The security reality that has been forced upon Gan Yavne in the last few days is not completely foreign. In December 2008, the first rocket fell on our area, landing in an open field. That rocket was considered the "opening salvo" for Operation Cast Lead. Since then, we have experienced three rounds of rocket fire, all of different scales, in which Hamas and other terrorist organizations put half a million residents of the country's south and center under constant threat of missiles. If the state of Israel does not create a clear and defined deterrent, missiles will creep all the way up to the southern Tel Aviv suburbs of Nes Ziona and Rishon Lezion. From there, the road to Tel Aviv via the Ayalon highway is a very short ride. In all of modern history, I do not know of a single democratic state that would allow such routine disruptions to its residents' daily lives in such an unprecedented manner. Over and over again, we find that we are forced to get used to this type of "routine emergency." This situation is absolutely unacceptable. The government of Israel needs to respond appropriately, making the protection of its citizens and children its top priority. The Israeli government must react in a way that is clear and decisive, to its residents as well as to its enemies. Throughout the region, numerous kindergartens do not have the proper infrastructure to protect children from rocket attacks. Thousands of children are constantly in danger, subject to the whims of terrorist organizations while in their preschools and schools, the places where they are supposed to be the safest. Why wait? God forbid one of these missiles hits an unprotected building where children are supposed to be learning. Indeed, it is miraculous that the schools that were hit in this week's renewed rocket barrage had no students inside at the time. But how long can we keep trusting dumb luck- It is my belief that any attempt to bring normalcy and routine back to our region while we are still filled with uncertainty is both wrong and ultimately doomed to failure. Our residents want the real quiet they deserve. They are strong and ready, willing to use the tenacity necessary to support the Israeli government when it takes the firm, determined steps to bring the power of deterrence back to the state of Israel and bring permanent quiet back into our territory. The writer is the mayor of Gan Yavne.
As the head of a regional council responsible for the lives of 22,000 residents, and as a father of eight, some of whom are in the army, some who have already completed their service and a few who are expected to join the army later on, I expect the leaders of my country to react with determination to ensure that we do not turn into captives of this repetitive bloody cycle.
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