By Stan Goodenough
Feb 23, 2008
Thousands of Israelis from all over the country drove into Sderot Friday to do their Sabbath shopping and extend support to the citizens of the rocket-terrorized town.
Two Kassam rockets that slammed into the ground near Sderot earlier in the morning were unable to deter the well-wishers, who arrived in long convoys from Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa and Ra'anana, filling the these-days-normally deserted streets.
Businesses boomed for the first time in recent memory, with both Sderotian storekeepers and other civilians expressing near bewilderment at the unexpected demonstration of love from their fellow countrymen.
They came to give us a hug, one said.
The massive shopping spree comes after days of demonstrations in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv by Sderot residents and supporters demanding effective government action to stop the daily Kassam attacks.
More than 7000 missiles have been fired at the town over the past years, killing people, wounding hundreds, and traumatizing tens of thousands.
Ever-mindful of the civilian Arab population in the Gaza Strip - even though they largely support the efforts to kill and maim Jews, Israel's response has been restricted and careful, but has failed to temper the rocket attacks in any way.
Angry Israelis accuse the Olmert government of caring more for the "Palestinian" civilians than for its own citizens.
But down in Sderot today the "common" Israelis were telling their leaders "enough is enough. We are not going to let you get away with failing your people. It's time to act."
A Sderot supermarket owner told Ynetnews it would be hard for him to forget the sights he saw on Friday.
"This is Sderot, which I am definitely unfamiliar with and can't remember," said Danny Dahan.
"The hustle and bustle in the streets, the playing children and of course the economic aid they gave us. This hug they embraced us with was worth everything. We met each one at the entrance to the city with a flower and some refreshments. What happened here today was beautiful."
"It's simply astounding to see that's happening here," said another. "The feeling is that the government may not be with us, but the people certainly are. This initiative is really helping the local businesses, and seeing the many buses sent by other municipalities really warms the heart."
Town mayor Eli Moyal said he was certain "that the government can no longer take its time in the face of these sights, and this will slowly penetrate, because the people are saying, 'Enough, something has to be done with Sderot's residents.'
"Today we saw the best of the Israeli people. People with smiles, with so much love."