Not an empty seat from NYC to Dubai, and a nearly empty airplane from Dubai to Israel. I am the only person in my row – 6 seats across.
I have had a substantive conversation with an Israeli man that began in Dubai and lasted until we were on the train platform together in Tel Aviv. He had just returned from spending a month abroad – only to return to re-join the army reserves. Not a young man – having already spent 20 years in the reserves and retiring 4 years ago. But after October 7th, he joined voluntarily. He clarified that even though he had a choice, it didn’t feel voluntary to him. He felt he had to.
Arriving in Tel Aviv, the first images that I see are those of the Israeli hostages plastered on the walls of the jet bridge and down the airport terminal to customs.
The Israeli man, a man who has spent decades fighting remarked to me that he has never seen the airport so empty.
He asks the airport staff “Is there a holiday or something?”
They reply, “No, there’s a war.”
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