Qassam protest: Sderot shutting down
Sderot decides to step up protest against Qassam attacks by closing down town. Mayor: No one will be able to get in or get out, not even local resident Defense Minister Amir Peretz; also, schools to be let out for summer already Monday
According to Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal, the campaign will start Monday. “We’re closing down the town. No one will be able to get in or get out,” one resident said. Likewise, public figures wishing to reach the town will be turned away at the gates. Sources in the city administration said that even if Defense Minister Amir Peretz wishes to go somewhere, his exit and entry will be blocked, despite the fact that he is a resident of Sderot.
However, owing to the scheduled visit of President Moshe Katsav in Sderot Monday, city Moyal announced the postponement of the protest campaign until the president leaves the town.
Simultaneously, city representatives decided to officially conclude the school year Monday morning, a day before studies were set to conclude in high schools and 11 days before they were scheduled to conclude in elementary schools. Moyal was shifting responsibility for report card distribution to the Ministry of Education. “I assume they will have to solve this problem,” Moyal said. “I don’t want to be responsible for this as well.”
Meanwhile protest activities in Jerusalem were continuing. Residents plan to block the entrance to the Knesset and government offices and will hold demonstration there. “I think this is one time that all the people of Sderot agree that we have to fight. The Qassm rocket that landed this morning, in my view, crossed a red line,” Moyal said.
“I think the government needs to give us a solution to the Qassam problem,” he added. Since Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was elected, Moyal noted, the Sderot mayor has not spoken with him a single time, despite having encountered him on a number of occasions. Moyal further noted that Sunday morning no one called after a rocket hit a local school, including the defense minister.
In the hunger-strikers’ tent facing Peretz’ house, the decision to extend the campaign was received with great satisfaction. One of the leaders of the strike, Alon Davidi, said that the fact that the mayor and the entire city were joining the struggle could help a lot.
“This struggle from the beginning was intended to have as many residents as possible participate in it, from all shades of the political spectrum, from all hues and sectors. I am glad the mayor decided to join the fight,” Davidi said.
Those in protest tent planned additional protest activities, and called on residents to join in the various protests.
