Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., February 12, 2008 Adar1 6, 5768 | | Israel Time: 20:47 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Police facing protestors in Jerusalem Monday night (Daniel Bar On / Jini) Last update - 23:48 11/02/2008 Police arrest five at Sderot residents' protest in Jerusalem By Ruth Sinai and Yigal Hai, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service Tags: Sderot, Hamas, Israel  Police detained five demonstrators for questioning Monday after they blocked Jerusalem streets during a second day of protests organized by the Qassam-battered town of Sderot against government inaction to halt the rocket fire. Hundreds of Sderot residents and their supporters erected on Monday night a protest tent opposite the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, near the Prime Minister's Office. They also blocked several roads in the capital, which were subsequently reopened. Alon Davidi of the Committee for a Secure Sderot addressed the demonstrators, and called on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to resign. Advertisement Sderot mayor Eli Moyal and National Union whip MK Uri Ariel have visited the tent. Earlier on Monday, protesters blocked Tel Aviv's central Ayalon freeway and then marched to the Defense Ministry's compound. Some 150 residents marched down the highway, the city's major traffic artery, which cuts through the heart of the city. They headed for the Defense Ministry compound in Tel Aviv, while police tried to convince them to stop blocking traffic. After a few hours, the protestors reached the defense establishment compound and began protesting in front of its gates. Demonstrators chanted "Olmert, go home," and "Red Color" [the code for a Qassam alert]. They also urged Defense Minister Ehud Barak to resign. Hamas said it fired 135 rockets between Tuesday and Saturday. Since Sunday, however, there has been a lull of more than 24 hours in Qassam and mortars fire. Sderot residents said Monday morning that there had been lulls before, but Palestinian gunners had returned in each case to resume fire. On Sunday, where protesters wearing red shirts blocked the main entrance to the capital and brought traffic in and out of Jerusalem to a halt for more than an hour. In addition, some 200 Sderot and Gaza-border residents demonstrated Sunday outside the Prime Minister's Office against the government's handling of the Qassam bombardment of the western Negev. At the Sunday rally, demonstrators displayed shrapnel from Qassam rockets as well as pictures showing wounds suffered by Sderot residents as a result of the attack. Protesters held up banners reading "the fate of Tel Aviv is the same as Sderot," "our children are being targeted" and "no security, no shelter, no government." From the city entrance, protesters Sunday marched to the nearby Prime Minister's Office, where the weekly government meeting had just ended. Some protesters tried to storm the building but were held back by police. "We begged one of the ministers at the cabinet meeting to come out and tell us what Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government is planning for us to bring back normal life to Sderot," Alon Davidi, a social activist, said. "But then it turned out Olmert avoided us and fled to Germany." The demonstration ended a few hours later with a prayer recited by the remaining protesters. A number of people erected a protest tent where residents whose houses were hit by Qassam rockets were invited to talk about their experience. Activists announced that they plan on holding a number of protests over the coming few days in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv until Olmert returns from his visit to Germany. Related articles: ANALYSIS / New Hamas tactic: Bomb Israel into a truce State won't relieve mortgage of Sderot's 'house hostages' IDF to step up targeted killings of key Hamas men Israel begins reducing electricity supply to Gaza Gaza power plant shuts down due to fuel blockade Bookmark to del.icio.us   Google N for Nakba Israeli town sues Google over claim it was built on ruins of Palestinian village. A Belgian treat U.S. Jew says he was kicked out of a Bruges cafe because he was wearing a skullcap.   1.   JAIL THEM FOR A LONG TIME 13:17  |  JD 11/02/08   2.   I bet they are glad to spend a day 14:33  |  Matthew Kretzmer 11/02/08   3.   IDF has failed because it`s paralysed by Political Commissaries 16:22  |  Absolute Sweden 11/02/08   4.   1 19:31  |  Denie 11/02/08   5.   Sderot not worthy of safety? 20:55  |  Rick 11/02/08   6.   I have a solution 22:57  |  Gee 11/02/08   7.   GOOD FOR THEM 23:12  |  TOBIA 11/02/08   8.   A Corrupted Democracy Have a No-Refund Policy on Election Mistake 23:49  |  Joseph . E 11/02/08   9.   Dana Olmert wasn`t arrested for demonstrating in front of DM and 00:14  |  Absolute Sweden 12/02/08   10.   Dana Olmert 00:22  |  Connie 12/02/08   11.   arrests 01:00  |  geroge 12/02/08   12.   #1 JD - You`re asking to jail the wrong people 01:15  |  * BEN JABO 12/02/08   13.   Nervous Nellies 02:57  |  JOJO (USA) 12/02/08   14.   soon 17:57  |  Adam 12/02/08

Today Online Bradley Burston: Sderot as Stalingrad, Hamas as Samson Responses: 100 Ahmed Yousef: Palestinian revenge was inevitable Responses: 108 Israeli town sues Google over claim it was built on Arab village Responses: 146 Minister: No freeze on Jewish house building in E. J'lem Responses: 25 Krakow church holds service slamming 'kikes who spit on us' Responses: 147 Rosner's Domain Guest: Why does Obama think talking to "Hitler" can succeed? Obama is gaining momentum- also within the Jews Democratic policy unity is a mirage (WTR) Poll: Is it legitimate to cut electricity to Gaza? Factor: How's McCain better than Obama More Headlines 20:06 IDF soldier moderately hurt in stabbing attack near Jenin 18:59 Majadele: New Arab city will bolster our sense of belonging 20:30 Turkish min.: Israeli terms for satellite sale could hamper deal 19:00 Merkel to PM: Gazans suffering due to Qassam fire 19:03 Peres: If we're fired upon, we must hit back without hesitation 19:16 Poland won't sue author of book on post-WWII anti-Semitism 20:08 FM to attend Lantos memorial service in Washington, may meet Rice 16:56 Hoenlein says 'concerned' by atmosphere surrounding Obama campaign 19:45 Prosecutor rejects appeal in case of killing of Palestinian girl 17:36 Al Gore, Israeli author Amos Oz win Dan David Prize 14:06 Top reservists: Roadblocks in W. Bank do more harm than good 17:01 Asian eateries cut menu over plans to rid kitchens of foreign chefs 17:30 Namibia invites Israelis investors to help polish its diamonds Previous Editions Select Day 11 feb 10 feb 08 feb 07 feb 06 feb 05 feb 04 feb 03 feb 01 feb 31 jan 30 jan 29 jan

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations U.S. CITIZEN IN ISRAEL Register now to vote in national election. Do not wait. Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved