I was working at the volunteer center in Manchester, UK, at that time, and was not able to volunteer because I was too young. The euphoria and sheer pride we all felt was wonderful. We all had stickers “We Stand By Israel” to put in our windows and in our cars, and lots of people from my school stuck them on their jackets and schoolbags.
I remember marching with others down Cheetham Hill Road in Manchester, carrying an Israeli flag, to a rally at the New Century Hall, and everybody along the route (non-Jews and Jews) were cheering us. (A bit different from now!)
I was a part of one of the first youth groups (Habonim Dror) who travelled on the West Bank and Gaza a few weeks afterwards.
– Ilana Rosen