On israel’s northern border with Lebanon, in the Upper Galilee, the air is heavy with acrid smoke as shelling ignites forest fires. Every hour or so, Hizbullah missiles explode inside the border, and Israel launches a counter-barrage aimed at the Iran-backed militia. This is a country poised for war. To the east Israel is bombing Syrian airfields thought to be used to ship arms to militants. In the south a vast Israeli invasion force awaits an order to enter the battle grounds of Gaza. Civilians have been evacuated and soldiers in helmets guard the junctions. Is Israel legitimacy shrinking in Gaza?