Several hundred residents of Israeli communities near the Gaza border gathered along with supporters from across the country in the heart of Tel Aviv Thursday night, near the IDF headquarters, to protest what they say is government inaction to prevent the security reality that permeates their lives.
The protesters briefly blocked the bustling junction adjacent to Azrieli Towers.
The protest came a week after a burst of cross border violence, which saw 460 projectiles fired from Gaza at Israeli communities on Monday. One person was killed in the barrages.
Also Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited the heads of southern regional councils to a special meeting at his office. He also invited Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot and GOC Southern Command Maj. Gen. Herzl Halevi to attend the meeting.
The prime minister, chief of staff and GOC Southern Command presented details of the army's actions to combat terror from Gaza, and the discussion also focused on moving forward with the plan to fortify Gaza-area communities, which is slated to cost nearly half a billion shekels in 2019-2020.
The plan, which will be presented to the government in the coming weeks for approval, includes bolstering emergency medical services, informal education, welfare services and offering security grants to local authorities. The plan also includes tax breaks for farmers in the country's south and child care subsidies.
The protesters, meanwhile, carried signs saying "Let us grow up in peace" and "I'd be better off if I lived in the center [of Israel]."
Eli Levi from Kibbutz Kisufim near Gaza brought his family to the demonstration.
"We're fed up with how the government is 'taking care' of us," Levi told Israel Hayom. "[Regional Cooperation Minister] Tzachi Hangebi's comment that there is a difference between Tel Aviv and Gaza-area communities is unfortunate and idiotic. If we shut down central Tel Aviv, maybe they'll start noticing us a little. We aren't second class citizens compared to Tel Aviv."
Shani Heftel, one of the protest organizers, said: "We came to ask that our children be allowed to grow up in peace and quiet. It's important to emphasize that any violence, tire burning or calls to topple the government have nothing to do with us."
Dvir Sassi from Sderot said, "We are a state and opposite us is a terrorist organization that's dictating our daily life. We aren't willing to tolerate it, and we'll disrupt daily life in Tel Aviv as well."
Shaked Rosenzweig, 16, from Kibbutz Tze'elim, said: "We're demanding that the government give us long-term calm. After they fired almost 500 rockets at us in two days, Hamas is dictating when to shoot and when to stop."
