Three Samaria residents who have spent the past two weeks sitting in a protest tent waiting for the government to transfer funds to begin upgrading the security infrastructure in their region and Judea, have lost patience.
On Sunday, they announced they were beginning a hunger strike outside the residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The prime minister had already promised to provide NIS 800M (close to $228M) to build bypass roads and other security infrastructure in Judea and Samaria.
But there’s been no further action taken to advance the funding, and protesters sitting across from the prime minister’s residence, watching the government’s lack of action on the issue, have grown increasingly impatient.
Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan, Kiryat Arba Council head Malachi Levinger, and Beit Aryeh Regional Council head Avi Naim have been in the tent for the past two weeks. But they haven’t been alone. Three bereaved family members of victims of terror have been there with them, and are now embarking on a hunger strike to underline the need for security in the region.
Hadas Mizrahi — widow of murdered police officer Baruch Mizrahi is the first of the three hunger strikers.
Striker number two is Ruti Hasno, widow of Avraham Hasno, who was murdered by an Arab driver who began with a stoning attack on his car, and then ran him over when he left his vehicle.
Striker number three is Yitzhak Abutbul, widower of Hadas Abutbul, who was shot to death by Palestinian Authority terrorists in northern Samaria on erev Shabbat as she drove home from work in the Jewish community of Shaked in November 2001.
Mr. Prime Minister – do not ignore our pain,” the bereaved family members wrote as they launched their hunger strike.
“After nearly two weeks in which we are protesting opposite your house – not only for our sake but for the sake of all of Israel – you have not even bothered to come and hear our complaints regarding the security of Israeli citizens and the prevention of future terror attacks.”
“Unfortunately, we are forced to announce an escalation of our protest. Beginning Sunday, we will hold a hunger strike outside your residence. We call on you not to content yourself with announcements to the media, but to pass the necessary changes to the budget.”