I read about an incident yesterday in one area that I was in last month. It was initially branded as terrorism, but I'm feeling inclined to agree with those who suggest that the guy just went nuts. The death toll there: 3 people. It originally made me think of my trip as somewhat risky - but then I read the local news and read about a larger number of local fatalities.

On a purely statistical basis, what is more likely to get you killed over the course of the next year:

1. Living in Israel in the midst of the Intifada,
2. Living in crime-ridden, inner city Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Milwaukee, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Philadelphia, or Pittsburgh, or
3. living in the bucolic outer suburbs of those cities?

The answer is overwhelmingly (c).

Philip Longman, The Empty Cradle, p. 181

If you're interesting in comparing Israel to suburbia, try reading an article that originally appeared in the Jerusalem Post, comparing terrorism deaths to auto deaths. Israel actually has a slightly longer life expectancy than the US according to the CIA factbook.