Two years after Operation Protective Edge and with the continuation of rocket fire towards Israel, members of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Yesh Atid Chairman MK Yair Lapid and MK Ofer Shelah, accompanied by former Head of Israeli Central Command, Major General (res.) Avi Mizrahi led ambassadors to Israel on a tour of the Gaza border area. The ambassadors for the EU, Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia and Myanmar, as well as deputy ambassadors from the United States, Spain, Sweden, Vietnam, and other diplomats, participated in the tour and were briefed on the security situation of the Israeli communities surrounding the Gaza border

The tour was a follow-up to MK Lapid’s Israel advocacy campaign and diplomatic meetings, that has aimed to strengthen Israel’s international standing. The meeting with these ambassadors was Yesh Atid’s initiative, in cooperation with the Head of the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council, Alon Schuster.

At the beginning of the briefing MK Lapid said: “We came with a large group of ambassadors from around the globe so that they can see for themselves the reality faced by the citizens of the communities near the Gaza border. Earlier this morning we took them to see the threat posed by the tunnels discovered nearby, and to see from up close the efforts that are made to attempt to murder Israeli citizens in this area. The world needs to understand that it is not we who are the aggressors. We are the side that is attacked by a murderous terrorist organization that tortures its own people and is trying to wear us down, and that they will not succeed. It was important for us to bring them here so that when they return to their countries they’ll explain there that we are not going to move. They must go to those on the other side and tell them: ‘You need to find the solution.'”

The tour began at the terror tunnel that had been dug from Gaza into Israel, reaching a range of two kilometers from Kibbutz Ein HaShlosha. There, the ambassadors were given a security briefing by Colonel Kobi Heller, Commanding Officer of the Southern Brigade. From there the ambassadors continued along the border fence, seeing the close proximity of the Israeli communities to the fence. At the observation post in Kfar Aza, Lapid held a discussion with the ambassadors on how Israel tackles security issues along the southern border, describing the clashes between Israel and the terror organizations in the Gaza Strip and presented the most recent threats. Thereafter the ambassadors met with regional council heads and local residents in order to hear about their daily routine in the shadow of terrorism.

After the observation post the ambassadors enjoyed a local lunch at Sderot’s “HaHummus Shel Tehina,” with Alon Davidi, the mayor of Sderot. The ambassadors finished their tour with a visit to the Erez Crossing and a meeting with the manager of the crossing, Mr. Shlomo Saban.

At the observation post in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, MK Lapid described daily life in the shadow of the sirens to the ambassadors: “Imagine there was a siren right now, just like there was yesterday. You have 15 seconds to find shelter. Imagine where you can get to in 15 seconds. Now imagine where you can get to in 15 seconds if you’re holding a baby in your arms, or if you’re 80-years-old.”

MK Ofer Shelah said: “This was an important visit, in which ambassadors from countries all over the world have received explanations from community leaders and the military. There is nothing quite like seeing things with your own eyes to understand what Israel does on a daily basis and what we might be forced to do if, God forbid, we go to war.”

Former Head of Israeli Central Command, Major General (res.) Avi Mizrahi, said: “I am here today because this is advocacy for Israel, and because I believe in and trust in Yair Lapid, in his ways, and in what he represents, in order to bring a solution to the area. Hamas is a terrorist organization and the world has to recognize this and declare it to be a terrorist organisation, one which uses its own civilians in the coordination of its military activities.