Observation: PM Olmert's remark indicates clueless of magnitude of
suffering by residents subject to Qassams

Dr. Aaron Lerner Date: 18 May, 2007

"In Jerusalem we experienced attacks that killed 150 people in a month."
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert during visit to Sderot
Yediot Ahronot 18 May 2007

While the wave of terror that Jerusalem experienced was difficult and
straining, there is a fundamental difference between residing in a city
subject to terror attacks and living in a community subject to random rocket
fire.

At the height of the terror attacks, the threat of terror in Jerusalem was a
threat limited to public venues and even then focused on particular
locations. Residents could decide the extent of their exposure to terror by
changing their schedules and habits. Their exposure was bound by space and
time.

In sharp contrast, the threat of Qassams is totally random. You can be
killed by a direct hit while watching television in your living room.

Mr. Olmert's remark indicates that he has no appreciation of how hard it is
to be subject to the "rocket lottery".

This may help in explaining at least in part what might be generously termed
the cavalier attitude towards the threat of rocket attacks that has been the
hallmark of the Government's policy.

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(Mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-7255730
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
Website: http://www.imra.org.il