As Israel intensifies its air strikes against Hamas’ positions in Gaza, it is important to remember that no one should blame the Israelis for this sudden resumption of violence.

Whenever the Jewish state takes action to defend itself against the volleys of Hamas missiles being fired indiscriminately – and without provocation – against Israeli residential neighbourhoods, Israel usually gets all the blame. If only the Israelis would make peace with the Palestinians and stop occupying their land then none of this would be happening, or so the argument goes.

If only it were that simple. For the reality of the situation is that Israel today increasingly finds itself surrounded by Islamist militants who are committed to the destruction of the Jewish state. And rather than worrying about making peace with the Palestinians, its fundamental concern at present is to make sure it is fully protected against groups like the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis), which is currently terrorising large swathes of the Arab world.

If you visit the Golan Heights these days you will find yourself within a stone’s throw of Islamist militants trying to overthrow the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Travel a few miles further north and you can see the Hizbollah checkpoints manned by Iranian-backed fanatics who are simply waiting for the instruction from Tehran to launch missiles at Tel Aviv. And now Israel is facing the prospect of renewed conflict on its southern border with Gaza after the recent escalation in tensions with Hamas.

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