Sderot residents set to protest in Tel Aviv

First we'll conquer Tel Aviv - then Jerusalem: Sderot residents intend to continue their protests in Tel Aviv on Monday where they plan to disrupt traffic on the Ayalon highway, a major Tel Aviv thoroughfare, and demonstrate in front of the Defense Ministry.

According to the protest organizers' plans, they will hold a protest march around the Azrieli towers and the Kirya military compound. Afterwards, the group intends to return to Jerusalem to set up a protest tent in front of the Knesset where they plan to hold another rally with the participation of Knesset members and public officials.

Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal is expected to take part in the demonstrations.

The campaign is being directed by Alon Davidi from the Headquarters for Security in Sderot.

According to him, the decision to commence protests outside of Sderot was made after "we saw that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert divides the country into two: Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and the rest of the cities – against another country which is (comprised of) Sderot and the Gaza vicinity, where it is okay to forsake the residents and not give them protection."

Davidi claims that despite the fact that protestors blocked Jerusalem roadways, they gained the support of the capital's residents: "They are ready to join us in the struggle," he said.

According to the plans, the efforts to block Tel Aviv roadways will be similar to what occurred in Jerusalem on Saturday.

"We intend to hold protest rallies and marches. With these (steps), we will be giving the opportunity to all citizens of the state, also in Tel Aviv, to express their identification with Sderot residents and to prove that this government separation between residents cannot be," Davidi added.