Gaza communities to launch PR campaign against rocket fire

Heads of the Gaza vicinity communities met Sunday to discuss the ongoing rocket fire on the region.

The meeting ended with the mayors demanding a meeting with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee; as well as making a decision to utilize public relations in order to widely illustrate the grave situation their communities have found themselves in.

"Every one of the (local western Negev) councils will allocate a certain portion of its budget for PR," said a statement released at the end of the meeting.

"A committee will be formed to approach publicists and public relations experts, who will be hired to illustrate to both the public and the governing powers that difficult situation we are in due to the constant rocket fire.

"The public seems oblivious to what is really going on, a fact which undoubtedly affects the decision makers."

Ashkelon Mayor Roni Mahazri, who headed the meeting, added that "there are a quarter of a million people living under fire. We believe constant pressure will have results." The PR team, he added, will pursue all avenues, including any legal recourse necessary.

Alon Shuster, head of the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council reiterates: "We will do everything we can to form a united front of the shout's residents, who will tell the decision makers they have to do just that – make a decision about taking action or about pushing for peace – otherwise, many Israelis and Palestinians living here will die."

Haim Koznitz, of Sderot's Naor Communications, welcomed the decision: "This is a very important decision which I hope will materialize. We have to make sure that the PR firms hired to do the job are for around here – they are living here and have a better understanding of the situation."