'Special situation' status in Gaza communities extended

The Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee decided Monday to extend the "special security situation" declared in Sderot and Gaza vicinity communities for an additional four months.

The decision was made despite the fragile, yet so-far withstanding ceasefire agreement with the militant groups in the Gaza Strip.

The motion was carried four to three, with MKs Otniel Schneller (Kadima), Eitan Cabel and MK Danny Yatom (Labor) and Zvi Hendel (National Union-National Religious Party) supporting it; and MKs Yuval Steinitz (Likud), Yisrael Hasson (Yisrael Beiteinu) and Isaac Ben-Israel (Kadima), opposing it.

"If we don’t extend the special situation the residents would no longer be eligible for the special services the State provides them with," said MK Schneller. "I'm not so sure of this truce yet. We still have Qassam rockets and mortar shells fired on the area. I don't think this ceasefire will last very long."

"I voted in favor of the motion because of the ceasefire," added Yatom. "The residents mustn’t feel that just because a calm has been declared, the government and the military will be leaving them to fend for themselves."

MK Hasson, on the other hand, thinks that "a 'special situation' definition is really a very narrow one, basically allowing the Home Front Command to take charge and issue the residents' the appropriate directives. It doesn't address any other issues, such as education or business. That's why I voted against it."

MK Steinitz agreed: "This is the third time we've been asked to extend the special situation and there is really no need for it, especially in light of the ceasefire. Approving the motion without due merit makes the (Foreign Affairs and Defense) Committee nothing more than a rubber stamp."

'A ministerial committee is a must'

Meanwhile, Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal and several other heads of the Gaza vicinity communities called on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, to form a special ministerial committee and task it with "stabilizing the civilian life in the southern front communities."

Moyal, along with Alon Shuster, head of the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council, Ashkelon Coast Regional Council chair Yair Farjoun and Haim Yalin, head of the Eshkol Regional Council, sent Olmert a letter reading as follows: "Many of the people here are looking for a reason to stay, to fight with whatever civilian means we have for the hope of things returning to normal around here.

"The fortification is only one component in that equation. The people here a living under a constant threat of terror. The physical fortification must be enhances by a communal one. The strategic plan being formed by the Prime Minister's Office – rather slowly we must add – isn't enough."

The mayors are adamant about the need for a ministerial committee. "In the past few months alone, the prime minister has visited the area twice, and eight of his ministers have done the same. Everyone wants to help, but when push comes to shove, it turns out thing are too intertwined between the government bureaus and as it turns out, nothing is anyone's responsibility. We need an organized committee to get things done.

"Forming such a committee, to assist the area with obtaining the necessary budgets to rehabilitate the communities is a must," concludes the letter.

Shmulik Hadad contributed to this report