We left Israel, where we had been living for eight years, for a trip to Europe on October 3, 2023, stopping first for five days in Bodrum, Turkey. It was there that I heard the news of October 7th. Like so many, I was stunned. We decided to continue our trip in Europe and return as planned on October 19th, but we never went back.
We had already decided to leave Israel in 2025 for our next adventure, but given the situation, we accelerated those plans. This resulted in a convoluted journey that eventually took us to Amsterdam, where we have been living. But soon, we will move to Italy.
When I thought about where and how I wanted to spend my 80th birthday, I realized I wanted to do that in Israel. Israel is the only country I have ever loved. It is the only place where I look back when I fly somewhere.
I knew that Israel would be deeply affected by the war. But in many ways, at least on the surface, Tel Aviv still feels much as we left it—crazy, exciting, gritty, and beautiful. I was surprised to see so much construction still ongoing. During our time in Israel, we were amazed by the sheer scale of construction. I had expected that this would have stopped due to the war. Palestinian workers from the West Bank are no longer allowed to work in Israel, and they played a major role in the construction industry. But Israel has found others to take their place, including workers from China, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
There is a deep sadness when speaking with people. Everyone feels personally connected to the hostage crisis. Among my friends, there is widespread anger directed at Netanyahu and his allies. But this is Tel Aviv. I don’t know how people feel in other, more right-wing parts of Israel.
There is hope that the Middle East is changing and that soon there will be an agreement with Saudi Arabia—and eventually Lebanon and Syria. But no one knows how to deal with the Palestinian issue. How does Israel live next to 5.5 million people who hate Israelis? The brutality of Hamas has left a scar on Israelis that will not heal anytime soon. And the actions Israel has taken against Palestinians will not be easy to forget. I see no solution to this conflict.
Many Israelis think about leaving, especially if they have—or can obtain—another passport. But for many, it is hard because they love Israel and have close family here.
The economy seems to be doing much better than one would expect during a war. Israelis are incredibly resilient.
The airport is still largely empty, but foreign airlines are beginning to return. There are no tourists.
Trump is very popular in Israel. I understand why, but I am not a single-issue person, and my feelings about Trump are very negative. However, I do not try to explain how I feel to my Israeli friends.
I hope we can continue to integrate Israel into our lives and visit from time to time.
Leave a Reply