10,000 Shabbat shoppers head to Sderot

More than 10,000 people from northern and central Israel traveled to Sderot on Friday to carry out their Shabbat shopping and show their solidarity for the residents of the beleaguered town. Hundreds of cars headed to the rocket-hit town from meeting points in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and Ra'anana.
Ilan Cohen, from Mod'i'in, who organized the initiative, told Army Radio of his excitement at seeing so many people head to the town."More than 10,000 people are coming to the town, there's going to be a huge celebration…I call on all Israelis, there is still time to come, we are not forgetting the people of Sderot," he said. "Israeli citizens are their last hope."
Numerous organizations participated in the solidarity mission and several municipalities even provided buses for the journey to the Gaza belt. Among the participants were dozens of social movement activists as well as members of student organizations, secular and religious communities and sports clubs. Ra'anana Mayor Nahum Hofree was also spotted among the shoppers.
Police and the Home From Command briefed those on the mission on emergency procedures in the even of a Kassam attack, and on Friday morning, as the shoppers were making their way to Sderot, two Kassam rockets fired from Gaza landed in open areas near the town. No one was wounded and no damage was reported. Also Friday, a rally in support of Sderot residents was due to take place in Tel Aviv. The rally was organized by Sapir College students and was set to be held in the city's Shenkin Street. (JP)