Ashkelon early warning system was disconnected weeks ago

IDF Home Front Command confirmed Wednesday night that it had several weeks ago decided to disconnect Ashkelon's early-warning Kassam missile system.

By YAAKOV KATZ
The IDF Home Front Command confirmed Wednesday night that it had several weeks ago decided to disconnect Ashkelon's early-warning Kassam missile system, following a number of false alarms in recent months. Following Wednesday's attack, the IDF decided to reconnect Ashkelon to the system for the next several weeks. Dozens of Ashkelon residents were fuming at the IDF Wednesday night after a Katyusha rocket scored a direct hit on the Hutzot Mall in the city without any warning from the air siren system installed in the city earlier this year. A top Home Front Command officer said Wednesday evening that the decision to disconnect Ashkelon from the system was made last month in conjunction with the municipality, the Defense Ministry and the government. He said the decision was made a month ago after five false alarms and dozens of complaints from residents. "There were many residents who called and complained," the officer said. "There was a decision together with the government to disconnect the city." Since then, the IDF holds daily security assessments in the Southern Command and in conjunction with Military Intelligence and decides whether to activate the system according to the threat level, he said. The officer added that US President George W. Bush's visit to Israel on Wednesday was taken into consideration.