Residents of Gaza, Sderot Call for Immediate Ceasefire, Negotiations

Thank God for a few sane Israeli and Palestinian voices in the wilderness that is the Gaza war:

Some 1,800 Israelis and Palestinians, including 500 Sderot residents, sign petition calling for end to IDF operation in Gaza, renewal of dialogue between Israel, Hamas.

…Some 500 Sderot residents have recently signed a petition calling to stop the IDF operation in the Strip and renew the truce with Hamas. Arik Yalin, 43, from Sderot told Ynet that 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 explained. “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. We have experienced the terrible hardship of life under rocket fire for the past eight years, and it has deeply hurt us both mentally and physically. Our need to voice a different stance stems from the strong desire to change the situation and begin negotiations with the other side in order to stop the violence,” he added.

According to Yalin, a military operation will only deepen the hatred on both sides and reduce the chances of reaching a settlement. “The underlying assumption is that eventually there would be some kind of understanding. The only question is how many innocent people would get killed along the way.”

If the ordinary citizens of Sderot and Gaza can see eye to eye then why can’t their leaders? What is it that Arik Yalin knows that Ehud Barak doesn’t?  Maybe Yalin lives in the path of the missiles and it has given him a more nuanced understanding of the issues and necessities called for to resolve this issue.  The group Yalin leads is called A Different Voice.