Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., June 22, 2008 Sivan 19, 5768 | | Israel Time: 22:42 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 02:52 19/06/2008 New dawn for kids who only know Qassams? By Avirama Golan Tags: sderot, gaza, truce, israel Gathered on the lawn of the Adam family's Sderot home Wednesday evening were six children, five adults and two dogs. Ya'ara and Nur, first-graders dying for the summer vacation to begin, hung upside down from the big swing. Aviv, the toddler who learned to walk two weeks ago, made her way courageously from her mother to the dog, and then back to her mother, on to the bowl with grapes, and then, squealing joyously, to the pile of children on the swing. It is hard to tell who would be quicker to respond if the Color Red alert were sounded: the toddler or the dumpy dog. During the past two days, the children of Sderot ran to the secure areas dozens of times. No one ridicules Color Red, but to the outsider it seems as if they are not really aware that a different reality exists: They leave everything, drop every toy dear to them and every other preoccupation, and rush into the reinforced room (those who have them at home), or another relatively protected area nearby - the closest wall - standing for a few seconds in silence, listening tensely. When they hear the blast, or even better, don't hear the blast, one of the children, usually the youngest, goes to the door and cautiously, lest he hear the screech of the microphone preceding the next Color Red alert, opens the door. A second later, all the children rush outside, followed by the dogs, who always follow them to the secure areas. Advertisement "I am tired of them writing that there are no casualties or damage," said Bosmat Lapid, a member of Migvan, an urban kibbutz, yesterday. "The psychological damage to the children is a daily phenomenon, and they are hurt." Lapid made these statements at a public hearing at the Sderot Cinematheque, held to mark seven years of Qassam attacks. A committee of volunteers from academia and the media served as a panel, and spent several hours listening to the testimonies of the people of Sderot. The testimonies were fascinating in their variety, representing different segments of the community, and offered by impressive, erudite representatives. But their complaint was uniform: Where is the state? In a city that is managed nearly entirely by local organizations funded by contributions (most from international Jewry) the sense of alienation from the authorities is only getting deeper. It has reached the point that it is not certain that on the day after the Qassams, when the donations may lessen, it will be possible to have normal community life in Sderot. Near the rose bushes that only several months ago had been destroyed by a Qassam, the Adam family did not talk about the future. Neither parent is promising that tomorrow will be calm. For the little ones this has been their reality, and the adults doubt a lull in the fighting is possible. We'll see, they said. It seems that it will take months, maybe years, of quiet, for them to believe. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Purchase price More consumers are letting their consciences do the shopping. Fighting fear N.Y. mayor urges Jewish voters to denounce Obama Muslim rumors.   1.   And the Palestinian kids? 08:27  |  Marilyn 20/06/08

Read & React Israel: There will be no Shalit deal unless Hamas is flexible Responses: 84 Yossi Melman: Israel is a long way from attacking Iran Responses: 114 Report: N. Koreans worked on Iran nukes at Syria plant hit by IAF Responses: 89 Gideon Levy: Does Israel really want peace? Responses: 99 More Headlines 22:24 High Court to state: Keep Gaza crossings closed until Monday 21:50 Hezbollah wants Palestinians included in prisoner swap 22:41 Sarkozy: France will never compromise Israel's security 16:32 Olmert: I'll fire Labor ministers who try to topple government 18:13 Iran threatens 'devastating' response if attacked by Israel 19:19 Panel: Germany gave Israel NIS 61.5 billion, Holocaust survivors got about half 22:42 Minister Ayalon: Israeli Arabs should have 'cultural independence' 22:05 Jewish teen brutally beaten in apparent anti-Semitic attack in Paris 15:17 Shin Bet: Terror activity, arms smuggling stepped up in Gaza 19:22 Ministers nix bill to move Bedouin living near toxic disposal site 14:21 Olmert: Israel can't keep taking handouts from Diaspora Jews 20:02 Teenager confesses to murder of Ramat Hasharon lawyer Previous Editions Select Day 20 jun 19 jun 18 jun 17 jun 16 jun 15 jun 13 jun 12 jun 11 jun 10 jun 09 jun 08 jun

Special Offers Advertisement Holyland Park Jerusalem Apartment Tower World Class Luxury In the heart of Tel-Aviv The Meier on Rothschild tower Jerusalem of Gold Luxury apartments in Jerusalem's finest location Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Free Hebrew Private Lesson www.iStudyHebrew.com Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy 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 Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations 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 |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved