Qassam rocket (archives)
Photo: AFP
Defense Minister Barak
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Sderot waiting for Israel to cut off electricity to Gaza
Residents of rocket-battered city call on government to implements its declaration of Strip as 'hostile entity', respond to Qassam, mortar shell barrage launched at their city Wednesday evening
Two Qassam rockets were fired at the southern town of Sderot on Wednesday evening, a few hours after the national security cabinet declared
the Gaza Strip a "hostile entity".
The declaration, which was made following the ongoing rocket fire, allows Israel
to reduce the supply of electricity and fuel to the Gaza Strip and limit the entry of goods at the crossings.
One of the rockets landed near apartment buildings and the other hit an open area outside the city. There were no reports of injuries or damage.
Concerned
Associated Press
Ban Ki-moon warns that any cutoff of vital services to Strip would violate international law, punish already suffering civilian population
Sderot residents now expect Defense Minister Ehud Barak to implement the threat and cut electricity to Gaza.
Alon Davidi, head of the Sderot security task force, said following the rocket fire, "We expect the decision to be implemented now, after the Qassams were launched."
Three mortar shells were also fired at Israel Wednesday night, landing in an open area near a military base close to the border fence.
"The decision to black out Gaza is good and appropriate, but unfortunately I am certain that it will not be implemented," said Yossi Timsit, whose house was hit by a rocket in May, causing injuries and great damage.
"Like all the decision made so far, this government only talks and does nothing. It's only talks. In Gaza there is light now, and here there is darkness and fear. I believe that only one thing can improve the situation, and that is if Prime Minister Ehud Olmert resigns. I think he is the only problem we have today," he added.
Davidi concluded, "Those who should be afraid are the residents of the Gaza Strip who are firing the Qassams at us with no response."
