Casualies in Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon

BarZilai Medical Center 2023 (Nadene Goldfoot)

Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon Underground

Lea Malul at Barzilai on Sunday, December 28th reported to Tamar Boussi, president of Portland Ashkelon Sister City Association, and she explained their situation--they have had around 10-12 casualities nearly everyday and are swamped. The article below explains some of their preparation.

Fear of Rockets Sends Israeli Hospital Underground by Aron Heller

Wary of a missile strike from nearby Gaza, Ashkelon's Barzilai Hospital has moved its most essential departments into an underground bomb shelter. In February a rocket from Gaza landed adjacent to the hospital's helicopter pad and in May a rocket crashed into a busy shopping mall in the city, injuring 14 people. On Saturday, Barzilai relocated the most vulnerable departments and placed its least mobile patients - such as those in the geriatric, infant and maternity wards - underground. On Sunday, two rockets fell in Ashkelon itself and another 22 in the surrounding district, as warning sirens sent doctors, patients and guests rushing for cover several times. In Barzilai's underground children's ward, sick Gazans lay alongside sick Israelis. Dr. Ron Lobel, the hospital's deputy director, said that his facility had close ties with Gaza's Shifa hospital, and accepted many of its patients who need treatment the Gazan hospital cannot provide. (AP)

Reference: from Tamar Boussi, Portland, OR

American Paramedics Joining Magen David Adom : Service of Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                     

American Paramedics Joining Magen David Adom : Service of Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon   

After being struck by rockets in such continuous volume since Wednesday, the whole southern part of Israel has been abused, needing more medical resources than on hand.  I'm happy to read that 14 Jewish paramedics have already arrived in Israel to work as volunteers with Magen David Adom.  They are but the first of dozens who are scheduled to arrive to join the others and assist people in the south.

Since 2001 at least 4,800 rockets have fallen into Israel   There were 28 deaths and hundreds injured.  15,000 people from Sderot alone suffer from PtSD with 1,000 in ongoing treatment from all the bombing.

Usually it is up to the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon to deal with everyone's medical problems.  For instance, 1600 KASSAM missiles attacked the south in 2006.  They worked with 1400 patients with acute and post traumatic stress disorders and diseases then.  Each year they face 100,000 emergency admissions. They are a center with 500 beds which means 1 hospital bed per 1000 residents which is the lowest in the country in 2006.  Yet they are serving over 500,000 residents in the immediate area.  I wonder how many hospitals in the USA have had to convert their cafeteria regularly into hospital bed space.  They have, and also have had to go underground for some of their work due to shelling near the hospital so often.

By 2008 Israel was forced to do something to stop the shelling and went into Operation Cast Lead.
By 2009 the terrorists of Gaza were still terrorizing 1 million civilians of southern Israel and already 10 deaths came from this.

Just looking at what was going on from October 24 to 30, 2012, 105 rockets and 12 mortars were shot into Israel from Gaza.
October 31 to November 6th  -2 rockets landed
November 10 to November 16--340 rockets rained down on southern Israel   An IDF vehicle was hit, killing one soldier and injuring the others.  The vehicle was on fire from the hit.  They were on their usual patrol outside the fence separating Gaza from Israel looking for breaks in the fence.

From January 2012 to October there have been 800 rockets shot into Israel. Add 342 plus more to that sum as the shelling has continued, hitting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem with farther ranging rockets from Iran.   These have been answered by  sending complaints to the UN and air flights to hit wherever rockets are coming from.  However, Iran is sending arms through Sudan and up into Egypt where they get to the terrorists through tunnels and trucks.

At the moment, officials are waiting to see if Egypt can reach a  peace agreement.  If not, Israel is ready for a ground incursion to put an end to this shelling.

Resource:  http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=292175
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Palestinian_rocket_attacks_on_Israel,_2012
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_rocket_attacks_on_Israel
Oregonian newspaper, 11/18/12  Front page: Israel escalates assault on Hamas, Gaza Strip, page A12 whole page-Opposing narratives bound for collision by AP Dan Perry and Josef Federman, Hamas rockets are new element in fight by NY Times News service-Ethan Bronner,  Israel's Iron Dome missile defense by AP, picture by Hatem Moussa/AP and another picture by McClatchy-Tribune.  They made a few errors here and there, but not bad.  My problem with these reporters is that they jump into the news without an opening sentence to explain, such as headline Israel escalates assault.....It sounds like Israel is the aggressor from that which is not true.  Israel is defending its people.  How about-Israel Defends by hitting back strongly or something like that.  It's like what happened with the report Susan Rice read which had eliminated the word terrorists and replaced it with some other milk toast word.

Gaza-The Frontline Iranian Outpost Ending

Nadene Goldfoot
 Israel has stated, " "No country can accept terror attacks on its cities and citizens."  Israel has taken hits since 2001 without any ending from Gazan terrorists.  This is how they have been repaid by pulling out of Gaza, not occupying it, and hoping for peace between the Jews and Arabs.  But the people of Gaza chose Hamas, a terrorist organization to be their government who  have also pulled Fatah into their terrorist practices.    Gaza has become the duped terrorist center for Iran, a stage for rocket launchers.  

The IDF's Operation Cloud Pillow has started with hitting a terrorist's activities of the past 10 years , Hamas's head man in an air strike after 5 days of extreme violence on the citizens of southern Israel.  After being hit with over 140 rockets, missiles, and mortars, as well as pleas to the UN, Israel has taken further steps in halting the bombardment.  The new government of Egypt was trying to broker a truce but didn't seem to get anywhere.  After 12 years of being hit, Israel is getting  very tired of it. It has just been getting worse. Israel, a teeny state only 8,000 sq miles big with a population of less than 8 million is in danger all the time. From Beer Sheva in the south to the Gaza fence is only 12 miles.  No one can imagine the miniscule size of this state.  

The head man that was targeted was Ahmed Al-Jabari, head of the Izzal-Din Al-Qassam Brigades and his son who were spotted in their car and hit.  6 terrorists in all died.  Ismail al-Ashkar, spokesman threatened more attacks on Israel now such as suicide attacks and more hits on major cities.

The IDF attack hit 20 rocket-launching pads of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad groups.  They destroyed long range rockets such as Fajr-5 missiles which have a range of 24.85 miles. They need to impair the command leadership of Hamas and these other groups and let them realize that if they continue their shelling on Israel they will be stopped.

Gazan terrorists were able to launch 2 rockets towards Portland's sister city, Ashkelon, where a major hospital is that takes care of everyone, Arabs and Jews.

On December 27, 2008 Israel tried to stop Gaza from the 8 year bombardment of missile, rockets and mortars they were suffering from with Operation Cast Lead.  Evidently that wasn't a deterrent.  and caused Israel a lot of false notoriety about their actions.  It's obvious others cannot understand what it's like to live in an area that rains rockets, not rain, and to live through it most likely gives everyone PTSD if they are lucky enough to not be hit after hearing a siren giving 15 seconds to run for a bomb shelter.  Israel had figured that 8 years was more than enough of turning the other cheek and trying to deal with people intent on killing you.  Like we say on Passover; Enough !

Resource:http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Hamas+war+against+Israel/Israel_under_fire-November_2012.htm
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4305343,00.html
 https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/myths3/MFcastlead.html
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_War
update article: http://frontpagemag.com/2012/davidhornik/israel-mulls-response-as-rockets-hit/?utm_source=FrontPage+Magazine&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=deec789f32-Mailchimp_FrontPageMag:

Only in Israel: Enemy in Hospital

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                     

Hamas's Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh has a sister.  Her husband had a heart problem about 4 months ago which the hospital in Gaza could not handle.  He was then taken to a hospital in Israel, Beilinson  Hospital in Petah Tikva,  for treatment.

 Now Hamas tries daily to kill Israelis by bombing southern Israel with rockets, missiles and mortars.  Hamas refuses to recognize Israel's right to exist.  They do everything in their power to drive Israelis into the sea.  Did Israel turn this man away?  Certainly not.  He was treated for a week and his heart stabilized.

Only in Israel could this possibly happen.  Yet it does happen all the time.  The hospital in Ashkelon, The Barzilai Medical Center,  takes in all people including the injured from Gaza as well.  Yet Hamas and its other like groups keep plugging away shooting at this very city as well as all the others in southern Israel.  It's so bad that the hospital has had to open up more of their basement areas in order to treat patients safely.

Resource: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4265787,00.html

Rumbles, Terrorist Activities in Gaza and Samaria

Nadene Goldfoot
Gaza is not "Occupied" by Israel, but is under the authority of Hamas, a terror organization which the people voted for.  Gaza is right next door to Israel, like across the street.  Since Israel pulled out, lock, stock and barrel, they've been the targets of an ongoing raining of missiles, mortars and rockets.  It was done as a good will gesture towards peace but instead got war in return.  This happened in August 2005 causing Jews to be resettled that were ousted from Gaza and 4 towns in northern West Bank (Judea and Samaria).

The IAF struck back at 3 factories who were making weapons in the central part of Gaza on Saturday night and hit 2 terror tunnels as well, one in northern Gaza and one in the south.  This came as a response to the killing of a 21 year old IDF soldier when terrorists tried to infiltrate the western Negev from Gaza early Friday morning in the fog.

The terrorists had been advised some time ago that Israel is no longer just sitting on their haunches while they are being used as target practice.  If their Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers are harmed in these terrorist acts, Israel will respond.  Israel tries to take out the sources of the problems and not the people in the area like the rockets, missiles and mortars can do when they fall everywhere into Israel.

 A separation barrier was built in 1994 by Israel between the two places to protect its citizens,  but it doesn't stop the lobbing of this shelling.  Gaza is only 13 miles away from the large city of Ashkelon, Portland's sister city and cite of  the big hospital, "The Barzilai Medical Center which services all people, Palestinians and Israelis.  Sitting right on the border just about is the town of Sderot  "which has been in the line of all the fire which has been under constant attack, shock and confusion, suffering daily fears and a regular routine of silent threat."

And then we have UNESCO's slant on things.  "At the three days of meetings in Paris, which began Wednesday, speakers charged Israel with “systematic terrorism,” “throttling the people” of Gaza, pursuing “criminal” policies and a “policy of racist violence.”  When will they ever  look into the causes of Israel's "throttlings?"  


Now that Abbas has teemed up with Hamas, there are more attacks on Jews coming from Judea and Samaria, who also are not "Occupied" by Israel.  The PA are the authority in their area, of which Abbas is responsible.  Israel's military looks out for the Jewish villages, towns and cities also located there.

 One such attack just came in Shomron, Samaria in the town of Yitzhar which is south of Nablus.  This is an Orthodox Jewish community of about 895 people.  Yitzhar lies in area C of the West Bank which is under Israel''s civil and security control.  They often have clashes with Israel's security force and the local Palestinians.

Two incidents happened with one attack prevented by the Israeli security team..  The proposed demolition of the Ulpana neighborhood in Beit El is thought to induce more violence. Some homes in this Beit El  have been deemed to be illegal according to Israel's Supreme Court and were ordered to be demolished, but has now been given a 60 day extension.  However, the Supreme Court has ruled that Israeli law does not apply in Judea and Samaria, which has never been annexed and remains under military rule.

 Two weeks ago some young people of Yitzhar fought with nearby PA Arabs.  When the army reached the scene one of the security force members wounded a Palestinian in retaliation to a threat from him.  Arson was one cause from either the residents or the Arabs.  Incitement is also a big cause for arrests.

It is the Palestinian goal of ousting all Jews from Judea and Samaria and East Jerusalem and make it their state, which will be Judenrein, free of Jews.  On the other hand, Israel is made up of 1.4 million Arabs and is a democracy.  The fear is that this is only step one in ousting Jews out of Israel period, as they have threatened to do.

Resource: Arutz sheva news@israelnationalneews.com:  IAF Strikes Terror Targets in Gaza by Elad Benari
PA Arabs Attack, Israelis' Weapons confiscated by Maayana Miskin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel%27s_unilateral_disengagement_plan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yitzhar
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/155691 Beit El
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=_Q5--mNIZhU&hd=1 Israel's first Cantor of the IDF, a Lt. Col of the Paratroopers sings "Avinu" with Philharmic Orchestra. It's the prayer for the state of Israel.   Not a lot of connection with above essay except to say our soldiers are also abiding by Jewish ethics while doing their job of defending their people from onslaught.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/156500#.T8035rDL5GY

Escalation of Missile Attacks in Israel: Cease Fire Up in Air: ASHKELON'S HOSPITAL AFFECTED

Nadene Goldfoot
Hamas says a ceasefire will come soon, but the perpetrators think not.  Even the terrorists don't agree with each other!  So far, they have shot about 200 missiles into Israel but it is they who have lost the most by doing so.  18 terrorists were killed as well as 5 civilians so far.  On Monday 3 of the civilians were killed and 2 terrorists.  Israel's civilians have been injured, and over a million Israelis have been affected whose lives have come to a standstill in bomb shelters. 

In the meantime, Ashkelon's Barzali Hospital is moving children and mothers to bomb shelters.  Ashkelon is Portland's sister city.  They are sending home many patients as possible.  Otherwise, I've heard that they also have patient quarters in their basement.  The missile bombardment is moving from the south that has been pummeled to the north.  Ashkelon is close to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Beer-Sheba along the coastal road.  It links Egypt and Syria.  It's one of the oldest cities in the world dating back 4,000 years.  In their park one can see Greek and Roman ruins and remains of ancient synagogues.  It has a population of 120,000.

Gedara, south of Tel Aviv suffered from the attack on Monday.  There is a scarcity of Iron Dome systems to protect all of southern Israel.  Missile damage was sustained by several parked cars.  The IDF hit a terrorist cell by the afternoon in Gaza and terrorists report that a father and daughter were killed, but this has not been confirmed yet by the IDF.  This is one of the problems the IDF have of their ability to pinpoint a hit.  The terrorists purposely hide out among civilians so they can turn things around and blame Israel.  Every possible steps are taken by the IDF to not let this happen, but sometimes it does.

Hamas, who are not the killers this time but are in charge, wants Israel to promise to stop attacking "ticking bomb" terrorists who prepare rocket attacks on Israel.  This is ridiculous by any type of reasoning.  Instead of stopping these killers, they put the onus on the targets.  Israel had already warned that they "will carry out pre-empitve measures to protect" Israel.  The PA, from Ramallah, said it will ask the UN to condemn counter terrorist actions, and call this "terror."  Whatever do they call the feelings Israelis have of this Russian-type of roulette?    In other words, the Arabs want the Israelis to stand still so they can be hit and don't fight back.  Whoever heard of such a slaughter  except when hunters out shooting ducks.

East of Ashdod and only 10 miles from Israel 's major airport is Kiryat Malachi, whose warning sirens were shrieking. 
At the same time on Monday, which is the 4th day of Israel retaliating to the incessant bombing they have endured, the QUARTET,  USA, Russia, EU and UN met to talk about how to bring about a ceasefire.  The missiles have not let up. 

Resource: http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=261539
Arutz Sheva News news@israelnationalnews.com Hospital moves infants to bomb shelter by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
http://news.yahoo.com/5-die-strikes-gaza-militants-barrage-israel-134334846.html
http://news.yahoo.com/quartet-meets-israeli-palestinian-clashes-intensify-132206549.html

Update: Portland-Ashkelon Sister City Ass. from Tamar

Subject: Ashkelon under fire. Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 23:08:01 +0000 from Tamar Boussi in Israel

GENERAL
Ashkelon under fireBy Marty Davis January 07, 2009
As the sirens go off and we wait in our shelter to hear the boom of the missiles, we wonder when this will end. For the past eight years there has been constant bombardment of Sderot and the surrounding settlements. This is not about political issues; it is about civilians under extended fire.

In Ashkelon, 122,000 residents have been under fire with little protection. Most homes do not have shelters as they were built in the 1950s and 1960s. The neighborhood shelters are underground and impossible to reach in 30 seconds. Today alone, we have suffered 14 rocket attacks with accompanying physical, psychological and personal damage. The resolve of our people to stand strong against this onslaught is a direct desire to end a situation where we have to live in fear. Our children are climbing the walls as they cannot leave their homes. There is no school, and no shopping centers are open. These children are terrorized to the point where even at the ages of six and seven they are wetting their beds. They demand that the light stay on all night, and even then tell of their nightmares the next morning - all this on a daily basis. Our children will need psychological help to overcome their fears of loud noises and sirens.

"I'm not running anymore." Our elderly are unable to reach their shelters, even if they have one. They suffer from the ongoing missiles and cannot leave their homes to buy food, get their medicine, or see their doctors. A good friend, who survived five death camps during the holocaust, TB resulting in the loss of a lung, a quadruple bypass, and cancer, sits in his chair and waits for the sirens. He is not moving as it is too difficult. His answer is: "I'm not running anymore". The Municipality and the Home Front are doing a great job as far as immediate response to every emergency; however, we are ill prepared in terms of safe rooms and public buildings with secure rooms.

A number of years ago I was involved in building programs and projects on Israel's northern border (known as the confrontation line). I would watch katyusha rockets hitting the road in front and behind my car. I was fulfilling a Zionist ideological imperative by assisting those in need. Who would have thought that today I would be living in the "new" confrontation line in the south? The real desire is that this current war comes to an end that provides a strong beginning.

We pray for a true peace that can allow us to reach our potential as a people that are involved in developing new medicines, new science and technology. A country that can assist our neighbors in developing their potential as true partners. Can this dream ever become a reality? Herzl said: "If you will it, it need not be a dream". I think we can sum it up in one word, "tikva" - hope.


© 2001-2008 ISRAEL21c.org. All rights reserved.
Resource: Tamar Boussi, President Portland-Ashkelon Sister City Ass.

Ashkelon-Update

90 rockets and mortars, the 122 millimeter grads, have landed in Ashkelon since the start of Operation Lead. 6 had hit Ashkelon just before the start. by Wednesday evening, 4 had hit Ashkelon. One of them had hit a three story building causing a lady to have an asthma attack and be taken to Barzelai Hospital. A soldier in one of the hospital beds said he had been hit by sniper fire, and his hand was bandaged. We haven't heard about that possiblity happening.

Ashkelon's mayor voiced that the Operation Lead must go on and achieve its goals of stopping the artillary from hitting Israel. He feels that Hamas is in shock. (To get away with such shelling for 8 years and now feel the retaliation would come as a shock, I imagine.)


http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1231167303762&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Missiles and Mortars Reach Ashkelon Area

Ashkelon, Portland's Sister City Today
Ashkelon, Portland, Oregon's sister city, home to 120,000 Israelis, has also been hit with missiles and mortars from the Gazan terrorists during the past six months of "cease-fire" that never really ceased.

The IDF told the citizens there to stay out of the open as the terrorists are continuing their barrage on Israel. Rockets continued to land near Ashkelon thoughout the day, with a 15 second warning siren preceeding them. One lady that was spotted was totally in shock, hovering in a corner outside and refusing help.

Ashkelon contains Barzelai Hospital, a big one that serves both Israelis and Palestinians when they feel the need. It has had to move their most essential sections underground to be protected from the missile bombardment. Though the Gaza Strip contains nine hospitals, many near the border have crossed over to use Barzeli.

See my blog on Israel for updates: http://israel-nadene.blogspot.com

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081228/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_palestinians_103

Ashkelon's Desalination Plant

One of Portland's sister cities is Ashkelon, Israel. It happens to be the home of the world's largest desalination plant. In March of 2006 it was voted "Desalination Plant of the Year" in the Global Water Awards.

In October of 2006, which was a little more than a year after it started its first productions, it delivered its first 100 million m3 of water. It produces arund 13% of Israel's domestic consumer demand. It does this at a very low price for desalinated water.

Most all countries in the Middle East have chronic problems of having water resources. The Desalination Master Plan set out in 2000 to address these problems. By 2020, they hope to raise production to 750 million m3. Here, water is more precious than oil.

Resource: http://www.water-technology.net/projects/israel/

Ashkelon Devastation From Rocket Attacks

On May 10th, Jimmy Kedoshim, 48, was killed in Kfar Aza when a mortar landed in his front lawn when he was gardening.

Then on May 12th a 70 year old woman was killed by a Qassam rocket by Hamas. It hit the house of a family member at Moshav Yesha, 9.3 miles east of Gaza. It was the 2nd civilian death by rockets since Saturday, May 10th.
The attack was from Hamas and their affiliated Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization backed by Iran.

On this same day, two rockets landed in Ashkelon. Again yesterday, a rocket hit the mall and injured 14 people.

In the photo we see the doctors at Barzelai Hospital in Ashkelon treating Osher Twito from a Qassam rocket attack. His left leg had to be amputated later.

There have been more than 1,950 rockets and mortar shelled fired from Gaza at Israeli civilians. During the last four years, 15 people have been killed by rockets and mortars and more than 450 have been injured. Besides physical injury, thousands of people suffer from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) within range of the rockets. This has been keeping Barzelai Hospital in Ashkelon very busy.

Reference: The Israel Project

Ashkelon, Our Sister City, Hit by Rockets, MALL HIT

Ashkelon's mall was just hit with 14-15 injured who were taken to Barzelai Hospital. This happened while Bush is in Israel for its 60th birthday. Both Bush and Condoleeza Rice were having meetings in Jerusalem when it happened. Rice was invited to Ashkelon to see the damage, but I don't think she'll take the offer. There had been so many false alarms of incoming rockets that the city of 100,000, which is only 9 miles from the Gaza border, had turned the alarm off. The people had no warning.

I've a feeling that this will cause the IDF to move now. This was uncalled for and intolerable, as all the rocket attacks have been. Below is the address of the doctor at Barzelai Hospital speaking about the patients in an interview.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56rgfAajU8I

Ashkelon, Our Sister City's Barzalai Hospital

"Ashkelon’s Barzilai Medical Center even tends to those wounded in inter-factional fighting in the Gaza Strip. “Everyone receives the same treatment in the same wards, regardless of ethnic origin or nationality,” said Dr. Ron Lobel, the hospital's medical director. “We deliver the service equally, whether [patients] come from Gaza or … Sderot.“ "

I am so proud of Israel. When we have the enemy come to us when injured, we take them into our hospitals. All life is important. That's why it hurts us when innocent civilians are used as shields in attacks. It's not our goal in life to take theirs.

Someday the Palestinian people will recognize that we are neighbors to have and not to have not.

Resource: The Israel Project

Portland-Ashkelon Sister City Association Event for Israel's Birthday

Today we celebrated Israel's birthday, Yom Hatzmaut, by having a table at Neveh Shalom in the Bazaar when Sunday School was over. Diane, an architect, created a huppa that was behind us with represented waves of the sea at Ashkelon hanging from above. We were visited by a young man who had been an IDF soldier and had lived in Ashkelon. His son was born there. They had a birthing problem, and found out that Barzelai Hospital was as good as any in Israel, which relieved him greatly. Tamar had several power point presentations going on about Ashkelon on her computer. The best part was the catered food which was a fallafel plate with pita, humous and salads. Hmmm, it was delicious. It made me feel like I was back in Israel. Great Israeli music played throughout the room. That and good friends that stopped by to chat and read about Ashkelon made the day.

Portland-Ashkelon Sister City Association Event

On April 2, 2008, the Portland-Ashkelon Sister City Association held three events. Lea Malul, Public Affairs Director for the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon, Israel spoke at all three events. At a breakfast meeting held at Temple Beth Israel at 8:30am, Lea told her audience that the hospital takes care of all the people from Ashkelon to Sderot and the surrounding areas besides Gaza residents. They are only 7 1/2 miles from the Gaza border. In the hospital, politics are left out. Barzilai had even helped to build a hospital in Gaza that Hamas terrorists have taken over. They get a lot of Fatah members at the hospital, and sometimes Hamas terrorists make it to their hospital for medical help. The hospital has a system of taking pictures of patients and having their information in all the hospitals so that relatives can find out what has happened to them and where they are located. The area's residents include the Ethiopian Jews who settled in the 1980's. Also in the area is the facility that distills water and a power station that serves not only Ashkelon and Gaza but 1/3 of Israel's electricity. There is also a nearby army base. On 9/11/07, the base was hit and 67 soldiers were injured by a Kassam rocket. These Kassam rockets, of which about 5,000 have fallen in the area around Sderot, consist only of a stolen pipe from Israel and fertilizer, but can kill and maim. Now Russian missiles are fired into Israel from Iran that the terrorists bring in through Egypt.The hospital staff seems to never be able to leave their station. The ER is made of from 80 to 100. When the alarm is sounded, all have only 15 seconds to run for cover. Even pets are allowed in bomb shelters nowdays. Their cafeteria becomes the ER area. All staff members must be on duty in these emergencies. A rocket recently fell 150 meters from the ER. The noise of falling rockets cause people to faint. They had to evacuate the hospital. For seven years people have been living under this stress. PTSD is the largest problem of the patients. It has the longest lasting effects. People become chronically ill. Security includes a wire fence around the hospital. A helipad is next to the parking lot. Detectors check everyone, even police cars and ambulances. No matter who you are, you must be checked.Lea said, "We don't believe in miracles. we depend on them!" They are planning the building underground of a larger much needed hospital and need donations for any aspect of the medical field.

Barzilai is a center where people all over the world come to gather medical information. One of their biggest discoveries is in the field of opiate dependency. Hopefully people will donate towards their cause.
Lea also spoke at a noon meeting of the association at City Hall. In the evening she spoke in SE Portland.

Hitting Ashkelon Has No Bad Effect on Peace Process, Says Abbas

Wednesday's violence started when Israel finally had an airstrike in Southern Gaza after being bombarded by rockets into Sderot and now hitting Ashkelon. They killed 5 of the Qassam Brigade terrorists. The terrorists were seen carrying out a special operation against Israel. Militants responded by "firing barrages of rockets at Sderot" and killed an Israeli civilian. By Thursday they shot Katyusha-style rockets into Ashkelon which lies 10 miles north of the Gaza Strip. with 120,000 people.

The Ashkelon Marina was hit by a rocket on Saturday afternoon, wounding two residents. Outdoor cafes and bars were empty at lunchtime on Sunday, even though the weather was fine.

A long-range rocket hit outside the apartment house of Meram Levy, mother of two small children. This caused all the windows to shatter. Her husband and she sleep in shifts to listen to their new public address system alert.

Sunday afternoon, terrorists fired two more rockets into Ashkelon. One damaged a house. 16 people were in shock after this happened. One rocket landed near a kindergarten. 12 katusha rockets hit Western Negev.

Two shorter-range Qassam rockets, made in Gaza, fell inside Israel. Also hit was Netivot, a desert town in Israel.

Monday Condoleezza Rice visits Egypt. Abbas, head of Fatah which is located in the "West Bank" , complained that our IDF forces were destroying the peace process. We pulled out of Northern Gaza early Monday after a two-day operation against the squads firing rockets into Israel. Of course, the terrorists firing rockets were perfectly all right, he thinks. That is not destroying the peace.

Now that Israel knows that they can hit Ashkelon, they must strike back to protect their citizens. The IDF was trying to hit places where rockets were stored, and unfortunately, the terrorists store them in or near civilian homes. They also aimed at manufacturing facilities, a command center, and armed men. Israel must defend itself in a situation like this.

When Israel pulled out, Gazans had a victory rally of 20,000 people and fired more rockets into Israel. Among the Hamas terrorists are a wing called the Qassam Brigades, and Islamic Jihad and Popular Resistance Committees. They cheered, but all suffered casualties. Abbas of Fatah said that contacts with Israel had been temporarily suspended. He feels we are the aggressors. Evidently to him, firing rockets into Israel is not being aggressive. Abu Obeida, Qassam Brigade spokesman said they would continue firing rockets. In fact, if the terrorists and Israel have a truce, Zahar, spokesman for Hamas, said they would continue to train and make weapons. This is what Olmert fears. A truce would only give the terrorists time to prepare their fight against Israel.

Hamas may ask for a multinational force to protect the West Bank and the Gaza Strip from Israel. I wonder if it would work the other way, also, and be able to stop the terrorists from shooting rockets into Israel.

Reference: The New York Times
Jerusalem Post Newspaper
Yahoo News reported by Ibrahim Barzak, Ass. Press writer

Portland's Sister City Ashkelon Hit For Third Time Overnight

Ashkelon and Sderot were hit with 21 missiles overnight. The rockets came in two waves for the third day in a row. five people were injured when two crashed into a house. Dozens of shock victims were treated. Eleven Qassam missiles exploded at Sderot early Saturday.

Ashdod, 27 km from Gaza and north of Ashkelon, is preparing its defenses now. They have 12 alert systems ready. Ashkelon had none. Ashdod is a port.

Olmert returned from Japan with his meeting with Condoleeza Rice and was presented with the facts that the IDF was prepared to target the Hamas rulers, and had gone after them with troops backed by tanks. Five Israeli soldiers were injured; two very seriously. Olmert is more of a peacenik than Obama, but realizes that Israeli cities cannot sit back and be attacked. They want to get Hamas and other terrorist groups involved out of northern Gaza where the missiles are coming from. Then Israel can avoid occupying Gaza again.

The terrorists know what their actions are causing, so they in turn have taken steps. They've taken over civilian homes as headquarters and have stocked them with ammo, water and food for three weeks of war. They are not using cell phones. Instead they are using children as runners with messages. Thousands of missiles and rockets are stored in homes and schools and refugee camps. This is the reason there have been casualties on their side. Evidently their leaders think they are dispensible.

Reference: Debka file: geraldrobins.

Ashkelon, Our Sister City, Hit by Rockets

Today Ashkelon, our sister city in Israel, was hit by long range Iranian -made Grad rockets from Gaza terrorists that they smuggled in through Egypt.

Ashkelon is only 11 miles north of Gaza. One of several hit an apartment building and one landed near a school and injured a 17-year-old girl.

I lived in Ontario, Oregon for at least 12 years. I know that it was only 12 miles to Vale, Oregon. That seemed so close. To think that rockets could be fired from there to Ontario and injure and kill people is shocking. Now I live in Gresham, and it's at least 12 miles to my son's home in Portland. That's how close the terrorists are to our sister city in Israel.

In the past, more than 24 rockets have hit the Ashkelon area and did not find a target. The latest round of rockets was the most intense so far, and the building hit was the first. Two days ago, a rocket exploded in the parking lot of Ashkelon's Barzilai Hospital.

Since the terrorists now have longer range missiles, they have new targets. Sderot, a town with 20,000 residents has been hit the most. They lie just 1 mile from Gaza. On Wednesday an Israeli father of 4 was killed that hit the Sderot community college.

Ashkelon is a city of 110,000 residents. The rockets fired at it have the range of about 14 miles. Hamas is also upgrading its Qassams which they mass produce in Gaza, and they will have the range of 12 miles, though their range now is 10 miles so they fall just outside of Ashkelon at this time. Its residents want a warning system like Sderot has. They have no protection. The hospital also needs fortifications for the emergency room, maternity ward and surgery departments. They had better get protection quickly as Israel is not planning any ground offensive right now.

The Israeli army finally struck back on Thursday from Midnight into the afternoon in an effort to cease their firings. They are targeting rocket squads. The problem is that these squads are situated in populated areas on purpose. Israel's defense minister said that he would not be afraid to reoccupy Gaza if necessary in order to stop the attacks. Ehud Barak said Israel has not wanted to go into Gaza again but that an offensive is an option.

Condoleeza Rice met with Olmert in Tokyo. She urged calm on all sides. She's worried about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. I wish she'd talk to Hamas terrorist officials about that. It's they that bring on the situation in Gaza. There's not much that Israel can do until the terrorists stop firing rockets at us. Olmert may be calm in Tokyo, but I don't think anybody else is, especially those within range of the firings; Ashkelon.

Reference: USA Today

Portland's Sister City Ashkelon hit by Rocket

A rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, believed to be a Soviet-stype "Grad", landed near a hotel on the beach of Ashkelon, our sister city on Thursday morning. Claiming responsibility first was the Popular Front, then the Jihad's al-Quds Brigades and Salah a-Din Brigades, two other Islamic terrorist groups.
This is the third time that Ashkelon has been hit by a rocket from Gaza. Two other rockets landed in fields south of Ashkelon and on the outskirts of Sderot. A school and the town's port were hit in earlier attacks on Ashkelon.
The mayor Roni Mehatzri said this is an escalation against Israel.
Also, Sderot was hit by two Qassam rockets on Thursday. In all, 10 rockets were fired into Israel from the Gaza Strip on this one day.

Israel retaliated for the rockets by targeting buildings used by Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip. Israel stated that rocket fired at Ashkelon was the longest-range rocket ever fired from Gaza. Israel sent searchers into Gaza looking for terrorists responsible for the cross-border rocket salvos. Palestinian terrorists were shooting at Israeli soldiers from civilian areas. The result was that Israel killed nine Palestinians. More than 30 were wounded. Three of the dead were civilians.
References: JTA the Global News Service of the Jewish People 1/3/08
ynet news.com (Khadeshote News)