Jerusalemites, like the residents of other Israeli towns and cities, were on Monday bracing themselves for a large-scale revenge attack they regard as inevitable in the wake of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin’s killing.
There were more members of the security forces on the streets on Monday. Police vans toured, advising the public over loudhailers to be extra vigilant.
The streets in the city centre were quieter than usual as many opted to remain at home. Of those who did go to college or work, many avoided travelling by bus, a favourite target of the suicide bombers.
Sitting in the spring sunshine at lunchtime in Ben Yehuda Street, in the city centre, Ariel Kipnis (25) who works for a sales company, expressed happiness that Sheikh Yassin was dead. ”I am glad that they [Israeli forces] were able to eliminate such a threat. We were left with no choice. It’s not as if they were interested in negotiating.”
But he admitted: ”It makes me a little nervous. Riding the bus today the security was more tight.
”I have seen more police on the streets, more people paying attention. People are not looking out the window day-dreaming: they are on edge, curt, much more on guard in every respect.”
Ben Nabel (19) a soldier who moved to Israel from Paris eight years ago, said: ”I think what has happened is good. All the terrorist operations, he inaugurated them. He was the person pushing them into doing all this shit.”
He recognised there would likely be consequences. ”People are more afraid today because we know there will be a revenge attack.”
April Quinn, a 22-year-old student, learned of the killing from family in the US who phoned to advise her against going out.
But, like Kipnis and others, she was sitting in Ben Yehuda Street, having a snack lunch, even though it is in the middle of a square mile that is one of the most frequently targetted by suicide bombers.
She said she was no more nervous on Monday than any other day: ”It is when you least expect it they will strike.”
Unlike most of the other Jerusalemites, she questioned the wisdom of killing Sheikh Yassin. ”I am not sure what it will do because there will be someone else taking his place. I wish all the terrorists would just die, but I am not sure that killing him will achieve anything significant.” – Guardian Unlimited Â