Je Suis Paris ~ Je Suis Tel Aviv

Je Suis Paris / Je Suis Tel Aviv - a cardboard sign hung by French tourists at the site of two deaths, Dizengoff, Tel Aviv

A simple cardboard sign, written hastily and hung with tape says: Je Suis Paris, Je Suis Tel Aviv (I am Paris, I am Tel Aviv). A sign of solidarity for the two deaths earlier this week. Candles and flowers in sympathy of Israeli dead are common. This type of notices are not seen much. The Parisian tourists actually feel like they understand. The Paris terrorist attacks, from Chalie Hebdo to the recent Bataclan theater, are sadly bringing Parisians and Tel Avivians together. Strangely, I have not heard much from American friends and relatives. Some think the international media is playing down this incident. To some this may be "good news". Israelis are touchy about foreign criticism. They are even touchy about slight mistakes in reporting (the word spin is used often here) of terrorist attacks. Yet most Tel Avivians are just fine with international reporting of terrorist attacks. As terror spreads around the world, I am afraid there is not much to guide citizens in target cities. Here it comes to going back to normal life and remembering the places and people.