are approved within a span of 24-72 hours. Coordination of approved medical supplies is completed within one working day after the organization submits the intended day of import.
6. Since September 2012, international organizations, in coordination with the Gaza CLA, have impoted 32 trucks of drugs and medical supplies through Kerem Shalom Crossing. This has included spare parts for dialysis machines, helium for MRI machines, and three fully equipped ambulances. An additional five loads of medicine were imported into Gaza through the Erez Crossing through special coordination.
Shortages and Restricted Access:
1. The restricted medical supplies in Gaza are marked by a shortage of 400-500 varieties of medical equipment (out of a defined 700), including a shortage of surgical and anesthetic equipment.
2. There is an average shortage of 33% of desired types of drugs at any given time.
3. According to the World Health Organization, the process of referrals for patients from Gaza to receive treatment in Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan was suspended for nearly 10 days due to disagreements between the Ramallah and Gaza Health Ministries. As a result, a 38% reduction in monthly referrals left several hundred patients without necessary treatment.
4. The WHO reports that due to the failure of the Palestinian Ministry of Health to pay its accruing debts to Jordan, Jordanian hospitals refused to accept government referrals of patients from Gaza.
5. Medical suppliers are often reluctant to sell supplies to Gaza since there are issues with non-payment.
Operation Pillar of Defense:
1. Gaza hospitals are reported to be at 80% capacity, only slightly higher than intake then during routine periods.
2. On November 17th, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories updated Hassin el Alshich that, despite the problematic security situation and the ongoing rocket fire, it would be possible to transfer medical supplies into Gaza.
3. Tomorrow morning, 18 November 2012, 10 Red Cross trucks with medical supplies and one UNRWA truck are scheduled to enter Gaza via Kerem Shalom Crossing. Two trucks have been designated as being of particular importance as they are carrying much needed anesthetics and bandages.
4. Since the start of the operation there have been two reported incidents of light damage to medical facilities due to shocks from Israeli air strikes on terrorist infrastructure in the vicinity.
a. Light damage to windows and doors of the Al-Quds hospital and the nearby Palestinian Red Crescent station in the Gaza district. Two Al Quds workers also sustained light injuries.
b. Light damage to windows in the Al-Karma hospital in the Jabaliya District.
Information Overview: Medical Supplies in Gaza
Background Overview:
The long standing shortage of medicines and medical supplies in Gaza stems primarily from a dysfunctional relationship between the Palestinian Ministries of Health in Gaza and Ramallah. The conflicts between the two offices have resulted not only in a shortage of medicines and supplies, but also in restricted access to medical treatments for patients outside of Gaza.
The Coordination and Liaison Administration to Gaza:
1. The CLA works to ensure that patients from Gaza have the access they need to get medical treatments.
2. Of the thousands of patients that requested permits to enter Israel for medical treatments, 99.3% were approved. Patients were only denied permits when it was determined that they could receive necessary treatment inside Gaza (Sept 2012).
3. From January to October 2012, more than 14,500 permits were issued by the Gaza CLA for patients and their chaperones to leave Gaza through the Erez Crossing.
4. All the requests for medical supplies (equipment and medicine) submitted by the international community to the Gaza CLA have been approved for entry into Gaza.
5. On average medical supply requests (medicines and light equipment) are approved within a span of 24-72 hours. Coordination of approved medical supplies is completed within one working day after the organization submits the intended day of import.
6. Since September 2012, international organizations, in coordination with the Gaza CLA, have impoted 32 trucks of drugs and medical supplies through Kerem Shalom Crossing. This has included spare parts for dialysis machines, helium for MRI machines, and three fully equipped ambulances. An additional five loads of medicine were imported into Gaza through the Erez Crossing through special coordination.
Shortages and Restricted Access:
1. The restricted medical supplies in Gaza are marked by a shortage of 400-500 varieties of medical equipment (out of a defined 700), including a shortage of surgical and anesthetic equipment.
2. There is an average shortage of 33% of desired types of drugs at any given time.
3. According to the World Health Organization, the process of referrals for patients from Gaza to receive treatment in Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan was suspended for nearly 10 days due to disagreements between the Ramallah and Gaza Health Ministries. As a result, a 38% reduction in monthly referrals left several hundred patients without necessary treatment.
4. The WHO reports that due to the failure of the Palestinian Ministry of Health to pay its accruing debts to Jordan, Jordanian hospitals refused to accept government referrals of patients from Gaza.
5. Medical suppliers are often reluctant to sell supplies to Gaza since there are issues with non-payment.
Operation Pillar of Defense:
1. Gaza hospitals are reported to be at 80% capacity, only slightly higher than intake then during routine periods.
2. On November 17th, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories updated Hassin el Alshich that, despite the problematic security situation and the ongoing rocket fire, it would be possible to transfer medical supplies into Gaza.
3. Tomorrow morning, 18 November 2012, 10 Red Cross trucks with medical supplies and one UNRWA truck are scheduled to enter Gaza via Kerem Shalom Crossing. Two trucks have been designated as being of particular importance as they are carrying much needed anesthetics and bandages.
4. Since the start of the operation there have been two reported incidents of light damage to medical facilities due to shocks from Israeli air strikes on terrorist infrastructure in the vicinity.
a. Light damage to windows and doors of the Al-Quds hospital and the nearby Palestinian Red Crescent station in the Gaza district. Two Al Quds workers also sustained light injuries.
b. Light damage to windows in the Al-Karma hospital in the Jabaliya District.
Friday, November 16, 2012
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Eilat
The following letter from a traveller to Eilat reflects the matter of fact nature of life in the shadow of the threat from Gaza.
This is all so surreal.
I'm in flight now between Tel Aviv and Eilat. (I'll send this email when we land). In the distance off to the right we just saw two rockets launched from Gaza toward Beer Sheva and we saw Iron Dome missles launch and intercept them.
This is quite unreal. They were pretty far away so we heard nothing - just these distant streaks of light racing up Many years ago in combat I saw both incoming and outgoing missles. While it was kind of cool the reality of that situation was very stressful. The disconnect was the same as even then it seemed that I was in some sort of a sci fi movie although the pain and death were too real.
Before taking off I checked with staff and although could not reach everyone as the telephone system is cracking under the over use which is beyond capacity. Everyone was ok as of 30 minutes ago.
Pilot has just announced air raid sirens going off in Beer Sheva - I can see flashes of what looks like red lights - pilot back - 8 rockets launched from Gaza and 8 direct hits by Iron Dome missiles.
One of the problems is the vast amount of weapons, especially missiles, that were raided from Libyan army bases after the fall of Ghadafi. The new Egyptian government, headed by Muslim Brotherhood, has opened the border from Egypt to Gaza to allow these weapons in.
This war will be controlled in a weird way by Hamas. Israel prefers that it would end now by as Hamas escalates Israel shall escalate. I fear Israel will be suckered into another ground war. The crazy reality of the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan, AQ in Iraq and Libya, Hizballah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza is that the more they are attacked the more volunteers they get. As they have a death-cult culture, where they glorify death as actually being the better life and goal of life, they are in a sort of no loss position. So while the natural instinct is to keep hitting Hamas harder and harder until they stop shooting, the strategy is also counter-productive. Isn't this like a Greek myth?
Something about Hercules fighting this 7 headed dragon where every time he cut off a head two would grow in its place. I can't remember how he prevailed but maybe it was lifting the dragon off the ground ?
Can't remember.
Well we are approaching Eilat now so have to sign off.
This is all so surreal.
I'm in flight now between Tel Aviv and Eilat. (I'll send this email when we land). In the distance off to the right we just saw two rockets launched from Gaza toward Beer Sheva and we saw Iron Dome missles launch and intercept them.
This is quite unreal. They were pretty far away so we heard nothing - just these distant streaks of light racing up Many years ago in combat I saw both incoming and outgoing missles. While it was kind of cool the reality of that situation was very stressful. The disconnect was the same as even then it seemed that I was in some sort of a sci fi movie although the pain and death were too real.
Before taking off I checked with staff and although could not reach everyone as the telephone system is cracking under the over use which is beyond capacity. Everyone was ok as of 30 minutes ago.
Pilot has just announced air raid sirens going off in Beer Sheva - I can see flashes of what looks like red lights - pilot back - 8 rockets launched from Gaza and 8 direct hits by Iron Dome missiles.
One of the problems is the vast amount of weapons, especially missiles, that were raided from Libyan army bases after the fall of Ghadafi. The new Egyptian government, headed by Muslim Brotherhood, has opened the border from Egypt to Gaza to allow these weapons in.
This war will be controlled in a weird way by Hamas. Israel prefers that it would end now by as Hamas escalates Israel shall escalate. I fear Israel will be suckered into another ground war. The crazy reality of the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan, AQ in Iraq and Libya, Hizballah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza is that the more they are attacked the more volunteers they get. As they have a death-cult culture, where they glorify death as actually being the better life and goal of life, they are in a sort of no loss position. So while the natural instinct is to keep hitting Hamas harder and harder until they stop shooting, the strategy is also counter-productive. Isn't this like a Greek myth?
Something about Hercules fighting this 7 headed dragon where every time he cut off a head two would grow in its place. I can't remember how he prevailed but maybe it was lifting the dragon off the ground ?
Can't remember.
Well we are approaching Eilat now so have to sign off.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Pallywood is alive and well
Once again in the conflict with the Palestinians, the media is being manipulated with photos and videos that are either false or taken at a different time or place.
a) In this first case, the so called “injured” man was “miraculously” cured and photographed moments later walking around normally. Pictures in the “incident can ber seen at http://tinyurl.com/bncb6ew and a video of the same “incident” at http://honestreporting.com/exposed-pallywood-returns-to-gaza/
There will probably be many more such Pallywood picturess in the coming weeks.
This link gives yet another example and also tells you how you can check any photo out to see its first use on the Internet: http://unitedwithisrael.org/how-to-check-if-a-photo-is-current/
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
"Pillar of Defense"
Finally the government has taken steps to stop the incessant rocket fire on southern Israel. Already this year close to 900 rockets have been fired. that is an average rate of 3 per day.
The main goals of this operation are :-
1) The goal of Israel’s operation is clearly defined and is aimed at removing a strategic threat to Israeli citizens. Israel is not interested in a deterioration of the situation.
2) Israel has demonstrated great restrain for a long period but cannot stand for the recurring attacks on its citizens. No other state would accept a similar reality.
3) Israel is acting in self-defense and out of its duty to protect its civilians from terrorist attacks.
4) Hamas rules the Gaza Strip and is responsible for all that occurs in Gaza and all that is launched from there.
5) It must be noted that Israel disengaged completely from the Gaza Strip in 2005. The result of Israel’s disengagement is that Gaza has become a giant ammunition dump. In addition, it provides a breeding ground for terrorist groups to organize and to operate, including groups associated with al-Qaeda and Global Jihad. All this under the rule, responsibility and sponsorship of Hamas.
6) Weapons smuggled from Libya, Iran and Sudan accelerated the process of Gaza turning into a terror base. These weapons also increased the danger posed to the Israeli population.
7) Hamas and the other terrorist organizations hide among the civilian population of Gaza. They also deliberately direct their fire at the civilian population of Israel. These acts constitute a double war crime.
8) The targets of the Israeli operation are all military. Israel will make every effort to prevent harm to the civilian population of Gaza, and regrets any injury to civilians.
9) e border crossings from Israel to the Gaza Strip remain open, allowing for the routine passage of goods and humanitarian aid.
0) The international community must act to stop the attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip and should not wait for an Israeli reaction to act. Time and again, Israel has warned that it would not tolerate these attacks.
See in the video below the pinpoint accuracy of the targetting of Ahmed al-Jabari and the minimum collateral damage.
And now HAMAS is looking to escalate the conflict further as we see in the video below the Farj-5 missiles being loaded into and underground launch site. These missiles are capable of reaching Tel Aviv.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Hamas police beat peaceful female protesters in Gaza
This with thanks to CIF WAtch http://tinyurl.com/cj7vtfs
On March 8, the Guardian published “International Women’s Day highlights hurdles obstructing women“, (co-authored by 12 Guardian correspondents, including the paper’s Jerusalem correspondent, Harriet Sherwood), on the subjugation of women around the world.
Sherwood’s contribution, on the abrogation of women’s rights in the region she covers, didn’t mention female genital mutilation, honor killings , an endemic culture of misogyny, nor the impunity granted to men who physically and sexually abuse their spouses, throughout in Gaza and the PA.
Harriet Sherwood not only ignored the egregious violation of womens’ rights in the Palestinian territories, but, instead, devoted 118 words to the alleged injustice meted out to a female Palestinian terrorist affiliated with Islamic Jihad held in an Israeli jail named Hana Shalabi.
So, it’s not surprising that neither Sherwood, nor any of her Guardian colleagues, have reported the following about an incident in Gaza on Nov. 6:
Hamas police violently attacked a group of women who were peacefully protesting on Tuesday in front of the Palestinian Legislative Council in Gaza. The women were calling for Palestinian reconciliation and sent a request to protest to Hamas which was ignored. Using sticks and batons, Hamas police attacked the women and dispersed the protest.
Another report included the following information:
The protest, organized by women’s organizations including the general union of Palestinian women, was held outside the parliament building.
Iktimal Hamad, a member of the union’s secretariat, told Ma’an that police ordered protesters to leave the area.
“Women refused to leave, because this is a right for every human being to express their opinions and demand their rights,” Hamad told Ma’an.
“We were verbally insulted and hit by fists and sticks. Police tried to arrest some of us but despite that we will continue with our campaign which calls for ending the division,” she added.
Journalist Samya al-Zubeidi said female police officers hit her and ordered her to stop filming.
“They beat me up, in addition to female police officers, (male) police officers also attacked women protesters,” al-Zubeidi told Ma’an.
Interestingly, a Gulf News report on the incident quoted a Fatah spokesperson condemning the attack on Gazan women, thus:
"Hamas’ violent attack against the women gives the entire Palestinian population a bad reputation internationally,”
However, any negative publicity for the Palestinian cause in response to the beating of peaceful female protesters in Gaza could only be created if “liberal” media institutions such as the Guardian actually reported the story.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
American Doctors Vote for Rambam
On November 6th, Election Day in the USA, a delegation of 20 North American doctors came to Rambam Health Care Campus http://www.rambam.org.il/Home+Page/ and pledged their readiness to be "drafted" to help Israel in times of national emergency
The physicians have promised that in an Israeli national crisis, they will come here to help––for example, by taking the place of surgeons and other hospital doctors who have been called to the battlefront.
The physicians were given a survey of Rambam’s disaster management network, and also voted with their feet by touring the Emergency Room and the Sammy Ofer Fortified Underground Emergency Hospital http://www.rambam.org.il/home+page/Support+Rambam/Needs/Capital+Projects/Sammy+Ofer+Underground+Emergency+Hospital>.
“I’ve spent several years trying to learn best practices in emergency department disaster preparedness,” said Dr. Peter Sananman of Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. “This was a great opportunity to learn best-in-class systems and processes from those who’ve learned from experience."
The delegation was sent to Rambam by the American Physicians Fellowship for Medicine in Israel http://www.apfmed.org/ (APF, est. 1950). The organization’s flagship program gives fellowships to Israeli doctors for advanced clinical training in the USA and Canada. The APF also annually sends members to Israel for an Emergency and Disaster Management Course offered in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and the IDF Medical Corps.
The APF is the only North American body designated by the State of Israel to maintain an Emergency Medical Volunteer (EMV) Registry. Most recently, Registry members took part in a nationwide Israeli drill testing the health care system's preparedness for a massive earthquake. “Their response to the simulated call-up was phenomenal," says APF Israel Director Amir Blumenfeld, MD. "Sixty-eight physicians immediately volunteered to be in Israel within forty-eight hours."
To watch the visit of the American doctors,
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