Prime Minister Olmert announced the government has created a new internet website for residents of the south during Sunday’s Cabinet meeting. This site contains information from all Government offices and Home Front bodies and relates to all matters regarding civil defense, rights, and emergency services. According to the announcement, the site, which is in Hebrew, is interactive and allows residents to make inquiries and receive immediate answers. 

The site, www.oz.gov.il, provides information about hosting residents from the southern communities bordering Gaza, emergency phone numbers, and also features informative articles about such topics as hydrotherapy for shock victims.

“I call upon all residents of the south to utilize this site and to thereby link to another source of information that can assist them," said Olmert in his statement. "Today, we will declare a special situation on the Home Front and, on the recommendation of Defense Minister Ehud Barak, will approve special National Emergency Board services in order to cope with all missions connected to the reality that we are currently experiencing.”

In addition, the Cabinet  was briefed by security personnel on the developing operation in the south. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni was also expected to report to the government “about the international activities that are an inseparable element of the operation,” said Olmert.