Man receives cell call
Man receives cell callIsrael news photo: Flash 90

The Home Front Command is testing Israel's nationwide text message alert system this week.

Thousands of Israelis will receive warning messages about an impending attack – part of the national defense system set up by the Home Front Command. The system, called “Personal Message,” will be tested in various communities throughout the country each day. It is aimed at narrowing down the missile alert warnings “just to people who are within a specific area that is going to be hit,” explained a Home Front Command spokesperson.

"The Home Front Command, checking cellular alert system, [number],” will be the message sent to those who signed up to participate in the drill.

The first area to receive mock messages about an impending missile attack, on Sunday and Monday, will be the area around Ramle-Lod. On Tuesday, messages will be sent to Ashkelon, Ashdod, Tel Aviv, Netanya, Akko, Haifa, Nahariya, Karmiel, Tzfat, and elsewhere. 

On Wednesday, the system will be tested in Dimona, Rehovot, Yavne, Rishon Letzion, Kiryat Shmona and other cities.

On Thursday, the SMS system will be tested in the greater Jerusalem area – including Beit Shemesh, Mevaseret Tzion, and in Modi'in – and elsewhere.

Messages are being sent between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. in Hebrew, English, Arabic and Russian. Those who decide they do not want the service have the option of asking their cellphone companies to disconnect them from the alerts.

It is also important to know that the Home Front Command operates an information center which operates during emergencies and provides information in a variety of languages. The hotline phone number is 1207.