The march was led by Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal and visiting Likud MK Ehud Yatom, and featured men, women and children whose lives have been disrupted by the constant threat of Kassam rockets. Beit Hanoun is the area from where the terrorists fire the deadly missiles.
Some participants, such as Sderot resident MK Amir Peretz (Labor-Am Echad) and many visitors from out-of-town, brought a message of "Seek Peace and Pursue it." Most of them, however, feeling that the Kassam threats require a different approach, held signs or chanted slogans such as, "Conquer Beit Hanoun," "We're Not Sitting Ducks," "Sharon Wake Up," and "Sharon and [Defense Minister] Mofaz are Abandoning Sderot."
Sderot spokesman Yossi Cohen said that almost 70% of Sderot voted for the Likud in the last election, and this was reflected in the make-up of the march.
MK Peretz said that Abu Mazen must be made to know that he must fight terrorism, and that the IDF should not be pressured to carry out a grandstand offensive "that will only further complicate us." He further said that the disengagement must be carried out.
Another participant, Chaim, said that Abu Mazen is not the issue. "We don't want to be the Madhat Yusuf of the State of Israel," Chaim said. "Yusuf was left to bleed to death at Joseph's Tomb in Shechem four years ago in the vain hope that PA forces would rescue him; we don't have to hope and wait for Abu Mazen to do the work for us, but should rather do it ourselves."
As the march set out, news was received that an anti-tank missile had been fired at the Karni Crossing, and that a mortar shell had fallen on a Gush Katif community; no one was hurt. Earlier in the morning, Palestinian terrorists fired three other rockets and shells at various locations in Jewish Gaza, causing no injuries.
The demonstrators originally planned to continue the march from Beit Hanoun by turning north towards Prime Minister Sharon's family estate, the Shikmim Farm. They planned to demand that Sharon order the army to take all-out action to ensure their safety and that of their children. However, news reached them that the condition of 17-year-old Ayala Chaya [bat Simona] Abukasis, who was critically wounded in the Saturday night Kassam rocket attack in Sderot, had taken a turn for the worse. One woman fainted at the news, and people began to recite Psalms.
Others fashioned Kassam rocket-like objects out of cardboard and sent them them sailing towards Beit Hanoun.
Mayor Moyal said earlier this week that the residents do not believe PM Sharon's declarations that he is doing everything to protect them. Moyal told a meeting of city leaders that Sharon said that only when 20 Sderot residents are hit, will he "destroy Gaza."
Some participants, such as Sderot resident MK Amir Peretz (Labor-Am Echad) and many visitors from out-of-town, brought a message of "Seek Peace and Pursue it." Most of them, however, feeling that the Kassam threats require a different approach, held signs or chanted slogans such as, "Conquer Beit Hanoun," "We're Not Sitting Ducks," "Sharon Wake Up," and "Sharon and [Defense Minister] Mofaz are Abandoning Sderot."
Sderot spokesman Yossi Cohen said that almost 70% of Sderot voted for the Likud in the last election, and this was reflected in the make-up of the march.
MK Peretz said that Abu Mazen must be made to know that he must fight terrorism, and that the IDF should not be pressured to carry out a grandstand offensive "that will only further complicate us." He further said that the disengagement must be carried out.
Another participant, Chaim, said that Abu Mazen is not the issue. "We don't want to be the Madhat Yusuf of the State of Israel," Chaim said. "Yusuf was left to bleed to death at Joseph's Tomb in Shechem four years ago in the vain hope that PA forces would rescue him; we don't have to hope and wait for Abu Mazen to do the work for us, but should rather do it ourselves."
As the march set out, news was received that an anti-tank missile had been fired at the Karni Crossing, and that a mortar shell had fallen on a Gush Katif community; no one was hurt. Earlier in the morning, Palestinian terrorists fired three other rockets and shells at various locations in Jewish Gaza, causing no injuries.
The demonstrators originally planned to continue the march from Beit Hanoun by turning north towards Prime Minister Sharon's family estate, the Shikmim Farm. They planned to demand that Sharon order the army to take all-out action to ensure their safety and that of their children. However, news reached them that the condition of 17-year-old Ayala Chaya [bat Simona] Abukasis, who was critically wounded in the Saturday night Kassam rocket attack in Sderot, had taken a turn for the worse. One woman fainted at the news, and people began to recite Psalms.
Others fashioned Kassam rocket-like objects out of cardboard and sent them them sailing towards Beit Hanoun.
Mayor Moyal said earlier this week that the residents do not believe PM Sharon's declarations that he is doing everything to protect them. Moyal told a meeting of city leaders that Sharon said that only when 20 Sderot residents are hit, will he "destroy Gaza."