The Calm Conceals a Deeper Fear
In Tel Aviv, the bustling center of Israel's economy, life may seem normal. People jog, ride bicycles, and go about their daily routines. But beneath the surface, something more unsettling is happening. When you talk to the city's residents, they express shock and a newfound sense of vulnerability. They have lost confidence in their security system, and it all started two weeks ago after the Al-Aqsa flood caused a major earthquake in Israel and abroad.
A City on Edge
Take Ravit Stein, a 50-year-old insurance worker, for example. While walking her dog in central Tel Aviv, she confessed, "I have never felt this level of weakness and danger." Since the Israeli war on Gaza, sirens have been blaring throughout the day, warning of possible rocket attacks from resistance factions in the Gaza Strip, located about 60 kilometers to the south. Every evening at nine o'clock, the city braces itself for a new salvo of rockets.
A Feeling of Danger
Residents like Stein feel that they are constantly at risk, without even mentioning the name of the group responsible for the attacks. The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) launched the Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, an unprecedented attack in the history of Israel since its establishment in 1948. In response, Israel has been bombing the Gaza Strip and mobilizing soldiers on its borders.
Seeking Personal Protection
Ofer Kadosh, a 46-year-old computer programming expert, expressed his loss of confidence in the security system after a jog on the empty beach. He said, "We have lost confidence in our security system. How could we not?" Kadosh plans to buy a weapon for personal protection, a sentiment shared by many. The Knesset, Israel's parliament, has even approved new procedures for arming civilians, and thousands of Israelis have applied for licenses to possess weapons since the Battle of Al-Aqsa Flood.
A Shift in Perspective
Michel Haddad, a 63-year-old French-Israeli who immigrated to Israel in the 1980s, also feels the fear and lack of confidence. As a lifelong leftist, he never imagined a day would come when his family would consider buying a gun for protection. Since October 7, his daughter has been sleeping with two knives and a baseball bat by her side, constantly checking that her door is locked and keeping an eye on the street from her ninth-floor apartment.
Reinforcing Security Measures
As rumors of possible attacks spread, residents have taken matters into their own hands. They have bought wooden boards to reinforce their entrance doors, ensuring they cannot be easily opened from the outside. The police and army have urged residents to remain calm and disregard social media rumors.
Source: Agence France-Presse
