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It was just at the end of my lunch, when a friend of mine came rushing into the bistro, telling us about an incident in southern Israel. Quickly we turned to the television and tried to get detailed news about what had happened. That was not easy. After a phone call to Anica, I decided that the incident was not so bad and returned to my office. I have so many things that have to be done.

But my curiosity drove me to Haaretz.com. There I received the following information:

Five people were killed and dozens were wounded Thursday in a series of terrorist attacks on Israeli targets approximately 20 kilometers north of the southern city of Eilat, close to the border with Egypt. [...] Simultaneously, an anti-tank missile was fired from Egypt on a private vehicle, and several mortar shells were also fired into Israel. [...] According to reports, the terrorists in the car opened fire at the Egged bus, which carried a significant number of soldiers leaving their bases for the weekend. [...] The IDF Spokesman reported that two to four terrorists were killed during the clashes. (source: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/five-killed-in-series-of-terrorist-attacks-in-southern-israel-1.379309 date: 18.08.2011, 15:46)

That is terrible! There is no question about that.

What makes me afraid though is the degree of my emotional blunting during my 15-month stay in Israel. At first I took in the message with alertness, then I directly reduced it to “shit happens” and carried on with my daily tasks. At present I am not nervous or afraid. I don’t feel sad, irritated, alarmed, disturbed or hostile. I don’t feel shocked.

But more than five people died; many were injured! I guess the number of dead attackers is not included in the five. They are dead! Their families must be going insane!

I’d prefer to reduce my blunt detachment, at least to a natural level, where being shocked and feeling sorrowful are still normal reactions.