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Quiet Arrival of Sabbath in Jerusalem Is Disturbed by Wailing of Wartime Siren Quiet Arrival of Sabbath in Jerusalem Is Disturbed by Wailing of Wartime Siren
(about 2 hours later)
JERUSALEM — When dusk descends on Jerusalem on a Friday, it usually brings a moment of rare harmony and almost magical tranquillity. A steady siren announces the onset of the Jewish Sabbath just hours after Muslims wind up the special Friday noon prayer at Al Aksa Mosque in the Old City.JERUSALEM — When dusk descends on Jerusalem on a Friday, it usually brings a moment of rare harmony and almost magical tranquillity. A steady siren announces the onset of the Jewish Sabbath just hours after Muslims wind up the special Friday noon prayer at Al Aksa Mosque in the Old City.
So this Friday, when a rising-and-falling wartime siren wailed out at twilight, followed by at least two dull thuds, many did not immediately grasp what was happening.So this Friday, when a rising-and-falling wartime siren wailed out at twilight, followed by at least two dull thuds, many did not immediately grasp what was happening.
In the 48 hours since Israel began its military operation in Gaza, militants’ rocket attacks have extended farther and farther north, starting in southern Israel and advancing to Kiryat Malachi, then to Rishon Lezion and off the shore of Tel Aviv.In the 48 hours since Israel began its military operation in Gaza, militants’ rocket attacks have extended farther and farther north, starting in southern Israel and advancing to Kiryat Malachi, then to Rishon Lezion and off the shore of Tel Aviv.
Throughout it all, residents of this disputed capital said they had felt largely immune from the battle by virtue of the city’s religious sites and its huge Palestinian population. Until they heard the siren blaring.Throughout it all, residents of this disputed capital said they had felt largely immune from the battle by virtue of the city’s religious sites and its huge Palestinian population. Until they heard the siren blaring.
“I thought ‘Is that for Shabbat?’ ” recalled Judy Axelrod, a resident of predominantly Jewish West Jerusalem. When she realized it was not, she walked off King David Street into the Y.M.C.A. for safety, even though most of those around her just carried on. “I thought, ‘Is that for Shabbat?’ ” said Judy Axelrod, a resident of West Jerusalem, a predominantly Jewish area. When she realized it was not, she walked off King David Street into the Y.M.C.A. for safety, even though most of those around her just carried on.
Out later in the evening to dine at the popular Colony restaurant, Ms. Axelrod said: “I don’t feel scared. I feel more part of the rest of the country.”Out later in the evening to dine at the popular Colony restaurant, Ms. Axelrod said: “I don’t feel scared. I feel more part of the rest of the country.”
By firing at Jerusalem, about 48 miles from the Gaza border, Hamas had set a brazen precedent. The city was even off-limits to Saddam Hussein, the fallen Iraqi leader, when he fired Scud missiles at Israel during the first Persian Gulf war in 1991. By firing at Jerusalem, about 48 miles from the Gaza border, Hamas had set a brazen precedent. The city was even off limits to Saddam Hussein, the fallen Iraqi leader, when he fired Scud missiles at Israel during the first Persian Gulf war in 1991.
The military wing of Hamas boasted that it had aimed at the Israeli Knesset, or Parliament. In fact, the rockets fell short of the city. One landed in an open area near a Jewish settlement in the West Bank, just south of Jerusalem, and other explosions were heard in the same area.The military wing of Hamas boasted that it had aimed at the Israeli Knesset, or Parliament. In fact, the rockets fell short of the city. One landed in an open area near a Jewish settlement in the West Bank, just south of Jerusalem, and other explosions were heard in the same area.
In the past, Jerusalem was a focus of deadly Palestinian suicide bombings. Friday’s siren transported some back to the horror of those days. Others displayed a battle-hardened stoicism.In the past, Jerusalem was a focus of deadly Palestinian suicide bombings. Friday’s siren transported some back to the horror of those days. Others displayed a battle-hardened stoicism.
The Jerusalem branch of Magen David Adom, the ambulance service, went into emergency mode, putting the Jerusalem region at the highest level of alert and moving its teams into a new underground bomb shelter at the dispatch center.The Jerusalem branch of Magen David Adom, the ambulance service, went into emergency mode, putting the Jerusalem region at the highest level of alert and moving its teams into a new underground bomb shelter at the dispatch center.
At the Colony, the background jazz track was playing softer than usual. The manager, Dario Notrica, said that of the 230 reservations, about 70 had been canceled.At the Colony, the background jazz track was playing softer than usual. The manager, Dario Notrica, said that of the 230 reservations, about 70 had been canceled.
When the siren sounded, Levi Weiman-Kelman, an American-born rabbi, was preparing to lead Sabbath services at his progressive Congregation Kol Haneshama, where worshipers recite a special prayer for peace on Fridays in Hebrew and Arabic. When the siren sounded, Levi Weiman-Kelman, an American-born rabbi, was preparing to lead Sabbath services at Congregation Kol Haneshama, where worshipers recite a special prayer for peace on Fridays in Hebrew and Arabic.
He described the mood in synagogue as “extremely tense and antsy.” Hoping the service would pass quietly, he said, “My prayers had an added intensity.”He described the mood in synagogue as “extremely tense and antsy.” Hoping the service would pass quietly, he said, “My prayers had an added intensity.”
About half the usual crowd turned up, but with the Israeli military poised for a ground operation and a massive call-up of reservists under way, there were more parents of soldiers than usual.About half the usual crowd turned up, but with the Israeli military poised for a ground operation and a massive call-up of reservists under way, there were more parents of soldiers than usual.
Across the invisible line that divides West Jerusalem from the contested eastern part of the city, there was anxiety, too.Across the invisible line that divides West Jerusalem from the contested eastern part of the city, there was anxiety, too.
Out in his car at night in the near-empty streets, Taisar Ahmad, a municipal worker from the Arab neighborhood of Jebel Mukaber, said that striking Jerusalem should be “forbidden.”Out in his car at night in the near-empty streets, Taisar Ahmad, a municipal worker from the Arab neighborhood of Jebel Mukaber, said that striking Jerusalem should be “forbidden.”
“It’s scary,” he added. “Everyone was frightened.”“It’s scary,” he added. “Everyone was frightened.”
Another rocket streaked toward the Israeli metropolis of Tel Aviv on Friday, presumably landing somewhere off the coast. The city was not as busy as usual that night, but was not a ghost town, either. Another rocket streaked toward the Israeli metropolis of Tel Aviv on Friday, presumably landing somewhere off the coast. The city was not as busy as usual, but was not a ghost town, either.
“I always pictured Tel Aviv to be a safe place,” said Tamara Hirsch, who came to Israel four years ago from Vienna and now lives in the city center. “Today, after the second alarm, I realized that Gaza is not so far away.”“I always pictured Tel Aviv to be a safe place,” said Tamara Hirsch, who came to Israel four years ago from Vienna and now lives in the city center. “Today, after the second alarm, I realized that Gaza is not so far away.”
At the Gordon Beach Swimming Pool, a group of elderly women discussed whether they would follow instructions and run to the covered parking lot for shelter in their bathing suits if the time came. At the Gordon Beach Swimming Pool, a group of women discussed whether they would follow instructions and run to the covered parking lot for shelter in their bathing suits if the time came.

Danielle Ziri contributed reporting from Tel Aviv.

Danielle Ziri contributed reporting from Tel Aviv.