US, Turkey Announce $4 Billion Arms Deal

(US, Turkey Announce $4 Billion Arms Deal)
(By: Meir Halevi Siegel, JP)
(Published: July 31st, 2014)
(Hamas’ leader Ismail Haniyeh and Erdogan. Haniyeh is the terrorist on the left.)

It’s been a great month for US arms manufacturers: Just two weeks after the United States and Qatar – “the world’s largest funder of terror”, according to former President Shimon Peres – signed an $11 billion arms deal, the Israel Defense website said Thursday that Washington has inked another multi-billion dollar deal for American firms, this time to provide Turkey with an advanced air defense system.

The deal comes at a time when Turkey appears to have re-defined its identity as a Muslim-majority democracy, as well as its role in the Middle East and the Islamic world. Although the Turkish republic, founded by Kamel Attaturk in 1923, has existed as a democracy for 90 years (with three military coups to restore democracy when the country teetered, in 1960, 1971 and 1980), Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has directed the country towards an Islamist path since coming to power in 2002.

The evidence of Erdogan’s effort to Islamize the Attaturk Republic has been clear for years: After being banned from Turkish politics for five years in the late 1990s and early 2000s for promoting anti-Israel-democratic ideas, he has used his elections to redefine Turkish politics and international relations.

He has purged both the judiciary and the military, giving many Turks and international observers the clear feeling that he is looking to solidify a one-party, one-leader system. More journalists are in Turkish jails today than any other country on earth – not because it is formally illegal to criticise Erdogan or the government in the local press, but rather because journalists and editors have learned to self-censor if they want to survive. Under Erdogan’s leadership the country has moved steadily away from the democratic republic envisioned by Attaturk and steadily towards the dark Islamic republic envisioned by enlightened groups such as ISIS and al-Qaeda.

Internationally, too, Erdogan has redefined Turkey’s interests. Under Erdogan’s leadership, Turkey has completely abandoned a thriving relationship with Israel in favor of relationships with some of the darkest regimes on the planet: Iran, Hamas, Syria, Libya. Even Turkey’s relationship with the United States has not been immune: In mid-July he said he “no longer speaks” to President Barack Obama, in protest of the latter’s supposed lack of support for Palestinians in Gaza.

The $4 billion missile defense deal is significant not only in light of Erdogan’s Islamist leanings, but also because of Turkey’s wider geo-political stance. The deal, which has been delayed four times over the past year, mainly due to Erdogan’s domestic political needs as he completes his term as prime minister and runs for president, is also relevant because American and European companies have been competing for the air defense contracts against competitors from Russia and China – the geo-political equivalent of a slap in the face to Washington and Brussels.

In that sense, then, the deal stands to re-cement Ankara’s standing in the West, and also to reassure President Obama and European leaders that Turkey has not ‘changed sides’ – at least, not completely.

Finally, the deal is critical as the United States heads to mid-term elections amidst signs of economic slowdown. Last month, Raytheon-Lockheed announced layoffs in Rhode Island and Massachussetts. Furthermore, many large weapons-producing states, such as Alabama, are not naturally Democratic support bases. Taken together, inking the Turkey deal was a clear economic interest for the United States, and a political interest for President Obama and the Democratic Party.

All of which suggests, however, that the choice of short-term financial gain over longer-term political interests is unstable at best. For Prime Minister Erdogan, Turkey’s path is clear. Nothing illustrates this better than Erdogan’s outrageous comparisons of Israel to Nazi Germany and Jewish Home MK Ayelet Shaked to Hitler. Especially in light of the current deal, the silence from the administration on growing state anti-Semitism in Turkey is deafening.

But President Obama’s silence on Turkish anti-Semitism cannot change the fact that the administration recognises both the possibility that Turkey could bolt the NATO stable, and also that that move would be a political earthquake. In that light, the current move is a desperate attempt to curry favor with an shaky ally on the way out, at the expense of a solid one that is firmly in the American orbit.

To #CBS' #BobSimon, Israelis deserve to be blown up if #settlements are built

(EOZ)(h/t O)Of course, he wouldn't characterize it this way, but how else can you explain this bizarre linkage he suggests?

The $270 million the U.S. has provided Israel to help build Iron Dome is in addition to the three billion dollars Israel gets annually from the U.S. in military aid. Palestinians complain that while all this U.S. support is being given to Israel, the Israeli government has repeatedly defied U.S. policy and approved the construction of new settlement blocks in the West Bank.
Bob Simon: The Americans have already given $270 million dollars.
Ehud Barak: More than this, I believe, along the, yeah.
Bob Simon: And they're promising just the Iron Dome another $660 million--
Ehud Barak: Yeah. Yeah. $680-- probably $211 might be given in the coming fiscal year.
Bob Simon: While the Americans are helping you so much in your defense. Israel goes on building settlements, which is exactly what the Americans don't want. How does that work, when you're asking America for help and doing exactly what the Americans don't want you to do?
....How does it work? I mean, right now, Israel has just announced the building of a gigantic settlement project. This is at the same time that the Americans are providing the money for Israel's most important defense system.

So if Israel builds settlements, Simon is saying, then the US should no longer help fund Iron Dome to save Israeli lives from rocket attacks. Israelis in Ashkelon must die because the Knesset allows Jews to build houses in their historic homeland.

Summary: (sabril) Do commentators like Bob Simon ask similar questions about US aid to or support for Egypt? To the Palestinian Authority? To the United Nations? To Turkey? (jzaik) ...Who controls whom here. Simon is saying that the Americans are paying israelis. Bill maher is saying we're controlled by the israelis. (singingt) how valuable is Israeli technology to the US?

U.S. Republicans seek to provide Israel with $680 million extra for Iron Dome anti-missile system.

(OTHER) U.S. Republicans seek to provide Israel with $680 million extra for Iron Dome anti-missile system.(Haaretz).The United States would spend an additional $680 million through 2015 to strengthen Israel's short-range rocket shield under a plan crafted by Republicans from the House of Representatives, two congressional staff members disclosed on Friday. The figure could put election-year pressure on President Barack Obama's administration to spell out what it deems suitable support for the "Iron Dome," which has played an increasingly important role in Israeli security. Israel has so far deployed three operating units of the system, which helped thwart Palestinian rocket salvos during a flare-up in fighting around the Gaza Strip last month. It has spoken of needing a total of 13 or 14 units to protect various fronts. The system intercepted more than 80 percent of the targets it engaged in March when nearly 300 rockets and mortars were fired at southern Israel, saving "many lives," a U.S. Defense Department spokesman said on March 27. The Obama administration plans to request an unspecified, "appropriate" level of funding from Congress to help expand the system based on Israeli requirements and production capacity, George Little, the Pentagon press secretary, said at the time. There was no immediate official comment from the Obama administration on Republican plans to seek $680 million starting in the current fiscal year through fiscal 2015. It is not clear how the administration will view the proposal. The matter may come up when panels of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee start crafting their version of the 2013 Defense Authorization Act next week or, failing that, when the full committee writes its bill in May.

A Republican congressional aide said the proposed additional $680 million would provide the batteries and interceptors needed to defend Israel, based on the current coverage and the arsenal available to Hamas and Hezbollah Islamist militants. The American Israeli Public Affairs Committee, the biggest pro-Israel lobbying group, did not immediately respond to questions about what it deems the scope of Israel's need.This year, Obama's budget requests $3.1 billion in security assistance to Israel, part of a 10-year, $30 billion U.S. commitment to the Jewish state's security. None of that is scheduled to fund Iron Dome. Top Republicans have criticized Obama for what they described as inadequate funding of U.S.-Israeli missile defense cooperation in his 2013 budget request released in February amid deficit-reduction requirements. "We are deeply concerned that at a time of rising threats to our strongest ally in the Middle East, the administration is requesting record-low support for this vital defense cooperation program," House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and House Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard McKeon, wrote in a February 14 letter to Obama.Hmmmm.....He's quick enough to fund the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood.Read the full story here.

it'd be cheaper to re-occupy Gaza and South Lebanon

Attack on Bushehr reason Muslims kill Jews? AmirPeretz: Israel unprepared to protect civilians?

(JPOST) Former defense minister Amir Peretz said on Saturday that the number of Iron Dome rocket-defense batteries Israel plans to purchase will not enough to fully protect the country. While it is reasonable to acquire a total of only 13 batteries, as Israel currently plans to do, Peretz said, "If we want complete coverage we will need to get to between 20-26 batteries." Peretz also warned against using the Iron Dome system to defend military and strategic sites instead of population centers. "With all due respect, the bases were not meant to be covered by the Iron Dome," Peretz said. "There's no way that bases will be preferred over civilians." Last year, the United States warned Israel that it would have to review funding for the anti-rocket system if it were deployed to protect bases instead of civilians. Turning to the Iranian nuclear threat, Peretz said that a military strike against Iranian nuclear facilities would be better if an outside actor such as the US carried it out instead of Israel. "We should prefer an outside actor does it because Israel doesn't need to be confronted by the whole Muslim world," Peretz said. "We know that a minute after an attack, it will be comfortable for the Western countries to point a blaming finger at Israel. If it's an American actor, the crisis will be smaller. We need to think about the day after."

The denied correlative is that this guy is saying that Israel is incapable of protecting Jews from Muslim attacks. If he is right then the Israelis must purge all liberal minded people from their government and beef up their defenses. I'm sure this guy is saying this because he is leaning towards being a dove, but is Iran the only enemy of Israel? If Israel can't protect itself... then where is Obama? ...be he such a friend of Israel.

Iron Dome Economics Not Sustainable

the IDF has no plans to fund multiple Iron Dome batteries. Ha’aretz estimates that each intercept missile could cost approximately $40,000 and each Iron Dome battery $500,000, while Hamas’ Qassam rockets cost roughly $150 each to produce. If you shoot a large volley of rockets at it all at once, On Saturday, the terror groups attempted to break through the intercept system's defenses by firing a particularly large volley of rockets at Be'er Sheva, where one of the batteries is deployed... ...After the Palestinian launch teams realized that the intercept systems deployed in the past two weeks around Ashkelon and Be'er Sheva provided near-perfect protection from rockets, they began targeting Ashdod and Ofakim more frequently. And when they did aim at Be'er Sheva on Saturday night, they did not fire one or two rockets, as in the past, but rather a volley of seven rockets almost simultaneously. Iron Dome intercepted five of them successfully, but one penetrated the defense system, exploding in a residential area and killing Yossi Shushan. And wounding eight other people and doing lots of property damage. Seven rockets cost Hamas $1,050 ($150 each). The six that Iron Dome shoots down cost $600,000 to shoot down ($50,000 per interceptor, two interceptors per rocket). The one got through cost one dead Israeli, eight wounded Israelis, and several hundred thousand dollars in property damage.

Iron Dome is overrated, cannot protect Ben Gurion Airport from a 'Palestinian state'. Iron Dome would be very sustainable if Israel took over Gaza again. It is a safety. It is no economic factor in Israel's favor. It provides greater security... but economic security from a barrage of missiles would only come by direct control of Gaza.

Multiple Terrorist Attacks Strike Southern Israel

Terrorists launched a multifocal terror attack on Israel's south on Thursday, injuring over a dozen people. In the first incident, Egged bus number 392, traveling from Beersheba to the southern resort city of Eilat was ambushed. Eleven people were wounded in the attack, which took place on Highway 12, about 30km north of Eilat, near the Ein Netafim junction.

Security forces, as well as Magen David Adom emergency services' teams, were immediately dispatched to the scene. The injured were triaged on site and rushed to the Yoseftal Medical Center in Eilat.
Soon after that a second incident was reported involving yet another shooting on a bus and a private vehicle traveling south. Five people reportedly suffered mortal wounds in the attack.
A third incident was reported at around 1pm, involving multiple roadside bombs used and rocket fire at IDF forces patrolling the Israel Egypt border fence.
A fourth incident ensued, in which security forces engaged terrorists in combat.
According to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, soldiers were among the wounded in these incidents.

All of the roads leading to Eilat have been closed. Security forces are currently canvassing the area in search of suspects. IDF aircrafts are assisting in the search, as well as extensive Counter-Terror Unit forces. ...Defense establishment sources said that the fire originated from the Egyptian side of the border. Egyptian security forces have been alerted and are reportedly conducting a simultaneous manhunt.

The Muqata is live-blogging. The IDF reports:

Israeli soldiers were among the five casualties this morning, August 18, 2011, as terrorists opened fire on an Israeli civilian bus traveling 20km from Eilat, a southern Israeli city. Terrorists fled the scene and are being pursued by IDF forces. This morning’s incident, near the southern Israeli city of Netafim, left four soldiers moderately injured and one soldier lightly injured.

Magen David Adom says that at least 6 people are dead. Witnesses are now saying that those that fired on the buses were dressed in Egyptian Army uniforms! Egypt is denying that they were involved. 
The IDF has killed three terrorists, may still be in firefight with others. So far over 24 people have been taken to hospitals.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently being given a brief of the situation as it happens. 

The IDF Chief of Staff has arrived on the scene of the attacks near Eilat.
The IDF now says:

Combined terrorist attacks are currently taking place on Israeli territory, near the Israel- Egypt border, approximately 20 kilometers north of the city of Eilat. Nine people were injured when terrorist opened fire at an Israeli bus approximately two hours ago. The injured were evacuated to receive medical care at a nearby hospital.
Several people were injured as a result of an explosive device, detonated on an IDF force that arrived at the scene and drove over it.
Crossfire between IDF forces, led by the Commander of the 80th Division, Brigadier General Tamir Yadi and the cell of terrorists is currently underway. Additional IDF and rescue forces are arriving at the scene.

Hamas has issued a report on the attacks in which they call Eilat "occupied Om Ar-rashrash." Barry Rubin writes:

This isn’t just another terrorist attack—it’s a major escalation, a new phase in the Arab-Israeli conflict, and it is the bitter fruit of the U.S.-backed downfall of the government of President Husni Mubarak in Egypt.

The IDF has said that the attack originated in Gaza. Jordan supposedly gave Israel a warning that terrorists may try to infiltrate the country. 
Here is a video from the attack.

Ynet reports:

Less than 10% of the security fence between Israel and Egypt has been built despite the fact that the budget was approved over 18 months ago. Segments near Netafim and Carmit are still open, left completely unsecure and without the promised security fence. So far the IDF has been trying to manage the situation by monitoring the area with cameras and radar scans.

Israel's Channel 2 is reporting that 20 terrorists took part in the attack, which was organized by the Popular Resistance Committees from Gaza.

A six-year-old and a four-year-old are among the 6 killed in the terrorist attacks. The IDF now reports that 7 terrorists have been killed.
Reports are coming in that Arabs near Jerusalem are celebrating the attacks.
Israeli officials are now confirming that there are terrorists still at large and that they originated from Gaza.
Hamas terrorists are reportedly going under-ground in Gaza, anticipating a heavy Israeli response. The Rafah crossing has been closed and UN officials have been removed from Gaza.
Here is an unbelievable story about how the bus driver of one of the buses that was attacked helped prevent an even greater catastrophe.
The United States has issued a condemnation.

The United States condemns today’s attacks in southern Israel and all acts of terrorism in the strongest terms. These brutal and cowardly attacks appear to be premeditated acts of terrorism against innocent civilians. Our deepest condolences go out to the victims, their families and loved ones. This violence only underscores our strong concerns about the security situation in the Sinai Peninsula. Recent commitments by the Egyptian Government to address the security situation in the Sinai are important and we urge the Egyptian Government to find a lasting resolution.
The United States and Israel are united in the fight against terror. We hope that those involved in the planning of these gruesome attacks will be brought to swift justice. We stand by Israel as our friend, partner, and ally -- now and always.

ElderofZiyon notes that the Palestinians are rejoicing on internet forums. The UN has condemned the attack and called for restraint.
In a press conference Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will respond to the attacks.
After a period of relative quiet, two more Israelis were injured as gunshots were heard near the Egyptian border.  It seems that one of the two people is an IDF soldier.
Israel has killed two senior officials of the Palestine Resistance Committee. It seems that one of the dead is the head of the terrorist group. The IDF has also struck a number of targets in the area near the Rafah crossing. In a speech taking place Thursday evening, Netanyahu said: "Those who gave the orders to initiate this attack are no longer living."
Palestinian official Saeb Erekat has warned Israel against attacking terrorist groups in Gaza.
An Arab in Jerusalem was arrested with a knife and admitted to planning to stab a police officer.
The total number of dead currently stands at 7, 6 civilians (including a 6 year old and 4 year old) and 1 IDF soldier.
Two rockets have been fired from Gaza into Israel. One rocket landed near Ashkelon, no reports of injuries. The other was intercepted by Iron Dome.
While Hamas says they were not involved in today;s attacks, they have praised them.
Here is another video regarding today's terrorist attack.

After Israel took out the leader of the Palestine Resistance Committee, the group has threatened to attack Israel again. Hamas has condemned Israel's airstrikes near Rafah. Egypt has decided to close the Rafah crossing.
The IDF has released the name of the soldier who was killed.

First Sergeant Moshe Naftali, 22 years old from Ofra was killed during a combined terrorist attack in southern Israel today, Thursday August 18th 2011 around noon.

The EU's Catherine Ashton has issued her statement on today's events. Hamas has threatened to strike Israel.
Israel is now reporting that the terrorists sought to capture Israelis during today's attack.
Here is the official statement from Netanyahu's office.

Firstly, I would like to express my condolences to the families of the civilians murdered, and to those of the soldiers who fell while responding to today's terrorist attacks. I share their pain. I know that their lives will never be the same. I also want to express my hopes for a speedy recovery to those injured in these attacks and are currently undergoing treatment in hospital.
We all witnessed today an attempt to escalate the terrorist war against Israel by launching of attacks from the Sinai. If there is someone who thinks that the State of Israel will let this pass, he is mistaken.
I have set out a principle - when the citizens of Israel are attacked, we respond immediately and with strength. That principle was implemented today. Those who gave the order to murder our citizens, while hiding in Gaza, are no longer among the living.
I commend the IDF and the security services who eliminated today in Gaza the senior figures of the organization which carried out the terror attacks in the south. I commend the soldiers, police, and members of the security services who acted swiftly, determinately and bravely against the terrorists, and who thereby prevented an even greater tragedy.
If the terrorist organizations believe that they can attack our citizens and get away with it, they will soon learn how wrong they are. We will exact a price, a very heavy price.

Iron Dome has intercepted two more rockets, making three in total today. It did not intercept 1 rocket, however, that landed in an open field. The IDF said that they had intel that terrorist group was planning an attack, however, they believed they would only act at night. 
Italy has called the terrorist attack "barbaric."
Congressman Rothman has called on the Palestinian Authority and Egypt to condemn today's attack. 

via challahhuakbar.blogspot.com

via IDFSpokesperson .....................Déjà vu

Iron Dome's record

The opening day statistic for Iron Dome is three for four when Iron Dome intercepted rocket fired from Gaza for first time. (give it a shot).  Until now, Israelis believed that Iron Dome would stop any rocket that was going to hit anything. On Tuesday night, it was reported that two Kassam rockets had been shot into Israel and that one of them hit a house. But Israel Radio reported on its 2:00 am newscast that two Kassams and a mortar shell were shot into Israel on Tuesday night, but "no one was injured and there was no damage reported." Gaza terrorists who spoke to Weinberger said they plan to continue with rocket attacks despite the deployment of the Iron Dome system, which shoots short-range rockets out of the air. “The Israelis are using a lot of money for this defense, but during the last rocket attacks, our rockets made it through,” explained Abu Hamza, a senior Islamic Jihad terrorist

Gaza Terrorists Using Google Earth for Target Selection

Gaza terrorists have a new tool helping them to fire on innocent civilians living in southern Israel – the popular satellite mapping program Google Earth. A group of terrorists from the Al-Aksa Martyrs’ Brigades recently described their use of the program to a reporter for Slate Magazine. Time to Un Dhimmi “The technology is always improving,” a terrorist calling himself Abu Saif told journalist Sharon Weinberger. “Our struggle started with the Kalashnikov, and then it moved to the suicide bomb, then the locally made rocket, and now the Grad rocket.”
Gaza terrorists in rocket launching crews use Google Earth to aim their weapons, Abu Said said. The program is seen as superior to maps because it is more up-to-date and gives precise locations for potential targets. Gaza terrorists who spoke to Weinberger said they plan to continue with rocket attacks despite the deployment of the Iron Dome system, which shoots short-range rockets out of the air. “The Israelis are using a lot of money for this defense, but during the last rocket attacks, our rockets made it through,” explained Abu Hamza, a senior Islamic Jihad terrorist. Iron Dome goes three for four! 

IDF conditionally ceases air strikes on Hamas targets, but Hamas has not ceased!

Palestinian official says Hamas,
Israel agree to truce shortly before Kassam rocket
explodes near Ashkelon;
no injuries or damage reported;
Defense Ministry official:
Israel will hold fire if Hamas does same.

Ehud Barak says a STRONG country uses RESTRAINT? IDF conditionally ceases air strikes on Hamas targets...

The IDF stopped its air strikes against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip on Sunday after Palestinian terror groups cut back on rocket attacks against Israel, in what appeared to be the beginning of a shaky cease-fire. The decision was made shortly before a Kassam rocket exploded near Ashkelon. No injuries were reported and no damage was caused.

On Sunday, 13 rockets were fired into Israel, and a senior official in the Defense Ministry, who requested anonymity, told reporters that Israel decided to hold its fire as long as Hamas and the other Palestinian terror groups ceased launching attacks on civilians.

“It all depends on the other side,” the Defense Ministry official said. “If a barrage of missiles falls in a town and there are casualties, that will change the situation – but if a rocket lands in an open field we will look at that differently.”

At the same time, a Palestinian official close to UN-and Egyptian-mediated negotiations told Reuters on Sunday that Israel and terrorist groups in Gaza had agreed to a truce, as cross-border violence abated.

"Palestinian factions have agreed to halt rocket fire and Israel agreed to cease attacks on the Gaza Strip," the Palestinian official said.

A senior IDF officer said Sunday that the IDF has a list of 19 names of Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists who have been killed in air strikes and ground attacks since Israel stepped up military operations following Thursday’s anti-tank missile attack against a school bus near Nahal Oz.

Another 47 terrorists have been wounded, and there are two known deaths of civilians.

“We believe that Hamas has understood the message,” the senior defense official, who requested anonymity, said.

“We are ready to escalate our operations, however, if the attacks continue.”

Meanwhile, the star of the latest round of violence between Israel and Hamas continued to be the Iron Dome counter-rocket defense system, which has intercepted eight rockets since Thursday.

On Sunday, the Defense Ministry’s MAFAT Research and Development Directorate released video footage from the Iron Dome, showing how the Tamir interceptor shot down a number of Katyusha rockets over the weekend.

Israel plans to increase the number of operational batteries to six in the coming years, with the arrival of $205 million the Obama administration has pledged it will provide Israel to purchase additional rocket defense systems. The money is supposed to be included in the US’s upcoming annual budget.

The Defense Ministry recently completed negotiations with Iron Dome manufacturer Rafael about the upcoming deal.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the system’s success “has deeply impacted Israel’s ability to act operationally and to maneuver diplomatically against challenges, not just routinely, but also during much broader events.”

Once the money is received, it will still take at least 18 months before the first of the four batteries is delivered to the Air Force and up to two-and-a-half years before the last of the four is operational.

Reuters contributed to this report.  via jpost.com Photo by: REUTERS/Darren Whiteside  By YAAKOV KATZ AND JPOST.COM STAFF

Golda Meir fatal flaw was in thinking the Arabs had nothing to gain by attacking

Opening Day Baseball in Israel: Iron Dome goes three for four! Not bad for a rookie in Star Wars

...better then the Red Sox...

Iron Dome intercepts rocket
fired from Gaza for first time

The Iron Dome anti-missile system went three for four on the outskirts of Ashkelon on Friday evening - shooting down three rockets, while a fourth fell 'harmlessly' in Ashkelon's industrial area. There has been a lot more shooting and it's continuing on Saturday night. Israel Radio just reported that the 'Palestinians' shot over 50 mortars and rockets on Saturday. Read the whole thing.
Three for four may be a decent batting average, but it's not one that's going to let life go on normally in southern Israel.

On Saturday, Iron Dome intercepted several rockets aimed at Ashkelon, and people have been videotaping it. Here's one video (the flash is when the Grad gets intercepted):
A number of Israelis have posted YouTube videos showing Iron Dome intercepting rockets. This link should take you to the most recent videos.

via elderofziyon.blogspot.com and via israelmatzav.blogspot.com

image via feederleague.com and via schlidaveurs.blogspot.com

Red Sox Analysis FAIL!
Federal Reserve Bank Analysis FAIL!
Climate Change Analysis FAIL!

(Video) Defense Ministry releases video showing missile defense system intercepting incoming rocket. 'Everything functioned properly – from detection to interception,' says head of IDF Military Research and Development Unit. Meanwhile, Qassam explodes south of Ashkelon; no injuries reported

VIDEO - The Defense Ministry on Sunday published a video of the Iron Dome missile defense system intercepting a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip.

The images, which were captured by a camera that was attached to the battery, show in slow motion the moment in which the interceptor Tamir missile hits the rocket and destroys it midair.

Good Investment

'Iron Dome will eventually pay for itself' / Udi Etzion Military hopes success of new anti-missile system in south will propel future sales, export to other countries, balance operational costs Full story

On Sunday evening, a Qassam rocket exploded within the Ahskelon Regional Council after several hours of calm. The Color Red rocket alert system was activated at around 9:30 pm, and the Qassam is believed to have hit an open area. There were no reports of injuries or damage.

"We were subjected to criticism for a long time, but we knew that we were heading in the right direction, and that there were no other real alternatives,"
head of the Military Research and Development Unit Brigadier-General Eitan Eshel told Ynet following the successful debut of the Iron Dome, which intercepted
eight Grad missiles and a Qassam rocket fired at Beersheba and Ashkelon over the weekend.
"Actually, the operational success serves as proof or an answer to those who doubted it, because beforehand it was difficult to answer to critics and reveal data, but now things are very clear," he added. via ynetnews.com

Teen critically hurt in Negev attack; IAF strikes Gaza

Driver also injured as anti-tank missile hits bus outside Kibbutz Sa'ad in Sha'ar Hanegev; 45 rockets, mortars explode within 3 hours.

it's not working

An anti-tank missile shot from the Gaza Strip directly hit a school bus outside Kibbutz Sa'ad in the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council on Thursday, injuring two people. Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered the IDF to respond speedily and to attack using all means necessary. An Israeli attack helicopter machine-gunned a target in Gaza City after the missile attack, for the first time since Operation Cast Lead. A Reuters correspondent said the sound of heavy fire from the helicopter was audible in the center of the city.

via jpost.com

Posted via email from noahdavidsimon's posterous

 

Iron Dome intercepts rocket fired from Gaza for first time

...better then the Red Sox...

Opening Day
Baseball in Israel:
Iron Dome goes three for four

For the first time, the Iron Dome missile defense system has intercepted a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip. The intercepted rocket was one of three Qassams fired towards the Ashkelon Beach Regional Council and the south of the city of Ashkelo...via ynetnews.com image via jewishhigh.com irondomegame.com :@FromIsrael

Israel Deploys Second Iron Dome Battery

Dome active defense system's recent deployment comes as a response to the recent barrage of Grad missiles, Qassam rockets, and mortar shells fired from the Gaza Strip which hit Israel, injuring civilians and terrorizing thousands.The Iron Dome system will intercept such rockets before they hit inside Israeli territory. Currently, the Israeli Air Force is testing the system's effectiveness after being deployed in the field as a final stage before being put to operational use. The Iron Dome will provide part of the solution to rocket fire targeting southern communities, and it will be mobile, allowing the system to rotate among cities.

via eye-on-the-world.blogspot.com

(IDF) Yesterday, an additional Iron Dome anti-missile battery was deployed in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon. An initial battery was deployed last week in the southern city of Be'er Sheva.
The Iron

here is a picture from a Palestinian website of Iron Dome.

via the Palestinian enablers at imemc.org

Posted via email from noahdavidsimon's posterous

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu tried to lower expectations about the Iron Dome system Sunday, telling the cabinet that the system could not protect every house, school and army base in the country.

Iron Dome defends against rockets
at a range of 4- 70 kilometers:

Barack says:Barak says Iron Dome anti-rocket system to be deployed within days.

Bibi:
“Israel has been
under the threat of
missile attack for 20 years,
since the first Gulf War.
I don’t want to
create the illusion
that Iron Dome,
which we are setting up
for the first time today,
will prove a full or
comprehensive answer,”

via matzav.com

Late Friday night a Kassam rocket exploded in Eshkol Regional Council area, causing damage to one house but no injuries. A local official said authorities were searching for a second rocket that had fallen in an open area.
On Thursday, a rocket fired from Gaza exploded north of Ashdod. While there were no injuries, Magen David Adom crew treated a number of people for shock.
Earlier Friday, Defense Minister Ehud Barak confirmed that he authorized the deployment of the Iron Dome missile defense system.
Speaking
during a tour of the Gaza region, Barak said: "I authorized the IDF in
the coming days to authorize the first operational deployment of Iron
Dome batteries, here in the southern region."

.................................................................................................................................................................The test deployment, he said, "will continue for several weeks and the layout will vary with operational needs."

The defense minister praised Iron Dome's technology, calling it an "extraordinary development" by the defense industry. He cautioned, however, that it does not provide a 100 percent solution to the rocket threat.

The Iron Dome system will be part of the IDF's solution to the barrage of rockets fired into southern Israel from Gaza in the last week, a statement from the IDF spokesperson said.

Iron Dome is designed to defend against rockets at a range of 4-70 km and each battery consists of a multi-mission radar manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries and three launchers, each equipped with 20 interceptors named Tamir.

The defense minister also praised the IDF's operations in the southern region. "The IDF is doing a very good job - very professional and creative, with [good] results, along the border and in the Gaza Strip itself," he said.

"Terror organizations in the Strip took a hard hit during the last 10 days," Barak said, adding that the groups had lost fighters during that period.

He noted that "some 100 rockets and mortars that reached communities further [from the Strip] than usual" were hit, including Beersheba, Ashdod, Sderot, Ashkelon, and the Gaza border-region communities. "We have no intention to allow terrorist organizations to renew the situation and breaking the status quo," he said. The defense minister added, "We will act as it is needed to return the operations back to the [border] line itself."


"I don't recommend to Hamas or Islamic Jihad to attempt and return us to the situation when [rockets] were fired at areas deep into the country and at communities in the border region."

via jpost.com

Israel'a Iron Dome Rocket Defense System Set to Go Online

JERUSALEM (AP) – Israeli aircraft struck a Palestinian rocket squad in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, as a new defense system to protect southern Israel from militants' rockets prepared to go online after years of development, the military said.
Two Islamic Jihad militants were killed in the attack and one was critically wounded, said the group, which did not specify whether they were in the process of launching rockets.
Gaza militants, including Islamic Jihad and the territory's Hamas rulers, had said over the weekend that they would cease fire if Israel did. It was not clear whether they were reneging on that pledge or whether the air strike hit a rogue group of militants ignoring the cease fire.
Weeks of stepped-up rocket and mortar attacks have drawn fears of renewed war and led to new calls in Israel for the military to deploy the $200 million Iron Dome anti-rocket system.
The Israeli military said the system should begin operating on Sunday near Beersheba, southern Israel's largest city. A second anti-missile battery will be deployed in another large southern city, Ashdod, the military added, without specifying an exact date.
Security officials said the new spate of rocket attacks from Gaza and public pressure had led the military to deploy the system, which is still being fine-tuned. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss operational decisions.
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via eye-on-the-world.blogspot.com

Posted via email from noahdavidsimon's posterous

Israeli Air Force attacked a terrorist cell on Monday evening that was preparing to fire a rocket into Israel

The targets were directly hit and secondary explosions were heard, the IDF reported.
The attack took place in el-Bureij in the central part of the Gaza Strip. According to PA sources, three people were killed in the attack.

via israelnationalnews.com
Officials predict that Hamas will try to test the missile defense system that will be installed along the Gaza Strip periphery,

The IDF is preparing for the possibility that the scheduled deployment of the
Iron Dome missile defense system along the Gaza Strip periphery in the coming
months will increase the rate of rocket attacks against Israel, senior defense
officials said on Sunday.
The Iron Dome was delivered earlier this month
to an Air Force base near Gedera, where the IAF Air Defense Division will
establish the headquarters for the new defense system, which is designed to
defend against rockets at a range of 4- 70 kilometers.

via jpost.com