Sderot supporters block Ayalon highway

Supporters of Sderot's struggle to raise awareness to the grave security situation in the Gaza vicinity communities blocked one of the major traffic routes of the Tel Aviv metropolitan area Monday noon.

The protesters, who blocked the Ayalon highway near the Azrieli center and Hashalom train station in Tel Aviv, managed to completely paralyze all northbound traffic for a while, until they were pushed back by police.

Demonstrators later disrupted traffic on the central Menachem Begin Road in Tel Aviv.

The rally was accompanied by a vehicle carrying loudspeakers that repeatedly played the Color Red alarm, which is used to alert Negev residents before rocket attacks.

Marching in Tel Aviv (Photo: Avi Cohen)

Some 200 people took part in the rally. Several right-wing activists carrying signs blaming the disengagement for the Qassam fire tried joining the march, but other protesters asked them to remove the signs, and reminded them that the rocket attacks began long before the withdrawal from Gaza.

A resident of Sderot who took part in the rally, said he was encouraged by the public support the event received. "There is a lot of love, every car that passes by honks in support," he stated. "We plan to demonstrate in a different place each day… we too have children who want to go to their kindergartens and playgrounds."

Dedi Zemer, a Tel Aviv resident who joined the march, declared, "We are here to show our support for the residents of Sderot and the Gaza vicinity communities. I call on everyone to do the same."

Police have been preparing for the rally since the early morning hours, after protesters announced Sunday their intention to march on Tel Aviv and Jerusalem the following day.

Police officers have been instructed not to allow protesters to block roads, and were ordered to arrest all those attempting to disrupt car traffic.

Protesters block highway (Photo: Yaron Brenner)

Hundreds of Tel Aviv District policemen, mounted officers and special forces deployed in several central locations in the Tel Aviv area Monday, with special attention given to the Ayalon highway.

The protesters left Sderot on buses Monday morning and headed for Tel Aviv. Alon Davidi, one of the protest movement's leaders, told Ynet, "We want to convey a message to (Prime Minister) Ehud Olmert that Tel Aviv residents too feel that Sderot's residents ate entitled to live in peace, just like any other Israeli citizen."