Defense Minister Amir Peretz, who lives in Sderot, announced a "special home front situation" in Sderot and neighboring towns this morning, in light of the continuing Kassam attacks. The decision, made together with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, is a signal that the Kassam rocket attacks are expected to continue.
"Regional solutions, not specific local ones, are needed now," a Defense Ministry official explained. The IDF Home Front Command now has regional authorities over issues such as deciding if factories, schools and stores must close - or remain open.
The "special situation," which must be renewed after 48 hours, gives the Home Front Command the authority to order employees at vital workplaces, such as supermarkets and health clinics, to report for work. The Command can also order the police to station more forces in the affected area.
Gaza-based Palestinian terrorists fired five Kassams at the western Negev Sunday morning, causing injuries, damages and continued fear and anxieties amidst the besieged residents. Over 125 rockets have hit the town at all hours of the day over the past five days, often with no more than 2-3 seconds' warning. Some 6,000 residents are estimated to have left the town, and more are on their way. The Defense Ministry and philanthropist Arcadi Gaydamak are sponsoring short vacations for the suffering townspeople.
Defense officials say that the Kassam rockets cause not only direct injuries and property damage, "but also various tribulations, such as those who are afraid to leave their homes and go to work, and businesses that are suffering. We must give a general economic, social and security solution."
Responses - Generally Favorable
Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal said the decision is "good news. I am happy that the government is beginning to make decisions, and that my call was answered." Moyal ordered schools closed today, and explained that essentially there is no difference between schools and workplaces - "both are equally unsafe."
Shaar HaNegev Regional Council head Alon Shuster also expressed satisfaction: "The government is waking up. It's slow, but we are seeing a change in policy."
Alon Davidi, head of the Sderot Residents Forum, was not thrilled with the new decision: "Peretz and Olmert are waging the war in Sderot, instead of in Gaza. If they do not decide on a wide-scale ground offensive immediately, they will go down in infamy for the purposeless evacuation of a city."
MKs Tzvi Hendel and Aryeh Eldad (National Union) took opposite approaches. Hendel, a former resident of Gush Katif who was accustomed to living in an area under attack, said the decision is a good first step: "The next step must be a massive ground force offensive into Gaza to raze all the terror infrastructures to the dust - and not to repeat the mistakes that were made in Lebanon."
Eldad, on the other hand, was biting: "Instead of declaring a 'special situation' in the home front, Olmert's shadow government must declare a 'special situation' in the government. It must realize that it does not know how to function, and resign."
Meanwhile, Olmert and the Gaza-based terrorists are trading threats. With Hamas and Islamic Jihad threatening to resume suicide terrorist attacks, Olmert said before the Sunday Cabinet meeting, "Hamas has already begun to pay, and its leaders and terrorists will soon pay a heavy personal price."