‘Iwascrying,my heartwaspumping’

WHEN VIKI SILVER moved to Israel she anticipated rocket attacks, but never thought she would have to face shootings on the streets of Tel Aviv.

As two Palestinian terrorists fired at diners in the Max Brenner restaurant, an attack which left four dead and 17 injured last Wednesday night, the 27-year-old from Liverpool was just around the corner in her apartment.

She had earlier considered spending the evening with five friends at the eatery, but at the last minute decided to have a night in instead. It was a decision that might have saved her life.

Curled up watching The Sopranos, Ms Silver got a message from her boss telling her there had been a mass shooting. Then she heard the sirens.

“It hit me that my friends were there and that was when I had a panic attack,” she said.

“I was crying while I was calling my friends. I was freaked out. One of my friends finally answered and told me he was fine. He had to work and had left two hours before the attacks. My heart was pumping; it was the thought of any of my friends being hurt.”

Next, she messaged her family. She knew that her mother, at home on Merseyside, would be worried.

Ms Silver said: “I had to message my whole family. I wrote: ‘I don’t know if this will be on the news, but I want to let you know that everything is fine.’” Round the corner, Eido Minkovsky, who works at the Sarona Market where t he attack took place, reflected on the efforts of security guard Eliran Shua.

Mr Minkovsky had seen the 22-yearold tackle and disarm one of the shooters. He said: “Eliran was the hero of the day. Without him, the attack could have been so much worse. He’s a nice, young, normal guy. He doesn’t seem like the kindof personwhowouldrunandneutralise someone, but he did it.”

American Miriam Feldheim, who was two hours into her waitressing shift at the nearby Mike’s Place pub whensheheardthegunshots,wascomforting people who had taken refuge in the bar.

The 22-year-old, who moved to Tel Aviv from Florida last October, said: “I was just outside clearing glasses from the tables. All of a sudden I saw people running out of nowhere, they were running in every direction.

“I had never been in a situation like that. I brought everyone inside. I just did what I thought I should and remained calm.”

Up to 2,000 people visit the Sarona Market every day. On the afternoon after the attack, double the usual number arrived in a show of solidarity.

Essex-born Sam Ben-David, 29, who made aliyah last year, said he would not be deterred from returning to the area.

“The Israelis I work with have taught me that you might be sad, but you try to carry on each day as normal. I am staying strong-minded about it. I keep my wits about me when I am out, but I try to not let it get to me. It’s one of those things; you have to learn to accept it.”