Mayors have battery-powered sirens at the ready, emergency workers have satellite phones, and old-fashioned transistor radios can be a lifeline of information when people need to run for shelter.
Faced with the heightened risk of attack from Iran or its regional proxies, Israel is diversifying and strengthening its energy supply. Maintaining a steady supply of electricity is particularly important for the economy, which is so dependent on technology that the country has been nicknamed the “Start-Up Nation.”
While there are few signs of panic (the country endured a barrage of missiles and drones from Iran in April and has faced regular attacks from its allies to the north and south for months), authorities are preparing for the worst, including stockpiling alternative fuels for power plants in case regular supplies are disrupted.
“We bought an infinite amount,” said Tamar Fekler, vice president of operations, logistics and security at the Israel Electric Corporation, the country’s largest electricity supplier.
Since the surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7 by Hamas, the Iran-backed militant group designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., the IEC has built defenses at its power plants, Fekler said.
Offshore gas platforms are at risk of attack from Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia that is also backed by Iran and considered a terrorist group by the U.S. In the event of an all-out war in the north, Israel would decide on a case-by-case basis whether to close the platforms, making a complete shutdown unlikely anytime soon, an Israeli official familiar with the matter said.
Even a brief power outage can make it difficult to keep the Israeli public informed about events. That prompted authorities to install backup diesel generators or lithium batteries on more than half of the cell phone towers in northern Israel, including in the port city of Haifa. In the commercial capital Tel Aviv, dozens of towers are connected to generators from nearby businesses or municipal facilities.
Authorities say extra caution is warranted as tensions with Iran and its allies rise. A deadly attack on a Gaza school on Saturday, which Israel says was home to a Hamas command center, drew international criticism for the casualties it caused.
Hours later, Iran reiterated its pledge to avenge the recent killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. The Islamic Republic’s acting Foreign Minister, Ali Bagheri Kani, said early Sunday that the response to Israel would be “legitimate and determined.” Israel neither admitted nor denied responsibility for Haniyeh’s killing.
Hezbollah has also vowed revenge for Israel’s killing of a senior militant group commander last month. It is believed to possess some 150,000 drones and missiles, including long-range weapons.
While Iran and Hezbollah have given no indication of their possible targets in a direct strike, Israel’s defensive focus is on critical infrastructure and communications.
“Mobile telephony is crucial in emergency situations,” said Inbal Mashash, director general of the Ministry of Communications. The authority is trying to extend mobile operations for up to 24 hours after a power outage, up from the normal two hours, she said.
As a backup, ministers, city officials and emergency coordinators have been provided with satellite phones. SpaceX’s Starlink will also soon be available to provide internet connectivity in municipalities, Mashash said.
So far in the 10-month war, Israelis have spent only a few minutes in fortified areas or public shelters, with the country’s air defenses shooting down most of the rockets fired from Gaza or Lebanon.
In the event of a heavy and sustained attack from Iran or its allies, these defenses may need to focus on protecting strategic facilities, making civilians increasingly dependent on shelters with thick walls that can block normal mobile signals.
Some municipalities have made wireless connections available in shelters, Mashash said. Her ministry has also started using AM radio channels, which are more effective in shelters, and has distributed transistor radios.
First publication: Aug 11, 2024 | 10:53 PM IST