Ashkelon School Damaged in Grad Attack

by Yaakov Lappin
Jerusalem Post
February 27, 2009

http://www.jewishpolicycenter.org/801/ashkelon-school-damaged-in-grad-attack

No one was wounded in the attack, as the school was closed, though a number of residents were treated for shock. Another Grad rocket landed in an open area just outside the city.

Ashkelon residents reported hearing an air raid siren at 8:43 am, before a rocket tore through the school, destroying classrooms and spraying pieces of shrapnel in all directions.

Following the rocket fire, the Ashkelon Municipality reactivated its emergency command and control center, situated in a bomb shelter adjacent to city hall, where situation analysis meetings have been scheduled for Saturday.

The center had served as a hub for coordinating emergency responses to the large numbers of rockets fired at the city during Operation Cast Lead.

"In light of the situation, we can say with certainty that the school struck by a rocket will not be open tomorrow. We will have to find an alternative solution for students. The remainder of the schools will open on Sunday," Deputy Mayor Shlomo Cohen said.

Cohen added that the municipality "shared the concerns of parents in light of the deterioration of the situation, but we must remember that carrying on in a routine manner means bolstering the education system and the whole of the city of Ashkelon."

A tour of the school by Ashkelon Municipality safety officials found that shrapnel damage had reached parts of the building which had been designated as safe zones by the Home Front Command.

The municipality has been waiting for two weeks for the Ministry of Defense to approve rocket reinforcement construction plans drawn up to protect schools in the city, Cohen said, adding that the school struck in Saturday's attack was on the list of school waiting for protection.

"Ashkelon Municipality has demanded that the school be equipped with inexpensive basic rocket protection reinforcement. The reinforcement plans have been approved by the municipality and the Home Front Command. They have been sitting on the desks of Defense Ministry officials for two weeks, waiting for approval," Cohen said.

Also Saturday, a Kassam rocket struck an open area in the Eshkol region, causing no casualties or damage.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility by Palestinians.

On Friday, Gazans fired a Kassam that hit an open area in the Sdot Negev region. No one was wounded and no damage was caused by the rocket launched from northern Gaza.

On Thursday, a number of Sderot residents were treated for shock when tragedy was narrowly averted when a rocket landed close to two houses.

In response to that attack, IAF aircraft hit smuggling tunnels in the southern Gaza Strip. Palestinian sources were quoted by Israel Radio as saying that there were no casualties in the attack, during which at least three missiles were fired.

Rockets also hit the Eshkol and Sha'ar Hanegev regions Thursday, causing no casualties or damage.

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