Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday finally declared Greater Sderot Area communities status “Alef”, the highest status in reference to government assistance and tax breaks. The new designation will apply to the communities in rocket range of northern Gaza.

While residents welcome the long overdue proclamation, community leaders want to know when the national government will move ahead with plans to fortify many schools and public buildings that are still lacking adequate protection against rocket attacks.

Sderot residents have been waging a court battle for increased tax breaks, stating while they are willing to pay local taxes, they do not see why they should continue paying taxes to the national government which is not seeing to their basic security needs.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)