Following funeral, Israelis continue to mourn Sharon

Israelis flock to the grave of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon • Israeli Ambassador to U.N. Ron Prosor files official complaint over the rockets Palestinian terrorists in Gaza fired shortly after Sharon's funeral.

Gadi Golan, Yoni Hirsch and Israel Hayom Staff

Former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's grave on Tuesday

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Many Israelis visited the grave of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Tuesday to pay their final respects, a day after the legendary military and political leader was buried at the Sharon family ranch in southern Israel.

"For eight years, since Arik Sharon was hospitalized after having a stroke and entering a coma, I wanted to cheer him up and tell him: Arik, be strong," said Shlomo Avrahami, who was visiting with his grandchildren from Haifa. "I sat over his fresh grave, holding hands with my grandchildren, and I told him everything I had in my heart to say. Arik was definitely an Israeli hero, despite the mistakes he made."

Some visitors were too young to have vivid memories of Sharon.

"I heard a lot about him and the things he did, both good and bad, and I felt a strong need to come here with some other students from my school to get a sense of the man, learn about him and hear from people here what they have to say about him," said Shoham, a high school student from northern Israel.

Meanwhile, Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Ron Prosor filed an official complaint with the U.N. Security Council and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon over the rockets fired into southern Israel by Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip shortly after Sharon's funeral ended on Monday.

"While a nation grieved its fallen leader, rockets began falling a short distance from the funeral service," Prosor wrote.

"In recent days, many people recalled the brave and decisive steps Sharon took to strengthen Israel and provide Palestinians in the Gaza Strip with the opportunity to build a better future. Instead, since 2005, Gaza has become a terrorist base used by Hamas to shoot rockets, carry out kidnappings, and launch attacks on Israeli citizens. Israel holds Hamas responsible for the recent escalation in violence. I urge the Security Council to condemn Hamas's attacks, loudly and clearly, before the situation escalates.

"Israel has thus far shown considerable restraint, but it will not allow its citizens to be the ongoing victims of attacks and will continue to take all necessary measures to protect its population," Prosor wrote.