Gisteren berichtten we dat de burgemeester van Sderot was afgetreden, maar op verzoek van minister van defensie Barak heeft hij besloten toch op zijn post te blijven. Het klinkt als een stunt om aandacht te vragen voor de Palestijnse Qassam raketten, maar op de radio zei hij al jaren te worstelen met zijn verantwoordelijkheid voor de burgers van een stad die continu onder vuur ligt:
"I cannot take the responsibility to manage a city that is under attack for seven years," he said. "If 20 children are killed tomorrow from a rocket, I will be asked, 'why did you open the kindergarten?' I have been deliberating matters pertaining to human life for years now, and I cannot continue," he said.
Moyal said later that "this is a decision I have been weighing for many years. A year ago I threatened to quit, and today I have reached a decision. For seven years no one has taken responsibility for what is happening here. It is unreasonable to start the morning with eight Qassams. I am not willing to take this responsibility. I was chosen to manage a city, and not this situation."
"I cannot take the responsibility to manage a city that is under attack for seven years," he said. "If 20 children are killed tomorrow from a rocket, I will be asked, 'why did you open the kindergarten?' I have been deliberating matters pertaining to human life for years now, and I cannot continue," he said.
Moyal said later that "this is a decision I have been weighing for many years. A year ago I threatened to quit, and today I have reached a decision. For seven years no one has taken responsibility for what is happening here. It is unreasonable to start the morning with eight Qassams. I am not willing to take this responsibility. I was chosen to manage a city, and not this situation."
Maar waarom wil hij die verantwoordelijkheid dan wel weer nemen nadat Barak met hem heeft gepraat? Hij zei ook dat hij hoopte dat zijn ontslag tot een grootschalige operatie tegen de Qassams zal leiden. En misschien heeft Barak wat dit betreft concrete toezeggingen gedaan.
Ratna
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Last update - 20:43 13/12/2007
Sderot mayor Eli Moyal rescinds resignation at Barak's request
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Last update - 20:43 13/12/2007
Sderot mayor Eli Moyal rescinds resignation at Barak's request
By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent and The Associated Press
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/934335.html
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/934335.html
Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal decided on Thursday to remain in his post after submitting his resignation the day before, according to sources close to him.
Moyal changed his mind at Defense Minister Ehud Barak's request. The two met Thursday evening.
Moyal announced he would step down after a barrage of at least 17 Qassam rockets struck the western Negev on Wednesday morning. He cited his inability to function as mayor in the difficult security situation as reason for his resignation.
Barak told Moyal that his responsibility and commitment to the people of Sderot takes precedence over every other consideration, and that replacing him at this time would not be possible. He also promised him that the defense establishment would make an effort to find a solution to the Qassam problem.
Before meeting with Barak, the mayor told Haaretz he was debating his next move. "If the Defense Minister tells me 'stay,' then from my end, that's like being called to reserve duty."
The announcement came soon after a Qassam rocket fired from the Gaza Strip struck the porch of a Sderot house on Thursday. A 40-year-old woman was moderately wounded from the impact of the strike, and taken to the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon for treatment. Two other people suffered from shock.
In an interview with Israel Radio on Wednesday, Moyal blamed the government for an evasion of responsibility and helplessness against the threat from Gaza, saying he hoped his resignation would encourage a major military operation in the coastal territory.
"I cannot take the responsibility to manage a city that is under attack for seven years," he said. "If 20 children are killed tomorrow from a rocket, I will be asked, 'why did you open the kindergarten?' I have been deliberating matters pertaining to human life for years now, and I cannot continue," he said.
Moyal said later that "this is a decision I have been weighing for many years. A year ago I threatened to quit, and today I have reached a decision. For seven years no one has taken responsibility for what is happening here. It is unreasonable to start the morning with eight Qassams. I am not willing to take this responsibility. I was chosen to manage a city, and not this situation."
Incoming UN envoy denounces Qassam attack
The incoming UN Mideast envoy, Robert Serry, denounced Thursday's rocket attack in unusually strong terms after meeting with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. "Let me be clear about this: We consider that to be terrorist acts," he said.
Earlier Thursday, militants fired three Qassam rockets toward the western Negev. Only one of the rockets was located. No injuries or damages were reported in the incident.
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