The Iron Dome system intercepted over 90% of the rockets it aimed at stopping, Col. (ret.) Chilik Sofer, of the Home Front Command, told The Jerusalem
Post on Saturday. Twenty five out of 27 rockets heading for southern cities were
stopped, according to the army.
"We are satisfied with the way the public
is listening to safety instructions, and with our very good cooperation with
local authorities," Sofer said. Rocket warning sirens are functioning well, he
added.
The Home Front Command has dispatched representatives to each
local council that has been affected by rocket fire over the weekend, to
coordinate preparations and responses.
Sofer said that according to the
instructions in place for all those living within 40 kilometers of Gaza, all
major gatherings of 500 people and more have been banned. Residents of Sderot
and Gaza-border communities should remain within 15-second running distances of
safe areas. Ashkelon residents should keep within a 30 second distance, and
residents of Ashdod should be within 45 seconds of a safe area.
At the
same time, Sofer said, residents of areas further north, in central Israel,
should ensure that the safe zones are prepared. "We issue that instruction
all-year round. We don't know what will happen in a week or two weeks. Hence, it
is best to be prepared. If nothing happens, no harm was done by being prepared,"
Sofer said.
"We view it in the same way as making preparations for an
earthquake.
We don't know when it will strike," he added.
Further
details are available on the website of the Home Front Command:
http://www.oref.org.il/315-en/PAKAR.aspx