Michal Weitz left her suitcase at the doorstep of her Tel Aviv home for over a month. “I’ve had my bags ready for weeks,” she said. “Three weeks ago, there were rumors about a U.S. attack on Iran. So, in the middle of the night, we pulled our kids out of bed and drove north, thinking that would be safer.”
Weitz, who is the artistic director of the international documentary film festival Dokaviv, shares her traumatic experience. During a recent 12-day conflict, Iranian missiles struck her home. She, along with her husband and their two young children, were inside the safe room when it collapsed.
“After an Iranian missile hit my house and I lost everything, I also lost that feeling of ‘this can’t happen to me,’” she reflected. “We’re just trying to prepare as best we can.”
Remarkably, just four days after the missile attack and while she was still in the hospital, Weitz found out she had won an Emmy for a documentary about the Oct. 7 Nova massacre. “Four days after such a traumatic event, on my birthday, I woke up to hear I won an Emmy,” she said. “It’s just surreal. This is what it means to be an Israeli, in an instant.”
Weitz notes that Israelis have adapted to living amid this constant tension. “Life continues even in these circumstances,” she noted. “The kids go to school, people shop for groceries, and we all prepare for Purim. But honestly, you just don’t know if any of it will really happen. We didn’t make any weekend plans because everything feels so uncertain.”
This contrast, between day-to-day life and underlying fears, shapes the national mood right now. The anxiety has become a part of the everyday atmosphere.
On the surface, life in Israel seems fairly normal. The beaches are getting busier as the weather warms. Cafés are filled with patrons. The stock market has recently seen an upswing, and children are preparing for the Jewish holiday of Purim. Yet, a pressing question lingers: When will President Trump decide to strike Iran, and what will that mean for Israel?
Prime Minister Netanyahu has directed military and emergency services to brace for potential escalations. Israeli media has reported that the security forces are on “maximum alert.” In a recent speech, Netanyahu warned, “If the Ayatollahs make a mistake and attack us, they will face an unimaginable reaction. We are prepared for any scenario.”
The Israel Defense Forces echoed this sentiment, expressing that they are closely monitoring regional developments and are ready to respond to any changes. “The IDF is vigilant and more prepared than ever,” Brig. General Effie DeFlin stated.
Despite these reassurances, the recent Iranian assaults feel particularly unsettling. “The level of destruction from Iran was unprecedented,” said Israeli expert Benny Sabti. “People are accustomed to rockets from Gaza, but this was a different scale of devastation. It sparked a lot of anxiety.”
The Iron Dome, once thought nearly infallible, struggled to cope with the more powerful Iranian missiles. Entire neighborhoods saw extensive damage, leaving many feeling traumatized. “People are still trying to process that,” Sabti added, though he pointed out that Israel’s military readiness has markedly improved.
Amid protests inside Iran, Weitz expressed a desire for change, saying, “I’m angry at the Iranian government but not at the Iranian people. I’d like to visit Iran if possible; I hope they can find freedom.”
Even after losing her home and hearing in the blast, Weitz indicates that the larger loss is psychological. “I couldn’t be more satisfied,” she said. “I no longer feel immune to these things—it’s a feeling shared across Israel.”
