The problem of fear

The current conflict between Israel and Hamas which has seen militants rain scores of rockets over southern Israel, whilst the Israeli defence force widens Its military campaign over Gaza, is put in perspective. So far, 3 Israeli civilians and 11 Palestinians including Ahmad al-Jabari, Hamas' top military commander have lost their lives. Hamas promises a "devastating" response to Israeli aerial attacks, and Israel's leader has expressed that his country "will not accept a situation in which Israeli citizens are threatened by the terror of rocket attacks". Israel has warned Hamas leaders and operatives to "stay out of sight" or risk the same fate as Al-Jabari. From the rhetoric as well as actual conflict, one gets a sense that on both sides of the divide, fear is being fed. Hamas rocket attacks, regardless of how many lives claimed, is causing a palpable sense of fear amongst the Israeli population of Southern Israel, as surely as Israel's deadly response is striking fear into the hearts of the Palestinian people. Fear is an emotion that is causing not just mistrust, but a hardening of positions, as well as a slow and insidious exhaustion which would only serve to work against dialogue and subsequently, peaceful co-existence.