Showing support after Sarona
A day after the deadly attack at Tel Aviv's Sarona market, Israelis seek to demonstrate strength through preserving regular routines in the face of terrorism.
The sights of wounded and killed victims from Wednesday's deadly terror attack at the Sarona market were replaced on Thursday by bodyguard-accompanied politicians.
In a symbolic act of defiance, ambulances were replaced by news vans while restaurant tables, that were overturned and abandoned as diners were sprayed with bullets, were now occupied by religious youths and surrounded by a huge amount of police officers. The dark gloom of murderous terror is not only theme of such attacks. Indeed, such darkness is almost invariably accompanied by a light which frequently kindles the defiant spirit of people who insist on being seen and heard.
The strong presence at the scene of a terrorist attack less than 24 hours after it occurs is a phenomenon which requires explanation. Indeed, it is not only Knesset members and government ministers. Everyone who wonders around these areas the following day is well aware that just a few hours earlier, people just like them were sitting there, having fun, laughing. They were ordering coffee, perhaps holding the very same menus in their hands, and now they are gone. The sounds of the deadly shots fired on Wednesday evening reverberate even during the following quiet summer day.
Rachel and Haim Arglezi, 70-year-olds from Givatayim, chose the table closest to the entrance of the Max Brenner café' (where the attack took place), and are awaiting their waitress. "We heard the owner of the place on morning radio, calling for people to come to the coffee shop, and we came," says Haim. "It's important to show confidence, to show our kids and grandkids that life has to go on, and that fear will not defeat us."
Rachel interjects by expressing her desperte longing to peace: "I wish our leaders would do everything to bring about peace, examine every option, and turn over every rock even if it means making concessions, in order to bring an end to the violence."
A class from Haifa's Hugim high school enjoys the plentiful space on Sarona's empty lawns. Their outing was supposed to take place in Jerusalem earlier in the year, but was postponed due to the terror incidents that plagued the capital. "Yesterday at 10pm, the class' WhatsApp group was suddenly very active," says Michael Karsanov, one of the students. "Some of the students said they were afraid to go. The teacher said that two security guards (would be brought along), and most of the parents and kids were calmed down."
The class teacher said that only one student cancelled hi participation in the trip. Michael takes out a large, folded, Israeli flag from his bag. "In any case, I brought this from home," he says. "No one can stop or intimidate us. This is our country, and we will continue to walk through it without fear."
The small market square remains empty. Without clients to serve, store owners and salespeople stand outside their businesses while exchanging stories from the night before. The ladies from home appliance store Tiferet, are stirred by the coffee shop worker, who tells them of how he let two kids call a relative mere minutes after the attack.
They sat with him in Max Brenner and ran when the shooting began, but the relative didn't answer. "Today (Thursday. -ed), the (worker) sent a message to the number they called yesterday. He wanted to know how they were and whether they found him," says one of the Tiferet salespeople. "He was told that the children were alright, and that they were grateful for the care and help after the attack, but the relative in question was actually killed in the attack."
Two teenage girls pass by us wearing long white dresses, flower arrangements adorning their flaxen hair. They carry cheese platters, marking the upcoming Jewish holiday of Shavuot. No one feels like celebrating at the moment. The Max Brenner waiters start clearing the outside dining area of customers. There's no need to worry, tough. It's just that the Prime Minister is about to arrive.
