Defense Minister Ehud Barak visited Kassam rocket-besieged Sderot and neighboring towns on Monday, and faced waves of criticism from angry residents. "How do you sleep at night?" and "You [government ministers] are just puppets on a string" were typical of the outraged comments he received.
Some of the residents demanded firm military action in or against Gaza terrorists, while others, taking a more defensive stance, protested against the lack of reinforcement in the city. Barak visited the Amar family, whose home was directly hit last Thursday by a Kassam rocket. The Amars complained that the government was affording them three days in a hotel while repairs were being made - when in fact the repairs are taking much longer. The Defense Minister promised to arrange for more hotel time for the Amars.
Regarding the military option, Barak said, "There is continuous IDF action against Hamas, and the forces are acting day and night with great success." He said that until a rocket-interception system - on which work is underway - is in place, "we will continue to reinforce Sderot and neighboring towns."
Barak was castigated for not having come more often to visit Sderot, and for having criticized their fellow city resident and former Defense Minister Amir Peretz for his inaction in the face of the Kassam rockets. "For years you embittered Amir's life," one man said, "but what have you done in the five months that you're in office?
Barak traveled to nearby Kibbutz Gevim afterwards, where he and Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai met with local municipal council leaders.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is against massive reinforcement in Sderot and environs, and has said, "We will not reinforce ourselves to death." However, Barak appeared to be more supportive of the idea.
On Sunday, a toddler was lightly wounded and his mother and another woman suffered shock when a Kassam rocket smashed into their yard in a kibbutz near Ashkelon.
Some of the residents demanded firm military action in or against Gaza terrorists, while others, taking a more defensive stance, protested against the lack of reinforcement in the city. Barak visited the Amar family, whose home was directly hit last Thursday by a Kassam rocket. The Amars complained that the government was affording them three days in a hotel while repairs were being made - when in fact the repairs are taking much longer. The Defense Minister promised to arrange for more hotel time for the Amars.
Regarding the military option, Barak said, "There is continuous IDF action against Hamas, and the forces are acting day and night with great success." He said that until a rocket-interception system - on which work is underway - is in place, "we will continue to reinforce Sderot and neighboring towns."
Barak was castigated for not having come more often to visit Sderot, and for having criticized their fellow city resident and former Defense Minister Amir Peretz for his inaction in the face of the Kassam rockets. "For years you embittered Amir's life," one man said, "but what have you done in the five months that you're in office?
Barak traveled to nearby Kibbutz Gevim afterwards, where he and Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai met with local municipal council leaders.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is against massive reinforcement in Sderot and environs, and has said, "We will not reinforce ourselves to death." However, Barak appeared to be more supportive of the idea.
On Sunday, a toddler was lightly wounded and his mother and another woman suffered shock when a Kassam rocket smashed into their yard in a kibbutz near Ashkelon.