Gaza ceasefire new chapter in tale of two towns

Sderot (Israel)/Beit Hanoun (Gaza Strip), Nov 27: For one schoolgirl in an Israeli town bordering the Gaza Strip, the question of whether a ceasefire that went into effect was working was academic.

''If there's a ceasefire, why did they fire Qassams at us first thing in the morning,'' ten-year-old Oren asked at her school in Sderot, a town hit daily by rocket attacks fired by Palestinian militants.

Across the frontier in the Palestinian town of Beit Hanoun, Mohammad Dabour, 63, said he intended to begin repairing his home and grocery store, part of the widespread damage caused by Israeli military operations against the gunmen.

''Previous experiences were not that good but we hope that this time there will be a commitment (to the truce),'' he said.

Earlier this month, Israeli artillery shelling killed 19 civilians in Beit Hanoun. Israel expressed regret and said a targeting malfunction caused the shells to land in the town.

''I am not happy with rocket firing. I urge factions to reconsider and if they will have to fire, they can do so from areas far away from our town and our houses,'' Dabour said.

''The Israeli response to the rockets has always been more destructive than the impact of the rockets.''

FRAYED NERVES

For the residents of Sderot, a hardscrabble town where an upsurge in rocket attacks over the last month has frayed nerves, the first day of the ceasefire was like any other day.

''From what I see and hear, there's no ceasefire. The Qassams are falling as usual, all morning. There's been no change,'' said resident Mordechai Orbit.

The town's mayor, showing a visiting delegation of overseas Jewish fundraisers around Sderot, made a dash with his guests for the shelter of a nearby building when sirens sounded to warn of incoming projectiles.

The Israeli army pulled forces out of Gaza overnight, before the ceasefire took effect.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the violations of the truce yesterday and instructed security commanders to ensure that the ceasefire held. Abbas's forces were ordered to start patrols at the border to prevent rocket fire.

Meanwhile, schoolchildren in Sderot are continuing to stay indoors during recess.

''It's hard to live here,'' Oren said.

Her feelings were echoed in Beit Hanoun.

''We are hoping that things will go back to normal so that families can return to their houses and the children can return to their schools and live as all nations of the world do,'' said Abu Othman, 60.

REUTERS