SIGNS OF AN APPROACHING FULL-SCALE WAR
Palestinian rockets strike Jerusalem, Tel Aviv. Reserves call-up expanded
DEBKAfile
November 16, 2012
SIGNS OF AN APPROACHING FULL-SCALE WAR INCREASED FRIDAY AFTERNOON, NOV. 16. THE IDF OBTAINED GOVERNMENT APPROVAL TO CALL UP RESERVES IN ADDITION TO THE 30,000 ALREADY APPROVED. HOSPITALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WERE PLACED ON EMERGENCY FOOTING AND PATIENTS NOT NEEDING URGENT TREATMENT WERE SENT HOME. THE SECURITY CABINET MEETS URGENTLY AFTER 550 PALESTINIAN ROCKETS FIRED IN THREE DAYS. JERUSALEM AND TEL AVIV WERE TARGETED FRIDAY BY HAMAS WHICH REPORTED FIRING TWO “HOMEMADE M-75” MISSILES EACH AT ISRAEL’S CAPITAL AND COMMERCIAL HUB. THERE WERE NO CASUALTIES IN EITHER TOWN.
THE JERUSALEM SIREN WAS HEARD IN OUTLYING TOWNS MEVASERET ZION, MOTZA ILIT, BEITAR ILIT, KIBBUTZ MAALEH HAHAMISHA, ORA AND HAR ADAR.
ISRAELI GROUND FORCES CONTINUE TO STAND BY ON THE GAZA BORDER AWAITING GOVERNMENT ORDERS TO GO IN.
DEBKAfile reported earflier Friday: As Hamas government officials greeted Egyptian Prime Minister Hesham Kandil on his arrival for a short visit to the Gaza Strip, Friday morning, Nov. 16, Palestinian rocket crews stepped up their barrage against Israel. After Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu acceded to Cairo’s request to suspend military action for the visit, air strikes were resumed over northern Gaza to counter Palestinians fire across the South: Dozens of rockets exploded in Beersheba, Ashdod, Hof Ashkelon, Ashkelon, Shear Hanegev, Ofakim, Sderot, Eshkol and Kiryat Malachi. There were several panic victims and direct hits to houses.
Thursday night, long-range Fajr rockets exploded in Greater Tel Aviv region, Israel’s urban and commercial heartland (3 million population) – two landing near Bat Yam or the sea and one or two between Rishon Lezion and Palmachim.
IDF armored, artillery and mechanized infantry units continued to stream to the Gaza border Thursday and Friday, gathering at jumping-off positions for crossing into the enclave in the next stage of the operation. Reservists are reporting for duty on the orders the defense minister issued for 30,000 call-ups. They are reporting at schools in various towns which were converted to registration stations.
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