Israelis say southern towns left unprotected as war with Iran intensifies

Israelis say southern towns left unprotected as war with Iran intensifies Submitted by Nadav Rapaport on Mon, 03/23/2026 - 17:06 Iranian missile strikes have reignited criticism of the government’s failure to protect civilians, with millions lacking access to adequate shelters Israeli first responders inspect the site of an Iranian missile strike on the city of Arad on 22 March 2026 (Ilia Yefimovich/AFP) Off Residents of Israel 's southern Negev region say they've been left defenceless against Iranian missile fire , and have called the government's response "a complete failure" rooted in years of policy neglect. Avi Dabush, the executive director of Rabbis for Human Rights, told Middle East Eye that Saturday's deadly strikes on Dimona , a city known for its proximity to Israeli nuclear facilities, and the nearby city of Arad, exposed deep gaps in civilian protection. "The government's response to the missile fire is a complete failure," Dabush said.