From the archive
Visions of Hell: What One Man Sees in October 7th
How does a French filmmaker best ivory-tower experts and global intelligence agencies? In this interview spanning both geopolitics and moral reckoning, Pierre Rehov shares the insights—and warnings—that led him to anticipate Israel’s surprise strikes on Iran in June.
Pierre Rehov is a filmmaker, director, and novelist who lives in Ashdod, Israel, which is 20 miles from Gaza.
Mr. Rehov is renowned for his coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the broader Arab-Israeli conflict, with a specific focus on terrorism. His latest documentary, Pogrom(s), traces the malign forces in Palestine, the Middle East, and the international community that enabled the Hamas-orchestrated terror strikes in the fall of 2023. His French bestseller, Octobre 7 – La Riposte (translating to "response" or "counterattack"), examines that day in further detail. Remarkably, the book also delivered a warning with remarkable accuracy: Israel would inevitably be forced to strike Iran before summer 2025.
"Now I am waiting for the next stage."
In this conversation, Merion West contributing editor Jonathan Church and Pierre Rehov discuss the recent war between Israel and Iran, as well as the October 7th attack.
Note from the publisher: the interview has been modified for length and clarity.
One of the notable themes of the book is your prediction that Israel would have to respond to Iran in the wake of October 7th. Can you begin by talking about the book, what its main themes are, and whether I accurately just described your prediction.
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