Qassam woes: Following Tuesday's rocket barrage that wounded two 14-year old boys in Sderot, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
will assemble an emergency meeting with top security officials Wednesday morning to reconsider the policy of restraint currently being employed by the military.
Defense Minister Amir Peretz, Chief of Staff Dan Halutz, Shin Bet brass and additional leading security figures are expected to participate.
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| Peretz: We can't hold back anymore / Ronny Sofer |
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Defense minister briefs Olmert on Tuesday's Qassam attack, says 'we must respond, must not let Jihad run rampant' |
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And while Jerusalem braces for a possible change of policy, relief spread throughout Sderot on Wednesday as doctors at the Barzilai hospital in Ashkelon declared that after a nightlong series of operations they have managed to stabilize the condition of 14-year old Adir Basad who was critically wounded from the rocket attack on Tuesday.
Doctors also said that the condition of Matan Cohen, the second teenager who was wounded, continues to be moderate. The hospital stated that doctors were able to save Cohen's leg from complete amputation.
The two 14-year-old boys are ninth graders at the Netiv Hayeshivati school in Sderot. Matan's uncle, Nir Ohanan, told Ynet, "They are good friends. They were studying for an exam together, which was supposed to be held tomorrow. This is the third time Matan escapes death by a Qassam rocket. The first time the rocket landed in their home and almost completely destroyed the house, the second time the rocket landed right next to him, and this time the rocket hit him. We hope for the best."
Sderot mayor Eli Moyal visited with the two boys at the hospital in Ashkelon. He spoke with family members and friends who conveyed their anger over the government's restraint policy.
Moyal said that he completely understands their outrage. "This restraint policy – it's just a sham. They told us that this is a ceasefire but when the Qassams came they said its restraint. I just don't understand this, what if tomorrow someone from Sderot decides to make a Qassam and fire it at Gaza? Then we'll just call him some organization that should be left alone?"
Officials from the ministry of education also visited the hospital and told reporters that Matan and Adir's school will be visited today by psychologists and counselors. Moyal himself said that the town's schools will stay open on Wednesday.
Ronny Sofer contributed to this report
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