Day to day coverage of Gaza by World War 4 Report

http://ww4report.com/node/6621

In Tel Aviv, some 10,000 protesters gathered outside the residence of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak to demand an immediate ceasefire. Ofer Neiman, one of the organizers, said, "Our main message is—'Children in Gaza and Sderot want to live.' We call not only for a ceasefire with Hamas, but for a comprehensive truce with our neighbors in order to resolve the core issues and find a way out of the cycle of bloodshed."

Among participants were also several residents of Sderot, a town which has been hit by Hamas rockets, who are members of the "Different Voice" organization, calling for dialogue with the Palestinians of Gaza. Some 500 Sderot residents have signed a petition calling to for Israel to halt the military campaign and renew the truce with Hamas. Sderot resident Arik Yalin said over 1,800 Israelis and Palestinians have already joined the petition. "About a month ago we realized that the situation was about to deteriorate into total chaos," he said. "It's important for us to voice an opinion that represents quite a few residents who live within the rocket range but who believe that we can, and should try to resolve this ongoing conflict in a peaceful manner."

Some 100,000 people also marched in Sakhnin, an Arab city within Israel's borders, led by Arab members of the Israeli Knesset Ahmed Tibi and Mohammad Barakeh. Barakeh told PNN, "This is the largest march in the history of Palestinians" within Israeli boundaries.

In another move, Israeli scholars and authors, including Amos Oz, Eli Amir and Avraham Yehoshua, issued a public statement calling on Israeli leaders for an immediate ceasefire. (Press TV, Iran, YNet, Israel, Gush Shalom, Israel, Palestine News Network, Jan. 3)

See our last post on Gaza