Israel’s News Blog Magazine: Daily Stories Video and Photos
The last Kassam rocket attack on the city of Sderot has definitely not been the first; yet it seems to be the first in so much time to have been properly discussed in the media, which has been pretty oblivious of the dire situation there, down south Israel.
As in Sderot, hometown of Defense Minister Amir Peretz, they “celebrate” the 1000th rocket in 2006, one thing is certain – had it been Tel Aviv or Jerusalem bombarded in this fashion, the Muses would not have been silent at all, not for a second.
Like living in a parallel universe, while those living in the heart of Israel lead their normal lives, the citizens of Sderot have to deal, daily, with the fear and the danger. The kids have just now begun their school year in Sderot for the unprotected schools problem, which was (partially) settled only after Chief Justice Dorit Beinish’s strict order, but as the attacks have gotten more frequent and more deadly, the parents have decided their children need some time-out.
Who comes to the rescue, if not good old Arkadi Gaydamak? Gaydamak got hundreds of Sderot citizens a very long weekend holiday in Eilat, and the little ones, who got used to live in constant anxiety, are now his ever true fans, dubbing him “a new Moses” and wishing him to be Israel’s next PM. Another, much less flamboyant donation comes from businessman Nochi Dankner, who promised to give every student living in Sderot a $1000 grant, and $230,000 (NIS 1 million) to provide new computers for the welfare of Sderot citizens.
The citizens naturally enjoy these kind of gestures, as well as the renewed, though belated, national interest in their grim situation, but what they really want – and don’t try to hide – is their wish for a fierce military response, which would, in their eyes at least, make the Kassam attacks stop for good.
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