Gilo has become a frequent target, but this was the first time the gunfire had reached the Malcha neighborhood and the mall. Even now, as Palestinian militants threaten more attacks on Israelis, thousands throng its blue neon-lit walkways. Every night brings a crush of shoppers. The world of neatly folded yellow and green polo shirts and displays of Italian pasta pots suddenly did not seem so safe. The heavy security here at the mall assuages our fears but you never know.
Security is tight at the mall.
There are long waits to get into its cavernous parking lot. Guards check the trunks of every car and take down plate numbers. Shoppers must go through hand searches of their belongings before going inside. On Friday, five Israelis were killed when a Palestinian militant strapped with explosives blew himself up on the stairs of a crowded mall in the coastal town of Netanya. He shakes his head at the news that bullets have hit nearby.