Evacuation Residents on northern border pack to leave as frantic mood takes hold

Amid the spectacular scenery of northern Israel, where the mountains roll away into views of Lebanon and Syria, it is deceptively quiet. At this time of year the area is normally full of the last of the Jewish high holiday season's tourists, making the most of the cooler weather to hike and go apple picking.

- Bethan McKernan

Instead, yesterday, the Israeli defence ministry gave an unprecedented order for residents of 28 villages and kibbutzim living within 2km (1.25 miles) of the blue line that separates the country from Lebanon to evacuate south.

The state is gearing up for the possible outbreak of hostilities with Hezbollah, the powerful Lebanese militia backed by Iran, at the same time as the new war with Hamas in the blockaded Gaza Strip.

The northern front, like the southern one before it, is emptying out after repeated rocket and missile attacks and border skirmishes in recent days with Hezbollah and Palestinian factions active in Lebanon. The mood across Israel is frantic.

For the people living here the evacuation order is not just about history repeating itself, or the occasional volley of rockets that set off air-raid sirens. It is also frightening for its novelty. The odds of escalation with Hezbollah, Palestinian factions in the occupied West Bank - or even a head-on collision with Iran, after years of "shadow war" - are higher than they have ever been.