Israeli army launches 'early warning' Web site
AFP
Published: September 24, 2007
The Israeli army unveiled a new Web site Sunday that will be used to warn Israelis of impending attacks after the "lessons learned" from the 2006 war in Lebanon.

"The Home Front Command, which sees great importance in the relations with the Israeli population, is now in the frontline of technology," Major General Yitzhak Gershon said in a statement. "The new Web site reflects the lessons learned from the Second Lebanon War."

The site, at www.oref.org.il, will offer postings in English and Arabic as well as Hebrew providing emergency information such as live alerts for missile attacks, audio-visual instruction manuals, and forums with security experts.

In July, Israel's state comptroller blasted Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for "intolerable" failures in protecting civilians during the 2006 war against Lebanon's Hezbollah Shiite militia.

In Israel, both the government and army are responsible for providing services to civilians in time of war, from maintenance of public shelters, to rescue, medical, and basic administrative services.

During the 34-day war with Hezbollah, the Shiite militia fired over 4,000 rockets into Israel, forcing 1 million residents to flee, paralyzing the northern part of the country, and catching the public shelters system unawares.