Israeli woman who taught in Charlotte describes escalating violence

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hundreds of rockets have been fired between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Mor Green spent two years in Charlotte as an Israeli emissary and teacher. She just returned to Israel in August.

She spoke to Eyewitness News on Thursday about the escalating violence in the area.

“A few moments ago missiles were launched from Gaza to Tel Aviv,” Green, who lives in Jerusalem, said by phone.

A major concern for Green is that Tel Aviv is 50 miles from Gaza. If Hamas has long-range missiles that can reach it, they can easily reach Jerusalem.

“It’s too dangerous to just walk outside,” Green said. “If an air raid starts happening, goes off, you have nowhere to actually go.”

The stakes are very high.

University of North Carolina at Charlotte professor Harry Chernotsky said this could easily evolve into a ground war, like Israel’s invasion of Gaza in 2008.

The new attacks on major urban areas change the game.

“It will be very difficult for the U.S. or anyone to urge Israel to moderate its response, because this really extends the nature of the threat,” Chernotsky said.

Green hopes that doesn’t happen. She grew up just minutes from the building where three Israelis were killed next to Gaza. Her family is still there and directly in the line of fire if all-out war breaks out.

“In the morning, they have been running non-stop to the bomb shelter with my nephew and my sister,” Green said.

Green said schools and universities in Jerusalem are closed because many don’t have bomb shelters.

She said when the sirens go off, you need to be in a shelter in 15 seconds or it could be too late.

WSOC