Israelis in Kibbutz recount Oct 7 attacks, ahead of Knesset election

Ben Lewis (0:01)

You're listening to SBS.

SPEAKER_2 (0:05)

SBS is Australia's most trusted multilingual broadcaster. Our listeners are loyal, highly engaged, and have supported countless local businesses. We offer advertising packages for businesses of all sizes. Our experienced sales team will guide you through the process of owning a great campaign. Bring your own ad or have our production team make you something in one of our 68 languages. Start the conversation with your new audience today.

Ben Lewis (0:36)

Danny Meisner walks through the front door of a house on the edge of Kibbutz Be'iri, as he's done countless times since October 7 It's where his sister, Australian-Israeli Galit Carbone, was murdered. He shows us the safe room, where she spent her final terrifying minutes. The emotional toll it takes on him is clear.

Danny's back living in the Kibbutz, one of the first to do so. Those with young families are set to return next year.

Danny Meisner (1:05)

If we don't come back here, they win. And for us, it's a triumph of coming back and building this community once again.

Ben Lewis (1:12)

An estimated 340 Hamas militants infiltrated the Kibbutz. Around 10 per cent of residents were killed in the attack, from infants to the elderly, and dozens of homes destroyed. Gal Cohen is the Kibbutz chairman, tasked with bringing the community back to life.

While construction is well underway on new houses, rebuilding and deciding what should remain from that awful day has been a difficult experience.

Gal Cohen (1:40)

In the end, we decided to leave one house. We're going to cover it, to protect it, and then we're going to, you know, Israel will decide where they're going to build a museum for, you know, like a place to memorise October 7

We're going to give it to Israel to remove it to theirs.

Ben Lewis (2:04)

The kibbutz is getting a new start. He hopes Israel will too, beginning with the removal of Benjamin Netanyahu.

Gal Cohen (2:11)

I didn't like him before, and I especially don't like him after. I think that...

I don't like the way he creates him between us, you know, like between the people of Israel.

Ben Lewis (2:29)

Many residents, like Danny, have taken a step to the right politically since October 7

Danny Meisner (2:34)

The atrocities of October gave us a huge slap, and to realise that the Labour, the left parties are not our solution. You ask everyone on the kibbutz, and 99% will say, no two-state solution, OK?

Ask me 10 years ago, yeah, for sure, let's do it.

Ben Lewis (2:58)

But supporting the right does not mean supporting the Prime Minister.

Danny will be voting for one of the more conservative parties from the change block. He wants accountability for the security failures that led to his sister's death.

Danny Meisner (3:11)

20,000 Canadians invade America from the north, and they kill 40,000 people.

Will the government survive a week, a month? I don't know, will the people let him be in the helm? In any normal Western country, I think, which is not a dictatorship, it can never happen. And yet, it's still here.

Ben Lewis (3:30)

The promise of an independent inquiry by opposition parties, which Mr Netanyahu has rejected, is something survivors like Gaal strongly support.

Gal Cohen (3:39)

We must try to understand, I think. And not for the families, for the country, for the people, for this society, I think it's a process that we must go through.

Ben Lewis (3:52)

Yet further along the Gaza border, views are very different. Starot was the site of fierce gun battles. Hamas fighters took control of the police station.

53 people died in the city. For months after, it was under constant rocket fire from Gaza. Before the war, this was Netanyahu territory. It still is. We visited the market, where locals were effusive in their praise for the Prime Minister.

We're all for Bibi Starot as Bibi.

Zion Cohen (4:23)

We're Bibist, and we'll remain Bibists. We don't replace our leader.

SPEAKER_6 (4:30)

To be honest, right now, Bibi is the only one I can see.

I don't see anything better than him. If there was someone better, I'd go with them. But his wisdom, his intelligence, everything about him is bigger than he is.

Ben Lewis (4:45)

Mr Netanyahu's handling of the war, the hostage negotiations, and Israel's global image is waved off here. Zion Cohen is a retiree, who will again be voting for the PM's Likud party.

Zion Cohen (5:00)

Over the past three years, I think Netanyahu has demonstrated tremendous leadership, militarily, politically, and diplomatically, especially now that Trump is backing him. What could be stronger than that?

Trump is now standing by his side, and wants Bibi alongside him to finish the job.