[Abernathy]

Phil’s insights are right on the money, as ever.

[Oboogie]

Yep, we've all seen the Israeli government's response to the UN's statement on a ceasefire. The UN are now no longer issued visas. How would the UK aid workers being denied visas help the Palestinians that need that aid?

[kreuzberger]

In Bibi, we, the West, have ushered in a monster. Nary an eyebrow has been raised while he strategically eschewed the 2-State solution or as he tried to legislate for a fascist state, driven by the thieving maniac settlers whose votes keep him in power. Let's not lose sight of the fact that his motives are neither political nor altruistic. He is trying to stay out of jail.

That puts the West in to a bit of a pickle because Israel's response to 07/10 hasn't materially changed in the last three weeks. Whatever "proportional" meant was never agreed and, through our encouragement, has simply been defined as "this".

It looks like Israel has a carte blanche to ratchet up its murderous and negligent intent to the point of televised, house-to-house executions before the West will raise a flag. Give the 24 hours and we'll possibly be there.

[Boiler]

^^This^^

[Malcolm Armsteen]

Once upon a time (1948) we supported the Arab cause (see the life of Glubb Pasha and the Arab Legion).

In 1948 the Arab Legion defended the West Bank as Arab/Palestinian territory.

Glubb was a Tory. I think...

[davidjay]

Here he is, the man who never walks towards a fire without a can of petrol in either hand.

[Abernathy]

Good grief. He’s not just not playing with a full deck, he hasn’t even been to the playing card store (to torture a metaphor).

The Corbyn family nutter gene is clearly a strong one.

[Abernathy]

This from Tom Watson (formerly Deputy Leader of the Labour Party) :

The Failed Legacy of Netanyahu

Keir Starmer should also make it clear that he has no intention of bolstering the shattered authority of Netanyahu. The Israeli Prime Minister has failed to maintain peace or increase security, abandoning even the idea of a two-state solution. This failure has been exacerbated by the abandonment of the Oslo Accords' route map for peace, once considered the apex of cooperation between Israel and Palestine.

It’s a risky business for a leader to comment on the domestic electoral politics of another country, but Starmer can afford to do this and has been given some space to do so by Merav Michaeli, leader of Labour’s sister party in Israel, who this week has called for Nethanyahu to immediately resign. When this current military operation is over, it is highly likely that Israel will have a new leader in the years ahead, as the era of Netanyahu finally closes.

The Illusion of Immediate Ceasefires
While calling for an immediate ceasefire might momentarily satisfy short-term demands from within the UK, the plea is likely to fall on deaf ears in Jerusalem, Doha, and Tehran. In the high-stakes, multi-layered landscape of Middle Eastern politics, a call from a UK opposition leader may be seen as largely symbolic, lacking the force to instigate real change. It may satisfy demands domestically for the mayors of London and Manchester but would make Starmer look ineffective globally and unable to understand the realpolitik of the region.

[Oboogie]

Netanyahu still has corruption charges hanging over him, he's likely to wind up in jail.
Once this war is over.

[Boiler]

A graphic from Led By Donkeys.

https://countingthekids.org/

Sources at the bottom.

[The Weeping Angel]

[RedSparrows]

I love the balance there: Ryan's the hero, it's his brilliance that wins the day, so much so that the rest of the world magically falls into line. Genre fiction 101 - not a criticism, I'm just tickled by the neat summary.

[Bones McCoy]

I wonder whether the swiss guards will be bringing their halberds and pyjama style camo'.

[Boiler]

Certainly looks different to the Greek Presidential Guard uniform...

[Youngian]

What will Israel do now without the backing of the UK Sex Workers Union?

[Tubby Isaacs]

I'm sure sex work in Gaza is a lovely occupation.

I get their point, but sometimes these juxtapositions are a bit jarring.

[kreuzberger]

What will Israel do now without the backing of the UK Sex Workers Union?

Start another one in the wife's name?

[Rosvanian]

https://news.sky.com/story/israel-hamas ... e-12996701

The moral high ground, Tory style. They think it's going to win the election.

[The Weeping Angel]

So are we going to see stories about the Tories splits over this?

[Abernathy]

It’s the sole reason why Sunak has thrown this bloke under the proverbial bus. He wants people to compare and contrast what Starmer (so far) will not do with shadow ministers, senior and junior, who similarly keep urging Starmer to change his position and call formally for a “ceasefire” as opposition leader.

As with his King Brian-irritating King’s Speech full of environment-unfriendly shit, Sunak is desperate to try and define some dividing lines with Labour/Starmer and hopefully avoid the comprehensive landslide that is currently on the cards.

It’s pathetic, and quite transparent.