Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., March 04, 2008 Adar1 27, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:25 (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

Ashkelon's battle: Not to become Sderot By Daniel Ben Simon Over the years, Ashkelon has become a success story. From being mainly the home for an ongoing influx of new immigrants, it has developed into an attractive, well-kept seaside city boasting a high quality of life and abounding with tourists. Ashkelon was well on its way to becoming one of the leading locales in the country - until the rocket attacks of the last few days turned the southern city on its head, and reminded residents that they are only a few minutes away from the Qassam-battered city of Sderot. Local residents are now confronting a cruel new reality of disquiet and uncertainty face-to-face. What will the attacks do to the city, residents ask one another. How will it affect local businesses? Will the rockets lower the value of the houses? And the most serious question: Will life under the shadow of sirens and rockets cause people to flee? Advertisement Ashkelon Mayor Roni Mehatzri was holed up in the municipal war room yesterday, known to residents as "the pit." When he became mayor four years ago, it never crossed his mind that he would turn into the latest version of Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal, who regularly asks the government to protect his city from the ongoing Qassam rocket fire from the Gaza Strip. Mehatzri worked hard yesterday to sever any connection between his city and its ill-fated Negev neighbor. "I don't want to become Sderot," he said. "I just hope that it's a matter of mere days. No one in the city is considering living like this for a long time." Over the weekend dozens of Qassam rockets and Grad-type Katyushas were fired at Ashkelon, Sderot and communities bordering Gaza. A rocket scored a direct hit on an Ashkelon house Thursday and another crashed into the living room of a pair of retirees in Ashkelon early Saturday morning, leaving a gaping hole in the roof. The Defense Ministry ordered the early-warning "color red" alert system to be activated in Ashkelon on Friday. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak called Mehatzri to give him their support after the Saturday attack, as municipal employees worked to close the huge hole that a Grad missile left in back of a commercial center. The rocket shook and shattered everything in its path: car windows, glass and window blinds. Virtually no building was left without a sign of the 5 A.M. attack, which awakened thousands of residents. A hundred meters from the site where the rocket fell, Shmuel Cohen's apartment shook, causing his family to think an earthquake had hit. Cohen's wife went into hysterics and their children screamed in fear. They gathered in the living room and saw rocket fragments strike the house, destroying their possessions. Shmuel recited a blessing in synagogue later that day to thank God for sparing him and his family. The city center was desolate yesterday afternoon, as yet another Grad slammed into Ashkelon and deafening ambulance sirens could be heard. Yael Vaknin stood next to the city's emergency headquarters and smoked a cigarette to release some tension. "What scares me most is that they've targeted us," said Vaknin. "I have the feeling that Ashkelon won't go back to being what it was. That's it: As of this week, it's a totally different life. Because now there's something ticking in the heart of every resident. It's the ticking of the next rocket." Bookmark to del.icio.us   In the line of fire Rights Group: Over 50% of Gaza casualties weren't militants. Uncle Sam blames you U.S. blames Hamas for sparking violence in south Israel, Gaza.

Today Online IDF pulls troops out of Gaza, Hamas declares 'victory' Responses: 260 PM: Peace talks to go on, as will attacks on Hamas Responses: 152 Issacharoff and Harel: Hamas wants lull, but only on its own terms Responses: 47 'We thought you wanted peace,' says father of slain Gaza sisters Responses: 134 U.K. Jewish pupils boycott Shakespeare test over Bard's anti-Semitism Responses: 75 More Headlines 01:03 UN Security Council approves tougher sanctions against Iran 22:40 Abbas: I'm ready to negotiate a truce between Israel, Hamas 00:47 Obama says United States should not meet with Hamas 21:13 Palestinian killed in IAF strike on rocket squad in northern Gaza 00:00 Haaretz journalist Ehud Asheri dies of cancer at 57 01:29 Prof.: Psychotropic plants made Moses hear 'voices' at Mt Sinai 00:00 Knesset okays law increasing financial aid to Holocaust survivors 01:52 Berlin to start sealing cracks in Holocaust memorial slabs 22:31 White House blames Hamas for sparking violence in south Israel 21:39 Arab ex-MK Azmi Bishara meets Syrian President in Damascus 21:27 Four Palestinians arrested after attacking police officers in E. Jerusalem Previous Editions Select Day 03 mar 02 mar 29 feb 28 feb 27 feb 26 feb 25 feb 24 feb 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb

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