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Last update - 02:53 02/05/2008 Between Qassams and poverty, especially tough times in Sderot By Fadi Eyadat, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Sderot, Israel, Qassams, Gaza A man in his 70s picks up one whole chicken, a package of rice, a loaf of bread and fruit and approaches the check-out counter at Super Dahan's grocery store in Sderot. He produces a NIS 100 voucher he received from storeowner Daniel Dahan. The cashier rings up a total of NIS 240, and the man must return some of the products to the shelves. The cashier at the next counter catches an elderly customer stealing basic products. Advertisement "People are leaving Sderot every day. Those who stay in town are the lowest income earners and now with the rise in food prices they have to steal," says Dahan. He has a drawer full of vouchers he hands out to needy people. "They should come to me and ask before reaching this situation," he says. Dozens of stores have shut down in Sderot in recent months, leaving an empty space in the town's center. Suppliers are fulfilling fewer orders at local grocery stores, fearing they will not be paid. Those who have not closed down are hardly making a living. "On days when there's a rocket alert, people stay at home, work goes down by 70 percent at least and business owners know they have no reason to open their store that day," the owner of Cohen spice shop says. Shimon Edri, the municipal official in charge of business development, says that most businesses should close down, judging by their profits. "But I can't tell them that. People have invested their lives in their businesses. Today the criterion isn't whether you've closed down but whether you make NIS 100 a day. And that's before paying rent, maintenance and taxes," he says. He says 120 business owners took loans of NIS 50,000 over the past six months. "Another 80 who applied were turned down because their checks had bounced. It's not because of mismanagement but because of the security situation," he says. Although the cabinet has approved a 50 percent tax cut for Sderot's small business owners, they are still being charged the full price due to red tape and footdragging between the interior and finance ministries. One merchant, Aharon Hugi, tried to lead a "tax rebellion," but his account was foreclosed as soon as he didn't pay up. Sderot's municipality, business owners' committee and the Industry Trade and Employment Ministry have begun looking for markets out of town. They have set up an Internet site and service hotline to allow consumers from all over Israel to do their shopping in Sderot. "In the last holiday, Zim Integrated Shipping Services and Haifa Oil Refineries bought 600 Passover food packages for needy families. It wasn't only economic assistance, it helped raise morale as well," says Dahan. Sderot business owners travel to fairs all over the country and consumer convoys come to Sderot, says Edri. "This solidarity and warmth of the people warms the heart and suddenly things aren't so difficult." On my way out of Dahan's grocery store, I glimpsed three Jerusalemites shopping in Sderot to show their support. "What hurts me most is that every time I leave Sderot there's a Red Color alert," says Netanya Ginsburg, of Jerusalem. "I know that I came here and bought things, but you people continue to live with the rocket alerts. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Under probe Olmert stays focused on work despite new allegations. Taxi Hamas Hamas police cars serve as taxis in fuel-starved Gaza.   1.   Why are they paying taxes at all? 03:07  |  Jon 02/05/08   2.   Citizens of Sderot should be getting COMBAT PAY 04:31  |  * BEN JABO 02/05/08   3.   This is the good news 05:09  |  Shahid 02/05/08   4.   Where Are All Of the Jewish Philanthropists ? 05:15  |  Tod Zuckerman 02/05/08   5.   Under the rockets in Sderot. 09:33  |  Jean Van Daem 02/05/08   6.   and where are you and your "feel good" congregation 09:55  |  samos 02/05/08   7.   Tod Z.,Jewish Lefties viciously attacked Gaydamark when he 11:11  |  Absolute Sweden 02/05/08   8.   We know Shahid #3 11:24  |  S 02/05/08   9.   Sderot still much better off than Gaza 11:51  |  Natallie Durson 02/05/08   10.   #9 13:03  |  Cyclops 02/05/08   11.   TOUGH TIMES!!!! 13:59  |  Mary 02/05/08   12.   #11 Mary - Let me explain it to you 14:36  |  * BEN JABO 02/05/08   13.   #4 Tod Zuckerman 15:34  |  * BEN JABO 02/05/08   14.   Not as tough as in Gaza 18:50  |  Mark Lincoln 02/05/08   15.   Not as tough as in Gaza 04:12  |  Logic 03/05/08   16.   not so innocent 04:15  |  Logic 03/05/08   17.   For Mary 04:17  |  Logic 03/05/08   18.   I wish I got to Sderot 12:34  |  Yered Shmuel 03/05/08   19.   how can I help 19:17  |  anna 05/05/08

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