While thousands of people spent the first day of Pesach on picnics and hikes around Israel, 1,500 people arrived in Sderot Wednesday to participate in one of the biggest demonstrations there since the disengagement nearly two years ago.
The demonstration, organized by the Sderot Security Staff under the leadership of local resident Alon Davidi, started with a march around the town.
The march set off from an observation post overlooking the Gazan town of Beit Hanoun where the participants heard explanations regarding Sderot's proximity to Qassam rocket launching pads. The explanation was interrupted by the sound of shooting
coming from the Gaza Strip.
Three Palestinians had tried to place an explosive device on the border fence, not far from the procession. An IDF force opened fire at the perpetrators, killing one of them. None of the demonstrators were harmed.
Show of solidarity by Israelis from all over country (Photo: Tsafrir Abyov)
The procession then continued its march towards Sderot. Many participants from central Israel commented that they had never realized how close Sderot is to Beit Hanoun. The march concluded at a park in town where there was a performance and several public figures gave speeches.
Knesset Member Effie Eitam from the National Religious Party was one of the organizers of the event along with Davidi. He said that he was pleased with the empathy of the hundreds of people who came to strengthen the residents of Sderot:
"The message of Sderot to the terrorists is that after the residents of Gush Katif were torn from their homes, they will never tear us away from Sderot. The government must work hard to restore calm in the region. We cannot repeat the 'Lebanon syndrome,' by ignoring reality and allowing Hamas to gain power."
Major-General (res.) Uzi Dayan added: "The government can do much more to provide the residents of Sderot with a feeling of security, and enable the children to sleep well at night."
Alon Shuster, head of Sha'ar Hanegev regional council, said the government had not yet fortified Sderot and other Gaza perimeter communities and demanded the Olmert administration act decisively to bring an end to six consecutive years of missile attacks.
“I call on the prime minister, who claims to be ‘doing his job’, to quit the ploys and start doing some real work. He must order the IDF to act with a firm hand - to bring back hope to the children of Sderot.”
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