An anglo immigrant in Be'er Sheva chides people on a local Internet list for thinking of leaving the area: "Our boys are taking care of business." In addition to online offers to host people who are fleeing the rockets, there are also posts from those who are cheering on the soldiers and expressing solid determination to tough it out.
American native Gershon Reed chided fellow anglos who expressed fears of rocket attacks on a local Internet list, saying "this is nothing like the war two years ago."
Reed, a native of Columbus, Ohio, said that during the 2006 Second Lebanon War he commuted to work in Haifa daily, where he did "nothing but sit in the bomb shelter all day and worry about a missile strike while waiting for the train to come back" to Be'er Sheva.
He told Israel National News that he had predicted the day before the 2005 Disengagement from Gaza that if Israel went through with the withdrawal, rockets would someday fall on Be'er Sheva. "This week, I can be quoted as saying, 'Tomorrow has arrived.'
Kadima party leaders said at the time of the 2005 surrender of terrority that the pullout from Gaza's Jewish region Gush Katif would consolidate Israeli forces and increase security.
Reed added that regardless of how many rockets Gaza terrorists fire, however, "I didn't make aliyah to give the land away, or improve my economic situation. I made aliyah because I am a Zionist. No act of terrorism is going to force me from my home."
Reed observed that he had been seeing posts throughout the week from people who are thinking about leaving Be'er Sheva, taking offers for rooms and considering other options.
"I am not saying let's all be heros, but please stop the whining," he wrote. "Yes, the situation is not that great, but our boys in blue and white are taking care of business."
He also offered a bit of advice: "Staying on the east side of buildings keeps you out of harm's way most of the time."
But his main concern was not letting Gaza's terrorist rulers win the war against Israel. "Don't let Hamas complete their objective," he urged fellow southerners. "Their objective is to terrorize Israelis."
He also pointed out that in a city of 200,000 souls who have received thorough civil defense instructions from Home Front Command, the odds were very slim that a missile would be more dangerous than the average Israeli driver on the road.
"If you think about it this is a numbers game. You have a higher chance of getting killed in a traffic accident or being collateral damage in a mob bombing than being killed by a Grad, and I don't see the highways empty of cars because of the potential danger," he added.
"What they are doing is pure terrorism; they have no military objective. So keep your radio tuned to 102.3 or 97.0 FM (the silent radio frequencies which broadcast the Color Red incoming missile alert sirens only), listen for the sirens, be aware of which direction is west and just be generally alert," Reed advised.
"If you are outside and hear the sirens, look both ways before crossing the street to take cover," he added, "or you might get hit by a taxi. Now that would be ironic, wouldn't it? Be safe!"