Shomron Council head Gershon Mesika said Thursday that he would not attend a pre-Rosh Hashana gathering being held by Defense Minister Ehud Barak. Mesika said that he was in no mood to toast the New Year with Barak, “due to the Jewish blood which is constantly being spilt because of the lack of security provided by Barak. The lives of Israeli citizens are at risk. Barak has turned our enemies and murderers into our 'friends' with his policies,” he said.