Sderot: Palestinians aiding Israel caught between a Kassam and a hard place

October 5, 2006 - 8:31 AM by Dave

The government is relocating hundreds of Palestinians who have aided Israel in – wait for it – Sderot, the bullseye of thousands of Kassam rockets from nearby Gaza.

According to Ynew News,

The falling property values allowed many families of Palestinian cooperating with the Israeli government and defense forces to buy homes, even mansions, in the more targeted areas of the city.

In the past six months, some ten Palestinian families arrived in Sderot, joining the 250-300 Palestinians already living there. Attorney Nathan Shreiber, who represents the Palestinians in the region, told Ynet that lowered housing costs are not the only incentive for the families to move to Sderot.

“As the situation in Gaza escalates, so the flow of people will increase,” he says.

Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal, flanked by GPO chief Danny Seaman.
Click for audio interview. (Photo: Dave Bender)

Eli Moyal, the town’s beleagured mayor must feel sandbagged about this development. Here’s what he told Americans (audio podcast) when I spoke with him about coping with Kassams. Here my video from that press conference, where he speaks his mind at length. Wonder what he’s telling his residents – and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert – now.

Cowering with Sderot children during
Kassam barrage. (Channel 1)

Resident and youth counselor Avital Morer, 19 (in photo) explained her feelings about the situation (podcast) when I spoke with her at the height of the bombardment. Here’s what she told me on-camera.