Israel: Iran attack ‘nightmare within a nightmare’ for a society that has barely known peace

In Jerusalem, when the alarm sounded on the night of Saturday, April 13, Sunday, April 14, when the thunder of anti-aircraft defense chasing Iranian shells ended in the sky, the city seemed to sleep again, as if it was massive. The attack, with more than 300 aircraft and missiles, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s first direct attack on Israel, was another bad dream in a nightmare that began on October 7, 2023, with a massacre by Hamas.

However, the sirens sounded in the heart of the unpleasant night. Defense systems of the Israeli army have been strengthened on all fronts, north, east and south. The reserve was called up to support the air defense. The Air Force remained on standby. Israeli authorities recommended food collections and schools resume online classes on Sunday, Israel’s working day – much to the dismay of parents who, from the Covid-19 pandemic to the Oct. 7 massacre, have shouldered an unprecedented burden on their shoulders for four years.

But the Israelis did not rush to the supermarkets. After the Iranian attack, there were neither demonstrations of joy in the streets nor demonstrations of anger: from Sunday morning, shops and restaurants opened and everyone returned to their daily lives. Jogging along the eight kilometers of bike path that crosses the entire west of Jerusalem made up for lost time. A joke spread on social networks: “The world champions of existential angst become brunch hosts. »

“On the one hand, Israelis are used to it. They are regularly bombed by Hamas and HezbollahShmuel Rosner, a researcher at the Jewish People’s Policy Institute, explains. When it’s over, we don’t dwell on it, because otherwise we’ll never get back to normal. On the other hand, no one died. There is no reason to stop mourning, or to follow any tragic news. After the attack I fell asleep again. Then the next day I went to work. That’s all. » A young Palestinian woman with Israeli citizenship who lived in a Bedouin community in the south of the country in the Negev was seriously injured by shrapnel. His condition is stable.

“Nightmare Within a Nightmare”

The unprecedented nature of the attack, the danger of starting a regional war, did not upset Israelis who still live in the present of October 7, 2023. “Our confidence, our sense of security was destroyed six months ago, not this weekendShmuel Rosner continues. Iran, this massive attack, this is just another event, a nightmare within a nightmare. But we are ready. My shelter at home is already fully equipped. No need to go to the supermarket to stock up. » On Monday evening, April 15, the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army, General Hertz Halevi, announced that Israel “Respond to the launching of so many rockets, cruise missiles and drones into the territory of the State of Israel”.