Crisis communication saved lives in Israel.

Gilead Shenhar

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2014.00222

Abstract

Crisis communication saved lives in Israel.

Highlights

Israel launched “Operation Protective Edge” [1, 2] against Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other terrorist groups in Gaza during August–September 2014 to restore safety and security to its citizens; the operation had the limited objective of ending the continuous rocket and mortars firings and to destroy the tunnels that were dug under Israeli sovereign territory for the purpose of terror killing and kidnapping
Israel has developed a twolayered defensive strategy to address this ongoing situation: first, an active-defense system with the “Iron Dome” designed to intercept and destroy rockets that set to land in populated areas; second, a passivedefense system based on air alerts sirens, Urban Search And Rescue teams, medical system including hospitals, Emergency Medical Service, influencing and directing public behavior through crisis communication
While many people were aware that “Iron Dome” intercepted most of the incoming rockets that would have caused many Israeli casualties, few may be aware of the second strategy that has spawned a sophisticated civil defense culture

Summary

Introduction

Israel launched “Operation Protective Edge” [1, 2] against Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other terrorist groups in Gaza during August–September 2014 to restore safety and security to its citizens; the operation had the limited objective of ending the continuous rocket and mortars firings and to destroy the tunnels that were dug under Israeli sovereign territory for the purpose of terror killing and kidnapping. Israel has developed a twolayered defensive strategy to address this ongoing situation: first, an active-defense system with the “Iron Dome” designed to intercept and destroy rockets that set to land in populated areas; second, a passivedefense system based on air alerts sirens, Urban Search And Rescue teams, medical system including hospitals, Emergency Medical Service, influencing and directing public behavior through crisis communication. While many people were aware that “Iron Dome” intercepted most of the incoming rockets that would have caused many Israeli casualties, few may be aware of the second strategy that has spawned a sophisticated civil defense culture.

Results

Conclusion