Israelis Recall 9/11 Terror Attacks 25 Years Later
Twenty-five years after the September 11th terror attacks, which lasted 102 minutes and forever changed the New York skyline and the world, Israelis who were directly affected are sharing their stories. A special report revisits the families of Israelis who perished and survivors who recount the harrowing moments of the attacks.
Judith, whose son Shi was killed when one of the planes struck his company's offices, described the ongoing grief, stating, "For me, there is no Memorial Day, every day is a memorial day. We continue to live with the absence." She recalled watching the North Tower collapse with her husband, realizing their son was lost.
Yossi Landau, a member of the Hatzalah organization, was on the scene and described the chaos. "We saw the plane hit the second building, and we understood it wasn't an accident, it was an attack," he said. He recounted climbing 36 flights of stairs, witnessing the panic, and people refusing to evacuate without colleagues. While providing aid on the ground floor of one of the towers as the adjacent building collapsed, he recalled seeing "a black wave chasing me" and fearing he wouldn't survive.
Experts offered analysis on the aftermath. Professor Eitan Gilboa, a US history expert, stated that the US was in a state of "conceit" despite numerous warning signs. He noted President Bush's declaration of a "global war on terror" and the subsequent invasion of Afghanistan. However, he criticized the Iraq War as "a fabricated and dubious story," arguing that democracy cannot be imposed on dictatorial regimes, especially in the Middle East.
Dr. Anat Tuchberg-Marom, a geopolitics expert and terror researcher, commented on the consequences of removing leaders, suggesting it creates "wild growths" like ISIS. She also pointed to Iran's current influence, noting that despite its smaller economy, it is leading a campaign against the US, exploiting perceived American weakness.
