"Moshe Abutbul, a 39-year-old bible teacher in Sderot, the southern Israeli city by the perimeter of Gaza, thinks life is OK, even good. Autumn is on its way which means his small home is less stifling. He enjoys his work. His four children are well; so too is his wife, an English teacher. As for Israel's growing international isolation, he is unbothered. We are a peace-loving country, but we have to defend ourselves,"
"On Friday, Benjamin Netanyahu made an angry and defiant speech at the UN in New York, calling the recognition of a Palestinian state earlier this week by the UK, France, Canada, Portugal and Australia sheer madness and a reward for terrorism. He was addressing a hall that was largely empty, after dozens of delegates walked out, but Israeli commentators said that the speech was aimed at the only two audiences that matter to Netanyahu: his political base in Israel and the US president, Donald Trump."
Residents of Sderot report relatively normal daily life despite proximity to Gaza, with individuals describing comfort at home, stable family life and satisfaction with work. Many locals are unbothered by international criticism, framing Israel as peace-loving but obligated to defend itself. Sderot's scruffy, poor, rightwing character shapes indifference to overseas condemnation, while everyday concerns center on rockets and raids. Benjamin Netanyahu condemned recent recognition of a Palestinian state as "sheer madness" and a reward for terrorism, delivering a speech aimed primarily at his domestic base and the US president. Polls show Israelis fear travel abroad amid security threats and mounting criticism.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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