Visit to Sderot and Gaza

July 1, 2008 - Sderot is a small town of 20,000 people about a mile from the Southeast corner of the Gaza Strip. We are vi sting there to better understand the security issues that everyday Israelis suffer as a consequences of the unilateral departure of Israeli military forces from the Gaza and Gaza's takeover by Hamas.

We knew today would be different when 15 minutes outside Sderot we were told how to respond if we heard the red alarm announcing that a missile had been launched. Once the alarm is sounded, you have less than 15 seconds to find protective cover. We were told that if we were in the bus to stay there. If outside, we should find shelter. All of the bus shelters in Sderot have been rebuilt, so that one can take cover in them. Our guide went through the entire list to include that if you should be caught out in the open, that you should lie down on the ground and cover your head.

Hearing this warning for the first time is like hearing the flight safety warning for the very first time for what you should do if your plane goes down in the water or there is a crash . We have all become so used to it, that we tune it out when it plays on the plane. But just try to remember what it was like the first time you heard it. We looked at each other with a look that said, "we knew why we were coming here, but are you kidding?"

We entered Sderot which looks like any development town here in Israel. The only differences are the shelters alongside the road to protect people from the missiles and rockets and the reinforced roofing to help protect from at least the next few generations of missiles. In addition many of the buildings have clearly noticeable shrapnel damage.

We arrived at the Town Hall to meet Former Homeland Security Minister Dr. Uzi Landau. With former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge along as an additional expert, our briefing was very informative. We will post the briefing information in our next blog.

Memorium Board to the Israeli Dead

In the meeting room is a Memoriam Board to the 15 people killed by the indiscriminate missiles shot by Hamas and their allies at civilian targets. An old small Kassim missile piece lies on the floor. Over 500 people have been injured. One of the victims was a young boy who had just arrived at school. Another was a grandfather who had just dropped off his grandson and decided to sit on a park bench to take in the beautiful morning. Another was a young man in his car on his way to his job. We have pictured the Memoriam Board above on the left.

What is striking is that the people still stay here and that the Israelis tolerate the evil thrown at them from the Palestinians. The stories of each person, even recollecting them now as I write this note, makes me feel sad and angry at the same time.

The Missiles:

Former Minister Uzi Landau brought us by the Police Station, where we saw about five months worth of the missiles. Every missile that falls in the region is brought to this police station. Over 6 truck loads of missile remnants have already been trucked off. We are including pictures of a rocket manufactured in Iran and fired on the town by the Palestinians and also of what a small portion of the remnants look like. Remember that much of the rocket explodes on impact and that the amount shown represents less than 15% of the total that have been fired at the civilians of Sderot.

Gaza:

We drove to an outlook overlooking Gaza, which was less than a mile from the border. While standing there, around 50 yards from the nearest home behind us, it is clear the danger that these people face very day. The security fence is clearly visible, as are the sensor towers. While standing there and realizing that should a Palestinian terrorist break through the security wall, that he could be in Sderot within five to ten minutes. It is very difficult for the Israeli Defense Force (the IDF) to respond to attacks from the Gaza, since the Palestinians usually launch their rocket attacks from schools, hospitals and other locations that put civilian lives at risk. They know that the IDF code of engagement requires the IDF to limit their response in such a way to mitigate civilian casualties.

Golda Meir once said that the Israel-Arab conflict will not end until Arabs care for their children as much as the Israelis care for Arab children. That statement is so accurate to describe the heinous actions of Hamas and the Palestinians ,who put their children at risk every day, children in whose lives they place no value.

Here are the consequences of the missile attacks:

1. Welfare: Sderot was a development town where many immigrants first came upon their arrival to Israel. It had a tough beginning, but had made much progress, dramatically reducing welfare and unemployment. Social services have jumped back up from 8% of the population (a number low by European and Israeli standards, though high by American standards) to over 30% due to the strains put on the community.


2. Loss of Population: Over 3,500 people have left, many without selling their homes. Most could not sell them, and others hope that the Israeli government will do something (anything) to eliminate the missile attacks, so that they can return to their homes.
   
3. Security: Security problems are extremely threatening, because more effective rockets are creating havoc. Katusha rockets are already being used. There have been 7,000 rockets over the last 7 years. The rockets are becoming ever more dangerous, with kill radiuses increasing from 5-10 yards to 50-75 yards.
   
4. Psychological damage: People often head to the shelters 20 times a day. The damage to the psyche is unbelievable. Around half the adults are considered to be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. 100% of the children are suffering from trauma. The potentially catastrophic consequences are unknown today, but most certainly will lead to most of the children leaving as soon as they can, and untold other issues over the years.

It is a shame that the government is not doing more to stop the rocket attacks. This town has had around 500 alerts in the last three months. It has affected the souls of the people living there.

We met a charming 25 year old woman who is a nurse taking care of children in a local hospital. She talked movingly about the impact on her personally and on the children. One missile fell about 15 feet from her bedroom. She was protected by the thick wall. Another fell outside the hospital room in which she was working. She talks of walking on glass all the time as a result of these close calls.

Another man said that "Everyone's souls are breaking. There is a black stain over everything we do. Why doesn't the government do something to stop this carnage?" In all of our meetings , we have yet to receive a very good reason for this failure.