Shelter

IDF: Even after two Iran wars, will take Israel 30 years to provide nationwide shelters

There is currently no plan, even under consideration, to try to achieve full nationwide protection within two to five years, or anything close to that time period.

People take cover in a bomb shelter from incoming missiles fired from Iran in Holon, March 17, 2026; illustrative.
Woman in distress.

Bat Melech reports spike in domestic violence hotline calls during wartime

Anti-missile batteries fire interception missiles toward incoming ballistic missiles launched from Lebanon, as seen in northern Israel, during the war with Iran and Hezbollah and ongoing missile fire toward Israel, March 24, 2026.

IDF to extend time to reach shelter in 49 northern Israel communities

LEARNING IN the bomb shelter.

Beyond the headlines: Finding an anchor in the shelter - opinion


Inspired by lack of protection in Arab towns, new app helps all Israelis find nearby shelters

Harmony SOS, an Arab-led initiative, provides real-time shelter information during missile attacks, saving lives and fostering solidarity in Israel.

Harmony SOS employees

Harmony SOS shelter locator app: A lifeline for Arab communities in crisis

Harmony SOS was born as missiles soared above Israeli skies. In response, three young Arab citizens created a mobile App.

Harmony SOS employees

The elderly: Israel’s quiet front line - opinion

The elderly are not on the sidelines of society; they are its core.

RESIDENTS OF Mediterranean Towers in Jerusalem present members of the Border Police with sufganiyot on Hanukkah. Let us remember: The heart, even at an advanced age, remains open, the writer affirms.

Months after launch, Israel’s ‘Northern Shield’ initiative completes only 30% of shelters

As of the latest update, 600 safe rooms are under construction out of the 1,900 planned for communities within zero to one kilometer of the Israel-Lebanon border.

The Northern Shield program (Magen Hatzafon) builds bomb shelters in northern borden communities,

Innovation in the shelter: Outdated bomb shelters turn into technological learning centers

Gordon Innovative Pedagogy, a leading company in the field of technological education under the Gordon Academic College of Education, presents a timely and innovative project for the Israeli reality.

 An innovative shelter

If we don’t laugh, we’ll cry: Humor as a sign of resilience in Israel - opinion

Israelis manage to find humor in everyday life, even during the scariest of times.

 IN BAT YAM, following an Iranian missile strike there last month, a sign reads: ‘Bat Yam is strong. Israel is winning!’ Says the writer: ‘Despite the divisiveness, I continue to find myself in awe of the Israeli nation’s resilience.’

A cultural experience: Meeting neighbors in the bomb shelter during war with Iran - comment

Now, with the restrictions finally lifted, I only hope that life returns to some kind of normality, that we can resume our daily routines, and that I can meet and get to know my neighbors.

 People check their phones in a Jerusalem bomb shelter.

Why were public safe rooms locked during a missile attack? - comment

Many Jerusalemites, as well as people all over Israel, don’t have access to safety in cases of a missile attack, and not enough is being done about it – or at the very least, not fast enough.

 A locked public bomb shelter is seen in the Katamon neighborhood of Jerusalem on July 1, 2025. The public safe room was locked shut while sirens blared as a missile was being fired at Israel.

Sleep deprived and pushing through: The view from central Israel amid Iran missiles - opinion

Israelis were jolted awake on June 13, and for the weeks that followed, they were not able to catch a full night's sleep and spent their days running to and from shelters, extracting a heavy toll.

 People take shelter in an underground light rail station in Tel Aviv during ongoing missile attacks from Iran, June 17, 2025.

Grapevine: Of buses and bomb shelters

Movers and shakers in Israeli society.

 People check their phones in a Jerusalem bomb shelter.