“Crying in fear”
How Andrea Kiewel experienced the attack on Israel
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Presenter Andrea Kiewel experienced the shelling of Israel by Iran at first hand at the weekend. She has been living in Tel Aviv for several years – and took refuge in the shelter in the basement. Anxious hours of fear of death followed.
For Andrea Kiewel it was “the longest night of my life.” When Iran attacked Israel, the “ZDF- Fernsehengarten” presenter was in fear of death. She has lived in Tel Aviv for years with her Israeli partner, a former elite soldier. “I didn’t want to die from missiles and drones from Iran,” she described her feelings in an interview with the “Bild” newspaper.
“I cried out of fear, more than once,” admits “Kiwi.” “I couldn't stop wishing that it would be over quickly and at the same time I was afraid that it would all be over.” They learned about the impending attack through news broadcasts: “We were asked to prepare for the worst.” Every Israeli knows what to do in this case: “Pack your bag with laundry, water, cans of tuna, crispbread, flashlights, charging cables, etc. and then run to the shelter when the siren sounds.” Her hands were shaking as she packed. She took her most important things with her to the shelter in a sports bag. It is located in the basement of the house where the East Berlin native lives with her partner on the fifth floor. “In an emergency, we run down the stairs to the basement. I think it's bad, but I'm glad that there is at least this shelter.”
According to the “Bild” newspaper, Kiewel experienced the rocket night as traumatic: They waited all night and didn't say a word. “All hell was literally breaking loose in the sky over Tel Aviv. The Israeli air defense did everything to protect us.” In her fear, the thought of her mother in Germany gave her strength. “It's my mom's birthday on Monday. She's turning 93. That was my mantra: I'm going to celebrate with my mom on Monday…” She was “exhausted” after that bad night, but also “infinitely relieved” that “it's that “Iran did not succeed in destroying us.”
“Love this country so much”
The presenter feels a close connection to Israel. “When I came to Israel in 2017 with my youngest son, I planted my heart here,” she said in a previous interview. “I am Jewish myself and love this country so much that it has become my home.” In November she told the news agency spot on news that her home was in Tel Aviv: “I have family here.” That's why it was never an issue to return to Germany despite the dramatic situation after the Hamas attack.
“Everyday life isn't everyday life at all, it's been one day after the other since October 7th. I always try to do something somehow,” the 58-year-old explained at the time. She tries to keep herself busy all the time “so as not to get caught up in this roller coaster of emotions and keep checking the news.” However, after recent developments, it is not easy for her to remain positive. “I wish I could say that there will be no big war, no third world war. I pray that it doesn't happen!” said Andrea Kiewel in an interview with “Bild”.
