Olmert meets with Moyal
Photo: Moshe Milner, GPO
Moyal: Sderot in danger of mass abandonment
Sderot mayor meets with Olmert, warns PM residents of Sderot leaving town due to frequent rocket attacks. Olmert: Tough decisions will be made soon
Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal met with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on
Tuesday in order to discuss the recent barrage of Qassam rocket attacks on the city. The two discussed the effects of the rocket attacks, including the recent abandonment of Sderot by many of its residents.
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Moyal questioned Olmert as to how he plans to minimize the constant rocket attacks. Olmert pledged that the government would soon be making crucial decisions.
"We care about the security of Sderot, and work day and night towards stopping the rocket fire. We will be making very important decisions soon, and they will not be simple or easy," he said.
Moyal said much of the meeting was devoted to the exodus from Sderot. "I spoke about the (residents') departure from the city due to the rockets and said that a solution must be found, one that will bring two new residents into Sderot for every resident who leaves," Moyal said.
He added that the government must provide incentives and special bonuses for those willing to live in Sderot, in order to fortify the city. Moyal said Olmert accepted his plea, and said that Sderot has been added to a list of 60 cities that will receive incentives and bonuses.
However the mayor remained skeptical as to the speed in which the plan could be implemented. "By the time the plan is carried out the city could empty out completely," he said.
On Tuesday morning Palestinians fired ten Qassam rockets at Israel. One of them hit a house, damaging it and lightly injuring some of the residents.
