Israel starts military PR campaign

JERUSALEM, March 2 (UPI) -- The Israeli foreign ministry has started a public relations campaign aimed at boosting Israel's military image.

The effort, dubbed "Operation Warm Winter," is designed to show the international community that Israel is being assaulted almost incessantly by Qassam rockets, Ynetnews reported Sunday.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and the executive director of the foreign minister's office have sent a manual to all 97 Israeli consulates and embassies abroad outlining the PR offensive.

The manual states that representatives of the Israeli government should tell the media that "since Wednesday of last week more than 150 rockets and missiles were fired at Israel, leaving more than 250,000 of its citizens at the mercy of incessant rocket salvos," the Web site reported.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Aryeh Mekel told Ynetnews the Palestinians fire Qassam rockets at civilians regularly.

"They fire Qassams at shopping centers, hospitals, schools and other civilian targets," he was quoted as saying.