Thursday, January 1, 2009

Closures for the time being

FROM A VARIETY OF NEWS SOURCES

On Tuesday, Dec. 30, Defense Minister Ehud Barak declared a "special security situation" in all Israeli towns and cities located within a 30-kilometer radius of the Gaza Strip.
Under that order, schools will remain closed in all towns located within the 30 km. radius, including Ashdod, Kiryat Gat, Ofakim, Sderot and Kiryat Malachi. The army has also asked that all commercial centers remain closed except for vital services, including medical centers and grocery stores.

The Beersheba Theater has temporarily closed down due to the rocket attacks hitting the city from Gaza, as have the city's movie theaters. All planned events at the theater were canceled, from December 31 through Tuesday, January 6. The cinemas in Ashdod and Ashkelon were shut down by the Home Front Command, too, but the Globus theaters in the rest of the country are offering "soldier discounts" to Israelis who live in Kiryat Malachi and south with an ID card showing where they live. The discounts will remain in effect until the movie theaters in the south are reopened.

Residents of towns located within 20 to 30 km. radius, including Ashdod, Kiryat-Gat, Kiryat-Malachi, Ofakim, Rahat and the surrounding areas, are instructed to take cover in protected spaces within 45 seconds of hearing the Code red alert. Only shopping area with "hardened structures" are open.

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