ARMY OFFICER BRIEFING MEMBERS OF THE PRESS; CIVILIANS LISTEN TO REPORTS ON PORTABLE RADIOS; STREETS DESERTED AFTER ALARM; VARIOUS SHOTS PEOPLE RUNNING TO, AND IN SHELTERS.




Initials JHG/VS/BHH/LGH



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Background: AIR RAIDS SIRENS SOUNDED THROUGH TEL AVIV THREE TIMES ON MONDAY, FOLLOWING REPORTS THAT EGYPTIAN AIRCRAFT WERE FLYING TOWARDS THE CITY. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THE SIRENS HAD BEEN HEARD IN TEL AVIV SINCE THE SINAI CAMPAIGN 11 YEARS AGO.

TEL AVIV WAS IN A STATE OF UNBROKEN TENSION FOR MOST OF MONDAY, WITH ATTACKS ON THE CITY EXPECTED AT ANY MOMENT. WHILE MILITARY OFFICERS KEPT MEMBERS OF THE PRESS INFORMED, THE CIVILIAN POPULATION HEARD LATEST DEVELOPMENTS ON PORTABLE RADIOS.

CIVIL DEFENCE EXERCISES PRIOR TO THE FULL-SCALE WAR HAD PREPARED MOST PEOPLE FOR THE AIR RAID ROUTINE. THE PRE-ARRANGED SHELTERS WERE CROWDED WITH PEDESTRIANS DURING THE STATE OF EMERGENCY.

ALTHOUGH SIRENS WAILED THREE TIMES, THERE WAS NO AIR ATTACK FOLLOW. THE ISRAELIS GRADUALLY LEFT THE SHELTERS AND WENT BACK TO WAITING FOR THE NEXT ALARM.