Peace talks Polarised opinions among the Israelis displaced by war

Here is a crack, a boom and a siren, almost simultaneously. Sergio Helman has not quite reached the concrete shelter a dozen metres from his hummus restaurant, off Route 99, which marks the northernmost limit of the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona.

- Jason Burke

The 60-year-old shrugs and explains that Hezbollah fires the rockets from so close that Israeli air defence systems can give only 15 seconds warning at best.

"But I always try to get to the shelter," he said. "I've got five children to support so I have to stay alive to keep my restaurant open."

Business at Helman's restaurant has not been good in recent months. The evacuation of most of the population of Kiryat Shmona and surrounding communities in the days after Hamas's 7 October attack into southern Israel last year means most of the usual customers have gone. Neighbouring eateries are closed and the shared car park is strewn with fallen branches.

This may soon change. A ceasefire to end the 13-month conflict between Israel and the Lebanese Islamist militant movement Hezbollah now looks possible, even likely.