Hundreds of Sderot and Israeli civilians took to the streets today to demand an end to Hamas terror attacks from Gaza. In a rally organized by the Sderot Media Center, protesters demanded an end to violence and the creation of dialogue and peace for both the children of Sderot and Gaza.
Sderot, Israel (PRWEB) January 2, 2010 -- Hundreds of Sderot and Israel civilians took to the streets today to demand an end to Hamas terror attacks from Gaza, the Israel News Agency reported. In a rally organized by the Sderot Media Center, protesters demanded an end to violence and the creation of dialogue and peace for both the children of Sderot and Gaza.
Sderot civilians, Israel youth, university students, and international peace supporters marked the one year anniversary of the Israel Defense Forces Operation Cast Lead and a new decade of peace and hope for Sderot and the world for 2010.
"We stand here today on both sides of the border, with a message of peace between us," said Sderot Mayor David Buskila. "We have released balloons with messages from the children of Sderot who experienced the Qassam rockets, and we want to say to Hamas leaders, who to our dismay continue to rearm, that we come in peace. We are too strong to leave this land, and justice is with us."
The peace rally was coordinated with the Israel Ministry of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs, WUJS, World Jewish Congress, Im Tirzu and the Sderot Municipality.
The Sderot Israel Peace Rally for Hope was a counter-response to the Gaza Freedom March, which took place in Egypt today.
The Sderot rally featured a number of speakers including the presidential candidate for the 2011 elections in Zambia, the Honorable Dr. Saviour Chishimba, Former Member of Parliament-National Assembly of Zambia and founder of the Zambia-Israel Alliance.
In a recent visit to Sderot, Israel Dr. Saviour Chishimba stated: "Now is the time for Africa to stand up and fight terrorism wherever it emerges. The threat against Israel and the Jewish people is the same threat against all the peoples of the world."
The Sderot Israel Peace Rally began at Kibbutz Nir Am, located between Kibbutz Erez and Nir Am. Leading the protesters were Sderot Mayor David Buskila and Information Minister Yuli Edelstein. Hundreds then marched to Givat Yanchik (Givat Ha'Oranim).
Edelstein said he was concerned by the foreign activists who came to support the Palestinians.
"Some of them are cynical, radical left-wing activists whose world is black and white, where Israel is always in the black, but others don't really understand what's going on and instead of promoting peace and helping the children of Gaza, they are assisting the murderers and terrorists of Hamas," he said.
Following the peace march, the Israel peace activists released hundreds of balloons with messages from Sderot, Israel children to the children of Gaza.
Moshe Amar, a Sderot boy whose home was destroyed in a Hamas terror rocket attack and was visited by US President Barack Obama during his 2008 election campaign, spoke to the peace protesters.
"Try to imagine that everything you love, the things that are supposed to be the most secure in your life - your home and your family are directly terrorized," said Amar. "For almost a year, we were left homeless. To this day, that Hamas terror Qassam attack still traumatizes my family - we will never be the same."
The Israel marchers sang peace songs as they were photographed and interviewed by journalists coming from dozens of nations including the US, UK, France, Israel, Spain, Canada, Brazil, Denmark, Sweden, Japan, China and Russia.
"I believe that these people bring a message of peace. The children of Sderot have sent messages to the children of Gaza. Israel doesn't want war; it wants to live in peace with its neighbors - the launching of rockets into Israel must cease," said a Zambian member of parliament.
"We come to Sderot with a message of peace, one year after the war," Edelstein said. "Sadly, the shooting continues, but we seek peace."
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz submitted for Cabinet approval, an aid package for Sderot and the communities in the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip. The basket of benefits is worth approximately NIS 190 million. Additionally, approximately NIS 150 will be invested in the structural reinforcement of educational institutions in follow-up of previous decisions.
The decision was formulated by Prime Minister's Office Director-General Eyal Gabai and Finance Ministry Budget Director Udi Nisan and includes a series of benefits in the infrastructures, education, social welfare and employment. The goal of the decision is to continue strengthening the communities in the area in order to provide stability, increase social and civil strength and improve local authorities' and residents' ability to cope.
Local Sderot residents and businesses will continue to receive local rate discounts albeit in a reduced format. Given the improved security situation, it will stand at 35 percent for residences and 25 percent for factories and businesses.
Local authorities will also receive special grants in order to deal with the consequences of the security situation.
Sderot, Israel will receive NIS 9 million, other local communities NIS 6 million. This is in accordance with the decision's underlying basis, that of changing the balance of Government investments in the area from current budgets to regional infrastructures and development, reports the Israel News Agency.
The activity of five centers that offer psychological and social services will continue on their present footing. Emergency medical services for area communities will continue.
NIS 14 million will be invested in building reinforced daycare centers will be built in the communities in the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip. Approximately NIS 140 million will be invested in structural reinforcements at educational institutions in Sderot and the communities in the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip in 2010.
Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu said: "The decision expresses our commitment to the security of the residents in the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip, and to the continuation of normal life amidst prosperity and growth in infrastructures, education and other areas. Concern for the security and welfare of our brothers, citizens of the State of Israel whose communities have served as targets for thousands of missiles fired by Iranian-sponsored terrorist groups, will continue to top our unity government's list of priorities."
"Gaza is not under siege by Israel, it is under occupation by Iranian back Hamas," says Christian Arab Ahmad Ayoub, a 46-year-old shopkeeper from Jaffa.
"Israel provides the civilians of Gaza with tons of food, medical and humanitarian aid on a daily basis while everyone forgets that Gaza has another border - Egypt. Is Gaza under siege by Egypt as well? The warehouses and marketplaces are full. If anything, Hamas been stealing much of this aid and keeps it from the people of Gaza to sell on the black market and create more propaganda against Israel. Hamas does not allow democracy. Hamas and Islamic Jihad treat women as second class citizens. Women have no rights. But the biggest problem is that Hamas teaches hate, while the Jews act for peace. The Jews have every right to defend their children against Jihadist holy war terror attacks."
"On September 12, 2005, the last Israeli soldier left Gaza in a unilateral peace move," said Avi Levy, a student from Tel Aviv University.
"What Israel got in return from leaving Gaza was not peace but rather 12,000 terror rockets. Hamas does not seek land. This is not a dispute over territory. Hamas wants every Jew and Christian dead. They see us as "infidels" - no different than those who attacked New York and Washington during 9/11 and those Islamic terrorists who attacked London, Turkey and Paris with bombs. We need moderate Muslims to reach and reason with their brothers who are murdering innocent children and creating a disaster for the people of Gaza."
The above news release was donated to the people of Sderot, Israel by the Israel News Agency, Israel SEO PR, Israel PR, New York SEO PR and London SEO PR.
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