German – 4 min 45 sec – 1617

TEL AVIV 

(Scene: Traffic flow around a one-towered mosque just off a beach.)

Man’s voice:  “A few thousand people have left Tel Aviv due to fear. Most people stayed, however, in spite of memories that recur again during these days. In 1991, 93 Iraqi SCUD missiles exploded over Israel. 36 countries supported this, and it did considerable damage to Tel Aviv. A complete suburb was destroyed. A home-owner lost his life. Others were severely wounded.” [0.00.45]

(Scene : Apartment building)

Man’s voice: “In this apartment lives the” ... (unclear: could be Goethe or Gather or something similar) ... “family. 12 years ago, just before a missile attack, the family sat in a lit-up room in the apartment, waiting for the room to warm up. Then a missile struck in the garden, and the explosion devastated the building. [0.01.05]  All sustained injuries and wounds.  The building was rebuilt on the same foundations. Since the beginning of the war, the fear had come back. Memories of that time still causes us sadness. (Man’s voice repeats in German what Mrs. G. is saying in Hebrew: ) They then dug us out from the ruins of our house.  All our documents were missing. I am afraid this is the case again this time. Back then, we were buried under the rubble during the night [0.01.31] I didn’t know where the kids were, and I smelled gas.[0.01.35] The waiting is making me quite nervous.”

(Scene: Family together: Pop, Mom & two kids)

(Scene: Sirens. Young people in uniform streaming through the street heading to what is presumed to be a shelter.)

Man’s voice: “Since the beginning of the attacks on Bagdad ...”

(Scène: Everybody goes into what looks like a lecture room.)

Man’s voice: “... we find that Israelis are living in a new alarmed mode. The possibility of renewed rocket attack is relatively low, however, as American armed forces  in the West of Iraq had brought the shooting of rockets under control.”

(Scene Patriot missiles deployed)

Man’s voice: “Also, around Tel Aviv, Patriot missiles of the Arrow type were timeously deployed, together with the “Iron dome” defense system. These will eliminate any attacking missiles in the air. But the fear of missiles with nuclear or biological warheads remains.   Altogether eight (ground-to-air) missiles can be launched simultaneously. [0.02.32]

(Scene: Missile launcher on trailer elevated approx. 45 degrees.)                                                          

Man’s voice: “All inhabitants of Tel Aviv were instructed to take their gas masks out of the closets again, and to carry these with them, as in the last Gulf War.  Shortly before the war began, on a Wednesday in the dead of night, the instruction was broadcast on the radio that parents had to practice the putting-on of gas masks with their kids. Whoever owns a gas mask of which the filter shelf-life has expired can take it to the Civil defense offices to exchange the filter or replace the mask.  School kids had to report to class with their masks.  For most kids, this was quite an adventure.  Danger is ever-present for Israelis.  The children have learnt to live with it.  Children who used to go to school on their own were now being escorted up to the classroom door.”                                                                                                                               

(Scene: Mothers carrying kids’ gas masks (in boxes) to school.)[0.03.11]

(Scene: Senior primary or junior high-school kids.)

Girl: “The first few days we were afraid, but now we pay less attention to it.”

Boy: “No, I don’t even know how to use the mask.” (Scene: mask falls out of box).

(Scene: Girl with blue top) [0.03.25]:  "I feel quite insecure with the mask."  (what she says in Hebrew is longer, reduced to one sentence in the German translation.)

Tall boy with small round glasses: ‘While nothing is happening, I always take the mask with me.”

Girl wearing orange and red: “I don’t believe that anything will happen, but in my opinion, it’s just part of life.”

(Scene: Inside her room (first the scene is reflected in a mirror, then filmed directly) small girl is trying to fit gas mask on her face but not succeeding.)

Girl: “During the first few days, I had a terrible fear; that’s why I didn’t go to  school.  I don’t actually know the correct way to put on this mask.  It scares me that one could die in war, but during a chemical attack the mask will save me.” [0.04.09]

(Scene:  Tel Aviv city street with shopfronts.)

Man’s voice:  “Tel Aviv, normally a lively large city with a vibrant nightlife is, under these circumstances, practically dead.  Not many people go out.  When it grows dark,  no-one likes to be on the streets any more.  Cafés and restaurants shut early. The occupants go home to the safety of their homes.  A week ago, hostilities resumed, and most Israelis hope that this time they would not be involved and would be able to leave their gas masks at home” [0.04.45]

End of video.