BICOM

Israeli residents of communities close to the Gaza Strip protested for a second night against the ceasefire agreed with Hamas on Tuesday. Earlier in the week, residents in southern Israeli towns spent 24 hours in bomb shelters as 500 missiles were fired from Gaza.

Demonstrators blocked roads and burnt tyres, with some chanting “Bibi go home,” “Bibi, we’re fed up—we want security,” and “treat Sderot the same as Tel Aviv”. Many local residents fear the ceasefire will be fragile, temporary and just another phase in an ongoing cycle of violence with Hamas.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the ceasefire in a speech yesterday saying, “leadership is not doing the easy thing. Leadership is doing the right thing, even if it’s difficult”. Speaking at a memorial for David Ben-Gurion in the Negev, Netanyahu added: “In times of trial, Ben-Gurion made fateful decisions. Sometimes he did so contrary to popular opinion, but over time, these decisions turned out to be correct.”

Zionist Union leader Avi Gabbay expressed support for the protesters, saying it was a “justified” response to the Government “forsaking” them. He said the Government had failed the south by “neglecting” the issue of Gaza since the 2014 war. “This is not the time for another fragile truce,” he said. “This is the time for a true diplomatic initiative in Gaza that will lean on the recommendations of the security establishment.”

Avigdor Lieberman resigned as Defence Minister yesterday because he opposed the ceasefire with Hamas. In his press conference yesterday morning he said: “There is no other definition, no other significance, but a capitulation to terror,” adding: “What we are doing now as a country is buying short-term quiet at the cost of our long-term security.”