Eyal Dahan was also in Los Angeles in the riots in 1992, but he did not see such a thing. : "Consider purchasing weapons" • War in the City of Angels

"The area we live in looks like a war zone," says Eyal Dahan, a former Israeli who lives in Los Angeles. "The army in the streets, businesses that were burnt and crushed. They dismantled the pharmacies, stole all the drugs. All the electronics stores are wrecked. It started worse, and because the police didn't press it, it became even worse."

Documentation: Los Angeles - War Zone // Photo: Eyal Dahan

It's hard to believe that Eyal's descriptions come from Beverly Hills, the area that has become so associated with wealth and the American dream, but this is the reality that Americans have been exposed to in recent days. Looting, store fires and even fear of burglaries in populated riot homes. Speaking from the City of Angels, Dahan talks about the collapse of businesses that have yet to recover from the Corona, about whether to buy self-defense weapons and Palestinians who have destroyed riot-sponsored synagogues, hoisting Palestinian flags and damaging Jewish holy sites.

"There's a huge mess here," shares Dahan. He is a veteran clothing supplier in the city and has lived in the United States for 41 years. Many of his clients suffered a severe blow following the Corona and then the riots. "On Saturday and Sunday was terror, the whole town was finished. Yesterday was supposedly a little quiet, but when the night came, the burglaries and looting began again.

In recent days, thousands of soldiers from the United States Army and the Civil Guard have been deployed in various cities, but Dahan says this is only partially effective. "They brought the army and they started to keep the big malls, but all the small shops, which barely survive, ate it.

Dahan said that while we were talking, around 10:00 pm, the riots and looting resumed. "Now the burglaries have started again. After eight or nine in the evening, they start their mess." Contrary to the situation at first, where the police tried to arrest all the protesters, they now act directly against the looters, but this puts them in immense danger. "There was a police officer killed today when he tried to arrest burglars. He was also black."

During the riots, several synagogues were damaged and destroyed, including one in the Beverly Hills neighborhood. Dahan emphasizes that it is not to his liking innocent protesters protesting against George Floyd's death. "There were Palestinians who took the opportunity to demolish the synagogues. I saw Palestinian flags and shouting 'Liberate Palestine.'

This is not the first time that Dahan has experienced huge riots due to violence against blacks. 28 years ago, Los Angeles fired for six days after police beat and arrested Rodney King. "This time is something else entirely. I didn't believe it would happen again. I thought the cops learned a lesson and how to deal, but the rioters learned. Social networks helped them form groups, split people like a war team. It's completely organized."

"I know people who have been hurt in Chicago, Oakland, New York and of course Los Angeles. My business has been closed for three months because of the Corona, and now also because of the riots. Many of us say they won't reopen. The business barely held up before the Corona and they were debating whether to open. Now It's better for them to take the money from the insurance and that's it. We know that in the country they care but we look after ourselves and don't look for trouble. All our neighbors with weapons. We don't have one yet, but I plan to buy. There was a rumor that burglars wanted to enter populated homes. .