Just how is Israel going to guarantee peace and security for its people when it is creating such hate in the Middle East region? Like the USA under Trump, Israel is likely to isolated on the world stage and suffer long-term consequences for its illegal aggression. Most recently, Israel’s attack on Syria’s defence capabilities will make it easier for ISIS to attack it and secure a major foothold in this fragile region. And I’m still wondering why it took between eight and twelve hours for Israel’s defence forces to respond to the victims of the dreadful 8 October, 2023 attack by Hamas, who so quickly and easily carried out their attack on innocent people.

I recently listened to a supporter of Israel provide a TV interview when she fully supported the indiscriminate attack on Palestinians. Just behind her I saw a book on her bookshelf entitled 1948 - which happened to be the start of Israel’s dehumanising treatment of Palestinians including murder, torture and acquisition of Palestinian homes and land…As the leader of the United Nations explained, “8 October had a context…”

Despite the horror and deprivation being inflicted by Israel, most governments seem to believe every word spoken by its leaders while treating Palestinian claims as largely fiction. It is possible that Israel has killed more hostages via its bombing and shooting than Hamas. Were the five hostages really executed by Hamas or is this another distortion of the truth? Where is the evidence? Were UNWRA employees really involved in the attack of 8 October? Where was the evidence? Were babies decapitated and women raped on 8 October? Where is the evidence? Every claim made by Israel has been believed without question. Why?

Effectively, the USA has built a Middle Eastern proxy offensive force (one of the world’s most powerful) through the billions of dollars spent supporting Israel. Is it any wonder that both the USA and Israel are hated and mistructed in the region?

The UK

After fourteen years of Conservative rule the country was looking for real change and far greater transparency from its government. Labour was sure to win with a substantial majority while other minor parties (with the exception of the Scottish SNP who had many problems) would gain seats. The inevitable happened but it’s not quite what millions of voters hoped for. And it’s worrying that the new rulers are exhibiting total incompetence right from the start line. It could also be that achieving power was to be at any cost…

Almost immediately the new government announced that the annual Winter Fuel Payment would be means tested depriving millions of low-income pensioners of a cash amounts between £200-£300. With heating bills some 40-50% higher than in 2022 and the general cost-of-living also substantially higher, poorer pensioners are sure to struggle through a cold winter. This was clumsy in the extreme: they should have made the measure more targeted and raised the maximum income level to perhaps £15,000 per annum. By providing a blanket solution the poor pensioners have been lumped in with the richer ones - inept policy-making. This was not part of the party’s manifesto. The reason for this action, according to the government, was that it discovered that the country’s financial health was far worse than expected. If more pensioners claim Pension Credit (which qualifies them for the winter payment) the amount of money raised will be minimum and do nothing to ‘fill the black hole’. Other critical measures were also taken which were in sharp contrast to Labour’s core socialist beliefs and led to the suspension of several Labour MPs for defying the leadership. It’s “the £22 billion black hole left by the Conservatives” is the often repeated excuse and was used in great measure for piling extra costs onto most employers including in the public sector. And this while declaring that economic growth was the government’s primary objective.