While hundreds of Sderot residents demonstrated outside Defense Minister Amir Peretz's house against the unending firing of Qassam rockets at the city, Palestinian gunmen fired two rockets at the western Negev. One of the rockets landed in the town of Nativ Ha'asara, and the other in Palestinian territory. There has been no report of injuries or damage.
The residents of Sderot are sick of hearing the Red Dawn alert system go off nearly every day warning them of an incoming attack, and after it, an explosion. Hundreds of protestors carried torches and signs on which were written, "Shame on you, Government. You left us at war."
Sderot demonstration (Photo: Albert Sedikov, HNN.co.il)
The demonstration was organized by Alon Davidi, head of Sderot’s protest committee, Batya Katar, head of the Parent-Teachers' Association in the city, and Rina Mor-Yosef, a resident of the city. In the past, the three have gone on a hunger strike outside the defense minister's house in a protest tent they set up. The tent was dismantled only after promises made them. However, they are now considering setting up the tent again.
This week, a few thousand manifestos were distributed to residents' houses, which called the government to act decisively against the Qassams. Attached were the telephone numbers of the cabinet members along with a request to call after every Qassam is fired at Sderot.
According to Davidi, the protestors carried torches in order "to light up the government's path through the dark. We are prepared to be the light for this struggle." According to the protestors, Sderot is becoming a ghost town and this requires government attention.
Davidi, who spoke at the rally, said, "We charge the cabinet members, who are meeting this week, to instruct the IDF to embark on a large operation in Beit Hanoun in order to clean the territory of terrorists and Qassams and to return quiet to Sderot.
It is forbidden to continue only with targeted operations, which have proven unsuccessful in stopping the Qassams."
The protestors asked Israel Our Home Chairman MK Avigdor Lieberman, expected to be appointed minister of strategic affairs, to keep his promise to the residents of the city when he visited their protest tent.
Lieberman said then that Hamas leaders must be asked to leave their houses in Gaza so that the IDF could flatten them in response to the Qassam fire.
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