Israel’s twin fears collide on a Jaffa street

Israelis confronted the anxieties that have consumed them for most of their lives – a chance encounter with death from a determined gunman, and an attack by a powerful enemy, aiming its resources at their territory.

Mehul Srivastava, Polina Ivanova, James Shotter and Raya Jalabi

Oct 2, 2024 – 3.18pm

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On a quiet Jaffa backstreet, Israel’s twin fears intersected on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST), seemingly by pure chance, set in motion by the unnerving crackle of gunshots.

“Hey – do you know what’s going on? I think I hear a lot of shooting,” the voice note, sent at 7.01pm on Tuesday, said. Two Palestinian assailants had just stepped off the light rail onto a leafy boulevard in the Tel Aviv neighbourhood, and opened fire.

Financial Times