If ever there was any doubt

Day 332.  If there was any remaining doubt as to the nature of the vile organisation that is Hamas, Sunday the 1^st September cleared that up for certain.  The news broke that Hamas terrorists had executed 6 Israeli hostages only days before the IDF reached them in order to secure their release. I was then and still am, both shocked and utterly appalled.

Then the following day Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced that the British Government would be halting some sales of arms to Israel.  These would include, he said “equipment that we assess is for use in the current conflict in Gaza such as important components that go into military aircraft, including fighter aircraft, helicopters and drones, as well as items that facilitate ground targeting”.

The irony was not lost on me. In other words where Israel needs the equipment most, in Gaza, where the remaining hostages are being held, the British Government is going to put obstacles in her path.  Again, if there was any doubt that the Labour party had changed its attitude towards the Jewish people and their nation state, there it was, for all to see.  Treating Israel like no other country is alive and well.  Seeking to placate the Israel haters in the party and their supporters is well underway and a little thing such as last Sunday’s war crime is certainly not going to get in the way.

The murders on their own are bad enough.  What makes it so much worse is that this is business as usual for the Israel haters.  A nasty twist of the knife has been comments from these haters along the lines of this all being the fault of the Israeli Government by not backing down, by not giving into the demands of Hamas, and not wanting to see them come back and kill more Israelis whenever the mood takes them.

I cannot even say that this is wilful blindness or a myopia driven by a desire for a better world.  That it is not.  I am not sure what is worse, a full-on Israelophobe such as former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn leading the charge against Israel, or his replacement, now Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer.  At least with the former we knew exactly what we were dealing with.  Now, with the latter we have a man who claims to be our friend, whose party is now a safe space for the Jews and at the same time allows, piece by piece, attacks against Israel whilst claiming to defend her right to defend herself.

In a swift turnaround from previous Government policy, Sir Kier has withdrawn the objection to the disgraceful conduct of the International Criminal Court, has permitted resumption of funds to UNRWA and now, has started an arms embargo against Israel.  I say started, because I do not believe that Monday’s announcement will be the last.

In 2 short months we have seen a comprehensive volte face in the treatment of Israel. Add to this the failure by the police to take any meaningful action to fight the appalling rise in anti-Semitism on the streets and the universities failure to do anything about intimidation of Jewish students on campuses up and down the country as just two examples and the future is not looking rosy.

The 6 people murdered by Hamas were just going about their business on the 7^th October when their lives changed for ever and on Sunday brutally ended. If ever there was any doubt that we need to redouble our efforts to protect ourselves and show the world the reality of what Israel stands for, Sunday’s dreadful news showed us how important that effort is. I am still trying to comprehend that news and for the families of the six, I wish them long life and may the memories of their loved ones taken from in such terrible circumstances be a blessing.