Prime Minister Ehud Olmert this evening met with Sderot (http://tinyurl.com/3ll99p) Mayor Eli Moyal, Ashkelon (http://tinyurl.com/kermm) Mayor Roni Mehatzri, Netivot (http://www.netivot.muni.il/) Mayor Yehiel Zohar, Eshkol Regional Council (http://www.eshkol.info/) Chairman Haim Yellin, Ashkelon Coast Regional Council (http://www.hof-ashkelon.org.il/) Chairman Yair Parjon, Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council (http://www.sng.org.il/eng/) Chairman Alon Shuster, Sdot Negev Regional Council (http://www.sdotnegev.org.il/) Chairman Meir Yifrach and MK Shai Hermesh, in order to discuss the continued firing from Gaza (http://tinyurl.com/6lg4lk) at the communities in the areas adjacent to the Gaza Strip and life under the threat of rockets and mortars.
 
Prime Minister Olmert said: “I understand your situation and I know that the residents who are living under this continuing threat are courageous and strong.  We will not countenance the situation in which there is normal life in Gaza but in Sderot and Ashkelon, children fear to leave their homes.  I also ask every head of state who visits here if they would countenance firing at the residents of one of their cities.  It is important to me that you know that the IDF is active day and night.  In many cases, the firing that you receive is a result of our counter-terrorism actions.  Today, for example, Givati Brigade soldiers killed a Hamas militant in Gaza.  Operations continue without interruption.  At the same time, the Government is investing major, unprecedented, sums in your communities in order to assist the residents and improve the quality of their lives.  We know that the current situation cannot continue.  We are at a critical point on this issue and we will bring about a halt to the firing, one way or another.”
 
The community leaders told Prime Minster Olmert that they would support whatever decision the Government makes.  They also expressed their support for him, as well as their confidence in him.