Knesset member Uri Ariel (National Union) called on the army to immediately release reserve duty soldiers manning Patriot batteries. They were inducted with the issuance of emergency orders several weeks ago and remain on active duty. Ariel, a member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee, maintains there is no justification for keeping these reservists locked into service, calling upon the IDF to find an alternative and release them.
Looking ahead, air force commander Major-General Dan Halutz circulated a memorandum to General Staff officers calling for the closing of the IDF's Homefront Command after the war in Iraq is successfully concluded. Prior to the 1991 Gulf War, Halutz noted, the country's civil defense mechanism dealt with Homefront issues and a separate IDF command was only created as a result of the Iraqi threat.
In the meantime, however, the level of threat from Iraq remains unchanged. The Homefront Command, therefore, is still cautioning citizens to carry gas masks at all times and to maintain sealed rooms and essential supplies. Similarly, Israel Radio will again be operating its "silent radio station", used only in case of national emergency, over the Sabbath, in order to keep the populace updated should the need arise.
Another sign of the times is the Ministry of Labor official decision to add employees of the Osem company's Bamba snack food line to the list of "essential workers" that would be ordered to continue working in the event of a missile attack on Israel. Ministry officials explained they are aware that Israeli homes have stocked up on water and food essentials, in compliance with Homefront Command orders, but they also know that for many Israeli children "essentials" include Bamba.
Looking ahead, air force commander Major-General Dan Halutz circulated a memorandum to General Staff officers calling for the closing of the IDF's Homefront Command after the war in Iraq is successfully concluded. Prior to the 1991 Gulf War, Halutz noted, the country's civil defense mechanism dealt with Homefront issues and a separate IDF command was only created as a result of the Iraqi threat.
In the meantime, however, the level of threat from Iraq remains unchanged. The Homefront Command, therefore, is still cautioning citizens to carry gas masks at all times and to maintain sealed rooms and essential supplies. Similarly, Israel Radio will again be operating its "silent radio station", used only in case of national emergency, over the Sabbath, in order to keep the populace updated should the need arise.
Another sign of the times is the Ministry of Labor official decision to add employees of the Osem company's Bamba snack food line to the list of "essential workers" that would be ordered to continue working in the event of a missile attack on Israel. Ministry officials explained they are aware that Israeli homes have stocked up on water and food essentials, in compliance with Homefront Command orders, but they also know that for many Israeli children "essentials" include Bamba.