Tel Aviv
Oded Revivi, Mayor of Efrat, an Israeli settlement in the West Bank, said that people there fear an October 7 like attack. Under Revivi, also Lieutenant Colonel, his tank battalion was awarded a certificate of excellence by the President of Israel. In an exclusive conversation, Revivi spoke about the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. As a Mayor of Efrat, what is your take on the war. We have declared war after being attacked by a terror group, Hamas. Hamas was elected by the people of Gaza and they are enjoying the benefits of being elected. They carried out a brutal attack at the innocent people inside Israel which is worse than 9/11. The US declared war against al-Qaeda after 9/11 terror attack and similarly Israel had no other way but to declare war against Hamas. Efrat for years had built good relations with its neighbours. The people of our town used to help our neighbours with their medical emergencies and even we had jumped the line and supported them over. However, post the October 7 attack on our people, there is a lack of trust against Arabs, our people are fearing that the people in their neighbouring towns would imitate what was done by Hamas in the villages and town of Israel and we have taken lot of security measures. We are investing a lot and securing the boundaries of our town so that the people of Efrat are safe. Do you expect any offensive in West Bank area. I think I have partially answered it in the second question. We have seen the neighbours celebrating the brutal attack and we have taken our measures to protect our people. As a Lieutenant Colonel and Mayor of Erfat, what do you think the war is going towards. I do not know where the war is going towards.
