Grad missile lands in Ashkelon

The Jerusalem Post (Link) (July 30, 2010)

A Grad missile launched from the Gaza Strip landed in a central, residential area in the southern city of Ashkelon Friday morning.

Magen David Adom crews treated two people for shock.

The missile shattered numerous windows of the surrounding, multi-story buildings and vehicles in the area.

Ashkelon Mayor Benny Vaknin who arrived at the scene, said that the missile landed in the heart of a residential neighborhood and that Ashkelon citizens are unfortunately accustomed to such situations.

Vaknin emphasized that many educational institutions, schools and day-care centers in Ashkelon remain unprotected from rocket attacks and called on the Defense Ministry to continue efforts to reinforce vulnerable areas.

�I do not see how it will be possible for us to begin the school year with schools and day-cares left unprotected when a heavy cloud of lethal rocket and missile fire hovers above us,� Vaknin said.

A committee of Ashkelon parents threatened not to send their children to school at the beginning of the year if their school buildings would not be fortified, Israel Radio reported Friday.

The �color red� alert system was heard across the city prior to the rocket landing, allowing residents to enter protected areas.

Police urged residents to remain indoors for fear of additional rockets or missiles.

In a closed meeting Friday morning, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced that Israel views the Grad missile attack in Ashkelon with harsh severity.