Gaza-vicinity leaders demand urgent meeting with Olmert
In letter to PM, heads of Qassam-ridden towns ask that he visit region without aides, photo ops to 'see the situation with his own eyes', say 'developments of past few days indicate that truce is over'
Heads of Israeli communities surrounding the Gaza Strip have requested that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert conduct
an urgent tour of the region in light of the recent rocket and mortar barrages that have targeted the region, Ynet reported on Sunday.
In a letter to the PM, the community leaders asked that he visit western Negev towns that have yet to be fortified,
stating that "the developments of the past few days indicate that the ceasefire (with the armed Palestinian groups) has come to an end and underscore the need to prepare at once for escalation.
Under Fire
Qassam lands in Sderot; resident lightly injured / Shmulik Hadad
Rocket fired from northern Gaza lands outside home in Negev town; resident sustains shrapnel injuries, two others suffer shock
"Over the past two years the government has allocated significant funds toward the fortification of educational and public institutions, as well as some homes; however, in some communities that were exposed to the recent attacks, particularly those situated in close proximity to the (Israel-Gaza)
security fence, there is no protection and no forecast for the completion of the fortification works in the foreseeable future," the letter read.
"We ask that you meet with us urgently; it is important that you see the situation with your own eyes."
Sdot Negev Regional Council Head Meir Yifrach told Ynet, "We were promised that our towns would be fortified, and this is also the position of the Defense Ministry. We hope that Olmert will change his stance after touring the region.
"In my opinion, instead of fortifying the towns it would be preferable to take out those who launch the rockets; but until this happens, the houses must be fortified," he added.
Eshkol Regional Council Head Haim Yalin added: "We invite the PM to visit –without any mediators or aides or photo ops. We must unite against the enemy on the other side of the border."
Outgoing Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal, who also signed the letter, said "throughout the years I've repeatedly said that fortification is not the answer, because you cannot fortify an entire town.
"Fortification helps deal with the situation on a psychological level, but it isn’t a rational solution. We want to meet the PM so we can find a real solution to terror, but if the government has already committed itself to fortifying the area, then this must be carried out in an orderly fashion," he said.
"We're hearing nightmare scenarios from defense officials regarding the capabilities of the Palestinian terrorists."
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