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Last update - 22:04 03/10/2009
Sderot mayor to Goldstone: When rockets hit us you were silent
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Gaza, Israel news 

Click here for more on the Goldstone commission report on the Gaza conflict

Mayor of the southern Israeli town of Sderot, David Buskila, on Saturday sent a scathing letter to South African justice Richard Goldstone, who headed the United Nations fact finding mission on Israel's offensive in Gaza last winter.

Goldstone's commission compiled a report accusing both Israel and Hamas of war crimes during the three-week offensive.
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Buskila, whose city of Sderot has been bombarded by Qassam rockets fired from Gaza for eight years, accused Goldstone of remaining silent while "8,000 rockets pounded us."

In his letter, Buskila wrote that his city had suffered from Hamas' aggression more than any other israeli city, with death and destruction that left an indelible mark on the residents of the city.

"The world, and you in it, was silent. You were silent in the face of the dead bodies of our children, in the face of our children's frightened eyes, you were silent in the face of every one of the 8,000 Qassam rockets that hit our city," Buskila wrote.

"Your silence was frightening, and reminiscent of things forgotten," he added.

The letter began with the mention of three Sderot children who were killed in rocket attacks. "The blood of the children whose lives were cut short is screaming out from the earth, there is no redemption and no forgiveness for the blood of a little child whose short existence had not yet taught him that there is evil and that there are wars," Buskila wrote, attaching pictures of the three children "who will never grow up" to the letter.

The Sderot mayor also expressed his identification with the Palestinian people, writing that "I regret and am sorry for the death of every Palestinian child, I feel the pain of the Palestinian civilians, but let's not ignore the facts - the leaders of Hamas and other fundamental Islamic terror organizations are to blame for the suffering of Sderot residents and their children, as well as the suffering of Gaza's residents. These people, whose sole purpose in life are war crimes, and to whom the norms of the West do not apply, are to blame."

Buskila concluded his letter by expressing hope that "peace will prevail in our region, and I invite you to personally examine the suffering of the residents of Sderot, who represent the other part of the equation, the part you didn't bother understanding."

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      1.   WELL DONE, MAYOR 22:04  |  RON 03/10/09
      2.   Goldstone report a miserable failure of the UN 22:05  |  Joe Sittizen 03/10/09
      3.   Correction: Rockets ARE HITTING US NOW 22:08  |  Dan 03/10/09
      4.   Indeed, well done, Mr. Mayor 22:15  |  Linichka 03/10/09
      5.   Goldstone had to do it for you, Mr Mayor. 22:15  |  Clarissa Nortonshire 03/10/09
      6.   LIE 22:22  |  JEAN MARIE LEKEN 03/10/09
      7.   Finally, Someone Told the Truth 22:27  |  massaraksh 03/10/09
      8.   I`m also curious 22:33  |  Gene 03/10/09
      9.   Sderot is actually part of gaza you know 22:35  |  check the map 03/10/09
      10.   Goldstone report a miserable failure of the UN 23:00  |  Joe Sittizen 03/10/09
      11.   JEAN MARIE LEKEN - it`s not a lie, you misread 23:04  |  Joe Sittizen 03/10/09
      12.   JEAN MARIE LEKEN - it`s not a lie, you misread 23:10  |  Joe Sittizen 03/10/09
      13.   The truth is that Goldstone requested to include Sderot etc 23:19  |  Esther 03/10/09
      14.   Goldstone is a nobody 23:29  |  x-ray 03/10/09
      15.   4 Jean Marie Leken - He`s a Politician 23:52  |  Mark of Lewiston 03/10/09
      16.   Visiting Sderot 23:52  |  reader 03/10/09
      17.   Goldstone had no role then 23:53  |  WHG 03/10/09
      18.   re: Number 7 00:12  |  Eric 04/10/09
      19.   Another guy who didn`t read the report 00:17  |  Mark Lincoln 04/10/09
      20.   Did he actually read it? 00:24  |  Paulo 04/10/09
      21.   To #7 00:28  |  sarah 04/10/09
      22.   100 Gazan kids for every Israeli youngster 00:31  |  Solovey Razboynik 04/10/09
      23.   check the map 00:33  |  David LG 04/10/09
      24.   Leken i Palestinian TA 00:33  |  Israeli 04/10/09
      25.   The mayor is 100% correct.there will be a time when the world 00:47  |  ks 04/10/09
      26.   talk back censorship 00:55  |  bob 04/10/09
      27.   History repeating itself 01:28  |  A TRUE American 04/10/09
      28.   The Mayor is wrong 01:35  |  Manny Goldstein 04/10/09
      29.   When Russia invaded us, you were silent, Mr Mayor 01:54  |  Mikhail, Georgia 04/10/09
      30.   Sderot mayor to Goldstone: When rockets hit us you were silent 01:56  |  gideon ben yoash 04/10/09
      31.   Personna Non-gratta in Sderot and in Israel 01:57  |  leon 04/10/09
      32.   Perhaps another censor will allow 02:03  |  Mark Lincoln 04/10/09
      33.   The mayor can claim his case in the courtroom 02:05  |  Miki 04/10/09
      34.   #7 02:15  |  Randy 04/10/09
      35.   Yes remember the facts 02:19  |  Kieran 04/10/09
      36.   Goldstone wants to be appointed to the World Court 02:25  |  Murray of Montreal 04/10/09
      37.   rockets are hitting 03:01  |  sarah 04/10/09
      38.   OTOH, Israel`s MoFA didn`t complain about the silence! 03:19  |  Robert 04/10/09
      39.   #3 J. M. Leken 03:52  |  Franco 04/10/09
      40.   LIE - very cute 04:15  |  Ron 04/10/09
      41.   Really, Palestinians Need Fair Friends! 04:20  |  soeasytomakefriends 04/10/09
      42.   For those who don`t understand English 04:32  |  Gene 04/10/09
      43.   He should have read the report 04:37  |  Tarik 04/10/09
      44.   To the Loony Tunes 06:56  |  Mark Lincoln 04/10/09
      45.   Why idiots like the mayor of Sderot win 07:00  |  Mark Lincoln 04/10/09
      46.   IT is no secret 07:06  |  Mark Lincoln 04/10/09
      47.   Mark Lincoln way to simplistic 07:14  |  get a clue 04/10/09
      48.   Answer to #45 - Mark Lincoln 07:26  |  Col [Res] Cohen 04/10/09
      49.   Why Mark Lincoln or who ever else behind this name 07:42  |  Anna 04/10/09
      50.   Screams from the earth 09:09  |  Richard Pearce 04/10/09
      51.   #28 manny goldx and a report by a judge 09:19  |  v hardman 04/10/09
      52.   Mr Mayor, where is your outrage 09:23  |  Richard Pearce 04/10/09
      53.   Goldstone`s Apologists are the liars - Read Post #12 09:26  |  The Prophet 04/10/09
      54.   Goldstone`s Apologists are the liars-read post #12 09:29  |  The Prophet 04/10/09
      55.   #11,#25,#39 etc... 09:31  |  Jean Marie Leken 04/10/09
      56.   Sderot Mayor 09:46  |  Shaul Sassoon 04/10/09
      57.   World blind to Israel`s suffering 09:54  |  Chaim Ben Kahan 04/10/09
      58.   Esther #13 - Answer... 09:55  |  S 04/10/09
      59.   8 years Quassams 13 people die 10:00  |  Tom 04/10/09
      60.   sderot is not the center of the world... 10:04  |  ben 04/10/09
      61.   Mayor of Siderot 10:14  |  john Spear 04/10/09
      62.   Did anyone ask him too? 10:16  |  Marilyn 04/10/09
      63.   No 27, get a grip on reality 10:20  |  Marilyn 04/10/09
      64.   Why don`t you suggest a solutin Mark? 10:26  |  Ki`emli 04/10/09
      65.   Yasher Ko`ach Mr. Mayor 10:26  |  Ki`emli 04/10/09
      66.   Man`n`y reasons to criticize 10:28  |  Ki`emli 04/10/09
      67.   Bravo Mayor Buskila!! 11:04  |  Petra 04/10/09
      68.   # 22 Solovey Razboynik really? 11:16  |  petra 04/10/09
      69.   soeasytomakefriends 11:18  |  Petra 04/10/09
      70.   Gene The Mayor was right! 11:20  |  Petra 04/10/09
      71.   I worked at the UN for few years 12:04  |  cant tell 04/10/09
      72.   And why were they shooting rockets in the first place? 12:31  |  Think about it 04/10/09
      73.   no rights 12:42  |  doubter 04/10/09
      74.   joe sittizen 11 12:45  |  potobac 04/10/09
      75.   un 12:51  |  OZ 04/10/09
      76.   Mark of Lincoln of Houston 12:53  |  Proud Israeli 04/10/09
      77.   When rockets hit us 13:33  |  a wandering Jew 04/10/09
      78.   You are mistake, I am sorry 14:28  |  ana 04/10/09
      79.   Israeli Gov`t chose not to participate..remember? 14:28  |  Tim 04/10/09
      80.   Esther #13 - Answer...2nd try 14:29  |  S 04/10/09
      81.   Mr. Mayor, where is your outrage 14:41  |  Richard Pearce 04/10/09
      82.   To Mark Lincoln, you have a reading comprehension 14:47  |  AA 04/10/09
      83.   When rockets hit, most of the world was silent. 14:48  |  Murray of Montreal 04/10/09
      84.   And why the rockets? 14:55  |  W 04/10/09
      85.   The mayor is an idiot 15:02  |  Roo 04/10/09
      86.   Proud Israeli-foolish Israeli 15:12  |  Roo 04/10/09
      87.   The mayor is lying and Haaretz is protecting the lie: 15:19  |  BBSNews 04/10/09
      88.   Sderot mayor never mentioned the word peace. 15:19  |  Uri Weinstein 04/10/09
      89.   What`s with the censorship? The mayor is LYING! 15:24  |  BBSNews 04/10/09
      90.   Sderot`s mayor is a big honking liar... 15:27  |  BBSNews 04/10/09
      91.   AA, you brought on the rockets yourselves... 15:33  |  BBSNews 04/10/09
      92.   People still don`t understand 15:43  |  Gene 04/10/09
      93.   BBSNews goes wild! 16:05  |  Daniel 04/10/09
      94.   #6 JEAN MARIE LEKEN doesn`t get the point 16:12  |  Maurice 04/10/09
      95.   Israel Has Nothing to Gain From Cooperation With UN 16:13  |  massaraksh 04/10/09
      96.   Still No Protests? 16:16  |  FOX 04/10/09
      97.   AA, and a reality comprehension problem... 16:22  |  BBSNews 04/10/09
      98.   Tom and 8yrs+13 dead 16:26  |  A TRUE American 04/10/09
      99.   B.S.News forgot to take his meds this morning. 16:30  |  flyingdoc57 04/10/09
      100.   The Report Does Not Question Israel`s 16:31  |  ARTH 04/10/09
      101.   Israel`s Failure to Cooperate wasn`t to its 16:33  |  ARTH 04/10/09
      102.   Daniel, I was one of the first to call it a war crime... 16:35  |  BBSNews 04/10/09
      103.   Mark Lincoln, it`s a matter of timing. 16:39  |  Tzfonit 04/10/09
      104.   The mayor`s deiverionary tactic 16:41  |  David 04/10/09
      105.   B.S.News (#102) lies and lies and lies. 16:59  |  flyingdoc57 04/10/09
      106.   To ARTH 17:01  |  Gene 04/10/09
      107.   BBNEWS, find your spectacles, please 17:03  |  Morris Valentine 04/10/09
      108.   FOX . Do we? 17:03  |  emad 04/10/09
      109.   The attacks on Glodstone are getting more stupid and demagogic 17:10  |  Adam 04/10/09
      110.   Tzfonit, why are over a thousand dead Gazans 17:19  |  Roo 04/10/09
      111.   Morris Valentine and muddling your words 17:35  |  Roo 04/10/09
      112.   Adam (# 109), and semantics. 17:37  |  flyingdoc57 04/10/09
      113.   Morris, find your morals please... 17:53  |  BBSNews 04/10/09
      114.   B.S.News to Morris (# 113). 18:12  |  flyingdoc57 04/10/09
      115.   EMAD, seems you do not care 18:16  |  FOX 04/10/09
      116.   We would ask BBSNews...... 18:24  |  Christopher 04/10/09
      117.   Reality Check 18:25  |  A TRUE American 04/10/09
      118.   silent? 18:28  |  reader 04/10/09
      119.   gaza on the palestinians side? 18:32  |  charro 04/10/09
      120.   Tribes versus Sovereign States -- Comparable? 18:33  |  Moll 04/10/09
      121.   Thank you, Mr. mayor!!!!!!!!!! 18:36  |  Eitan 04/10/09
      122.   Emad 108 Hamas ended ceasefire and increased missile attacks 18:43  |  Realist 04/10/09
      123.   Goldstone anti-Israel and anti-Zionist prior to report 18:43  |  Leah 04/10/09
      124.   Reply to Leah in Cape Town, South Africa (Post 123) 19:13  |  Johnny Weintraub 04/10/09
      125.   #122 Realist 19:14  |  BDS 04/10/09
      126.   #106 19:19  |  ARTH 04/10/09
      127.   #3 19:20  |  ARTH 04/10/09
      128.   Clear answer to Roo`s muddled question 19:21  |  Morris Valentine 04/10/09
      129.   (`Realist`!) and FOX 19:25  |  emad 04/10/09
      130.   Finally, someone puts matters on the table. Thank you Mr. Mayor. 19:33  |  Daniela 04/10/09
      131.   Morris Valentine, as clear as mud 19:59  |  Roo 04/10/09
      132.   emad, preach on brutha! 20:28  |  BBSNews 04/10/09
      133.   Flyingdoc57 (#112): The UN mad quite a number of satetments about 20:30  |  Adam 04/10/09
      134.   Morris my imey loaf---Goldstone was quiet 20:32  |  Labhras 04/10/09
      135.   BDS does irony 20:36  |  SDHD 04/10/09
      136.   Morris the conflict did not start with the Hamas rockets 20:44  |  Labhras 04/10/09
      137.   Emad - not paying attention and BSNews cheerleads. 20:47  |  SDHD 04/10/09
      138.   #124 Johhny Weintraub very funny post 21:45  |  Labhras 04/10/09
      139.   Amen , Joe Sittizen, could not have said it better 21:49  |  jj 04/10/09
      140.   Time to `fess up 22:14  |  BBSNews 04/10/09
      141.   two points to remember 22:19  |  Etna 04/10/09
      142.   To ARTH 23:05  |  Gene 04/10/09
      143.   Silence on War Crimes 23:08  |  Richard Pearce 04/10/09
      144.   No Leah, Goldstone is a life-long and 23:19  |  Mark Lincoln 04/10/09
      145.   To Etna 23:23  |  Gene 04/10/09
      146.   Smearing Richard Goldstone 23:31  |  Mark Lincoln 04/10/09
      147.   Jonny Weintraub - your reasoning correct 23:41  |  Mark Lincoln 04/10/09
      148.   Dummy Mayor, did you read it? 00:04  |  Ronald 05/10/09
      149.   To Emad`s argument 00:30  |  Anna 05/10/09
      150.   Easy,Etna! 00:51  |  Anna 05/10/09
      151.   Emad - you might add 01:02  |  Mark Lincoln 05/10/09
      152.   Tzfonit - babble 01:13  |  Mark Lincoln 05/10/09
      153.   The Goldstone Report findings about rockets 01:20  |  Mark Lincoln 05/10/09
      154.   Col [Res] Cohen, wow, great rebuttal... 01:37  |  BBSNews 05/10/09
      155.   You are a liar Tzfonit 01:40  |  Mark Lincoln 05/10/09
      156.   was everyone silent? 02:09  |  Mark Lincoln 05/10/09
      157.   LINCOLN YOU did not read the report or pretend you dont get it 02:26  |  PETER SM 05/10/09
      158.   SOLOVEY RAZBOYNIK.NOBODY was firing FROM Sedrot homes,schools 02:45  |  PETER SM 05/10/09
      159.   #68 petra and murderous infants 03:22  |  Solovey Razboynik 05/10/09
      160.   The creation of Israel is a miserable failure of the UN 06:35  |  American 05/10/09
      161.   To Mark Lincoln 06:37  |  Vitaliy 05/10/09
      162.   The mayor should have sent that letter to the Israeli government 08:37  |  Dutch 05/10/09
      163.   95 massaraksh 09:27  |  john and the truth 05/10/09
      164.   Lincoln silent?f No just mumbling 10:32  |  FOX 05/10/09
      165.   Fox, Re : Feeding off 11:31  |  Dutch 05/10/09
      166.   #142 17:23  |  ARTH 05/10/09
      167.   #151 Mark Lincoln 19:36  |  Franco 09/10/09
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