Defense Minister Ehud Barak has given instructions to make the "color red" early missile warning system operational in Ashkelon, and the system is expected to begin functioning soon.
Ashkelon is fitted with the necessary components of the system, but until now they have not been turned on. As long as missile attacks on Ashkelon were few and far between, the authorities preferred not to use the system, because of concern it might cause unnecessary panic and wind up doing more harm than good.
Ashkelon residents, including the mayor, who were shown on TV today supported turning on the "color red" system.