Hoosier in Haifa says Israel is now determined to fight the war its way

INDIANAPOLIS – The Jewish community here is closely watching the conflict in Israel. Many people here have family and friends there.

13News spoke with an Indianapolis man who now lives in Israel, in a community now under attack almost daily.

Eitan Goldstein is a graduate of North Central High School. He has lived and worked in Israel for a decade now.

13News first spoke with Goldstein nearly a year ago, right after the Hamas attack on Israeli civilians began this war. He currently lives in Haifa in northern Israel. It is so close to the border with Lebanon that Hezbollah air strikes are commonplace.

“It’s becoming an everyday thing and it’s not great,” Goldstein said. “But you know, fortunately we have Iron Dome protecting us, David's Sling and Arrow and all of these other joint U.S.-Israeli anti-ballistic air defenses at our disposal. What I tell my parents and what I tell everyone else, first of all.” All in all, Israel is winning this war. We are eliminating two major terrorist organizations, for example Hamas, which, it should be noted, is actually no longer a fighting force. Then there is Hezbollah, which was one of the largest terrorist organizations in the world.

Goldstein says Israel still needs the support of the United States but is now determined to fight the war in its own way.

The local Jewish community is planning a memorial ceremony for the victims of the October 7 attack. The meeting is scheduled for Monday at 7 p.m. at the Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation.