The residents of Kfar Darom protested in Jerusalem today against the continued mortar attacks on theirs and nearby towns and IDF positions. Instead of going to work or school, the residents protested outside the weekly Cabinet meeting about the continuing mortar fire onto their homes and the soldiers guarding them. In the past 14 months since they started the current war, the Arabs have fired roughly 500 mortar shells on the area - including 70 in the past month alone. One of them blasted through the roof of a N\'vei Dekalim house two days ago into a room where a baby was sleeping only meters away; he was unharmed. Wt. Officer Madmon was the first fatality caused by a Palestinian-fired mortar since the war began 14 months ago.
A spokesman for the Kfar Darom group explained why they were in Jerusalem: \"It\'s simply time to stop this absurd situation where mortar shells are fired freely at us. The Prime Minister knows exactly what to do to stop it, and the army certainly knows. Diplomatic considerations cannot be taken into account when peoples\' lives are at stake.\"
During the demonstration, the residents were invited to the Prime Minister\'s office for an extended meeting. A Gush Katif spokesman said later that Sharon told the residents that he is allowing the army to act firmly against mortar fire and the factories that produce the shells. In addition, Sharon promised that the works on the new Kisufim bridge, to which the residents greatly object, will be stopped immediately at least until he returns from his trip to the U.S. (Sharon departs for the U.S. this Thursday.) The residents feel that the bridge, over which they are supposed to travel while Arab traffic passes freely below, is narrow, dangerous, and vulnerable to attack.
A spokesman for the Kfar Darom group explained why they were in Jerusalem: \"It\'s simply time to stop this absurd situation where mortar shells are fired freely at us. The Prime Minister knows exactly what to do to stop it, and the army certainly knows. Diplomatic considerations cannot be taken into account when peoples\' lives are at stake.\"
During the demonstration, the residents were invited to the Prime Minister\'s office for an extended meeting. A Gush Katif spokesman said later that Sharon told the residents that he is allowing the army to act firmly against mortar fire and the factories that produce the shells. In addition, Sharon promised that the works on the new Kisufim bridge, to which the residents greatly object, will be stopped immediately at least until he returns from his trip to the U.S. (Sharon departs for the U.S. this Thursday.) The residents feel that the bridge, over which they are supposed to travel while Arab traffic passes freely below, is narrow, dangerous, and vulnerable to attack.