Hundreds of residents of Ashkelon protested on Thursday following several days of rocket attacks on the western Negev and the southern Mediterranean coastal area. Protesters demanded that the government respond to attacks and provide security for those living in Gaza belt communities.
Protesters carried signs with slogans such as “Residents of Ashkelon deserve to live in quiet,” and “Who will save my home?” The group blocked a highway at the city's entrance for several minutes under police supervision.
"Our goal is to tell the country's leaders that they should be ashamed,” one protester said. “No country on earth would put up with this situation. They've been firing on us for eight years and the state hasn't responded.”
Other protesters voiced similar complaints. “They're firing on us, and nobody is responding,” one said. “It's disgusting,” a local teen added. “Rockets have been hitting us for eight years and nobody is doing anything.”
A small group of people held a counterprotest during the demonstration. The group protested the government's decision to close Gaza crossings and what they termed “the siege on Gaza.”
Organizers said they were satisfied with the protest, but are planning larger events as well. “We won't let this continue,” said parents' committee head Yanon Jibli. The government is discriminating against residents of the south, he said, explaining, “I have no doubt that if a rocket were to hit Tel Aviv the government would act within the hour, but we are treated differently, unfortunately.”
Parents' committees have led the drive to demand protection. The committees have organized protests for Friday and next week as well. In addition, some committee members are pushing to keep children home from local schools in protest of the government's failure to fortify school buildings.
Shortly before the protest began, Gaza terrorists fired a rocket at towns in the Shaar HaNegev region. The rocket landed in an open area and did not cause injury.