Kibbutzniks to Dichter: Is there any leadership here?
Interior minister holds meeting with Negev kibbutz residents, promises complaints will be brought up in government meeting. Unsatisfied residents say, ‘We’ve heard nothing new'
“I have two children in therapy, and there isn’t a morning when we wake up to a normal reality. I’m asking if there is any leadership in this country,” he continued.
“My daughter woke up this morning with a smile because there is a ceasefire, but then she went out on the path, heard an alarm, ran and broke her tooth. There has to be a line. Someone has to take responsibility,” he said.
Another kibbutz resident, Hezi, spoke of his 70 years in Israel, of fighting with Palmach (military arm of the Hagana, the precursor of the Israel Defense Forces) and the IDF, and of the difficult days that passed.
“I’m 89 and I’ve never been afraid until now. But this morning I didn’t even know if I could make it to this meeting, my granddaughter was with me and I walked to towards the door just as the alarm went off,” he explained.
Parents of local high school students told Dichter of the sense that sending their children to school was a type of roulette bet, “The are actually being sent to a battlefield. Yes, an actual battlefield, since rockets fall in the school yard.”
The atmosphere at the meeting was difficult. An alarm sounded during the meeting an caused apprehension amongst those present about what to do - some had already left their seats and the ministers guards showed nervousness – but soon enough the commotion died down and the meeting continued.
Dichter mainly listened to the residents and promised to bring their case up at a government meeting, but the promise did not satisfy the residents. “Unfortunately, we haven’t heard anything know, but we will keep saying what we have to say,” one of the participants said.
Most difficult day
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Jewish Agency Zeev Bielski visited Sderot Sunday morning and inspected the sites where Qassam rockets fell accompanied by the town’s Mayor Eli Moyel.
During his visit, Bielski announced a special aid which would be granted to residents of Sderot and the Gaza vicinity communities, in the amount of around NIS 2.5 million (USD 580,000) raised by the United Jewish Communities of North America (UJC).
Bielski said, “Unfortunatley the first day of the ceasefire was also the most difficult in terms of Qassam fire. The present situation only strengthens the need to continue to stand by Sderot and it’s residents and to help them and of towns under attack in the area.”
