Following the terrorist-sniper murder of a young Ecuadorian volunteer in the western Negev, nationalist MKs Eldad, Edelstein and others say the government must wake up.
MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union) says that the murder of a 20-year-old Ecuadorian volunteer in the fields of Kibbutz Ein HaShlosha "must bring the government to a crossroads: Either to liquidate the terrorism, or give in to it."
Eldad says that if the former choice is not taken, "the alternative is to abandon the fields, empty out the Kibbutzim, and clear out Sderot. The abandonment of the residents of the south to terrorist snipers and Kassam launchers is an ongoing crime perpetrated by the Government of Israel."
MK Yuli Edelstein (Likud) said, "Olmert is once again leading the IDF into failure - first it was against Hizbullah, and now against Hamas."
"Just like [prior to] the Second Lebanon War," Edelstein said, "Olmert once again is refraining from declaring a state of war and national emergency - even though the battles have already begun. The citizens of the western Negev and the IDF are thus prevented from preparing properly and in a timely manner, and this causes unnecessary losses and is liable to lead to yet another failure."
"The army's hands are tied," MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union party) said, "though not totally. Some military action is being taken, but the army leaders wants to go back into Gaza, and the government is not letting them."
The Almagor Terror Victims Association said it would be fitting for Prime Minister Olmert and his government to apologize to the volunteer's family. Almagor's director Meir Indor said, "The situation is reminiscent of after 1967, when shooting attacks and the like from Gaza to the Jewish towns nearby led Golda [then-Prime Minister Golda Meir] and Moshe Dayan to decide to remain in Gaza, keep it weapons-free, and build the Gush Katif settlement bloc. This approach must be implemented once again."
Victim Loved Israel
The victim, Carlos Andres Muscara Chavez, was working on irrigating a field, together with a group of volunteers, just 150 meters (500 feet) from the Gaza border fence. He was shot in the lower part of his back, and though he was immediately evacuated for medical treatment, he died shortly afterwards of his wounds. Hamas claimed responsibility for the murder.
Chavez had been in Israel for two months, and expressed interest in living in Israel and enlisting in the IDF. His friends said the murderous attack would not cause them to leave Israel.
Sniper fire on the field continued until later in the afternoon, targeting Israelis who tried to retrieve a tractor from the area. A Kassam fired towards Ashkelon around 3 PM caused no damage.
Shaar HaNegev Regional Council head Alon Shuster said afterwards, "The government must not give in to terrorism. It must urgently approve our pesticide flights near the border fence, while making sure that the pilots and farmers are safe from terrorism."