My Yom Kippur with Max Blumenthal

Having spent a July evening listening to Max Blumenthal at his book launch for his written account of last year’s conflict between Gaza and Israel, it then became a struggle to find an opportunity to read the book itself. I engage anything and everything on the Israel / Arab conflict and usually it is critical to do so with internet access close at hand as … Continue reading My Yom Kippur with Max Blumenthal

You do not confront anti-Semitism by waving a white flag

Imagine if you can, a marketplace of ideas in a small city somewhere on the coast in South West England. The owners of this market by law must ensure free trade, free that is for as long as it does not promote violent extremism. Within this market are people who despise the Jewish state, creating for themselves a corner of the market, refusing to deal … Continue reading You do not confront anti-Semitism by waving a white flag

Anti-Semitism in London, absolutely shameful

It is 09/09/2015. In the Middle East, millions are oppressed by their own leaders, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed, and untold numbers are still making their escape. Today the democratically elected leader of the only nation in the Middle East that provides freedom and protection for all its citizens came to visit the UK, and in London, at the very heart of … Continue reading Anti-Semitism in London, absolutely shameful

The lies and the myths of the anti-Israeli crowd

How many lies and distortions can be spread in a single article? Sometimes, when reading on stories about Israel, so ludicrous the web being weaved, I somehow expect to hear Rod Serling overhead announcing that ‘I am traveling through another dimension’, accompanied of course by the Twilight Zone’s classic music playing in the background. At the core, there are 3 types of Israel-haters; the first … Continue reading The lies and the myths of the anti-Israeli crowd

From Southampton to Exeter, 109 miles of extremism

A few months ago, I predicted the failed conference in Southampton would only be the start, so it comes as no surprise to see that several of the crew who were meant to have the main stage at Southampton are now gathering together for an exercise in propaganda at the University of Exeter. The subject of this particular farce is “Settler Colonialism in Palestine”. My … Continue reading From Southampton to Exeter, 109 miles of extremism

Duma – A time for introspection

This specific piece is a blog amongst friends and it should be read as such; an in-house conversation such as those that supporters of Israel engage in at the Friday night dinner table (or for my Christian friends, a political discussion during the Sunday roast); jackets off. This is not about confronting the enemy without, but speaking of weaknesses within. I tend to internalise before … Continue reading Duma – A time for introspection

A distorted evening with Max Blumenthal

In the firm belief that listening to opposing arguments is vital, I took myself to the latest Max Blumenthal book launch for his written account of last year’s conflict in Gaza and Israel titled ‘the 51 Day War’. I did feel hostility in the room; deep hostility. In truth it began earlier, when having seen me associate with the pro-Israeli demonstration outside, an agitated attendee … Continue reading A distorted evening with Max Blumenthal

The United Nations – the racism, the cost and the hypocrisy

In the coming days, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)  will receive and publish the findings from the Independent Commission of Inquiry on the 2014 Gaza Conflict. It is expected to be ‘at best’, highly critical of Israel. I was an 10 year old boy when the UN passed a General Assembly resolution ruling that ‘Zionism is racism’. For those that have the time, … Continue reading The United Nations – the racism, the cost and the hypocrisy

Israel’s right to live in peace – BDS and the big lie

Israel has always had a weakness with PR; it is one of the perpetual down-sides of a nation having more serious issues to think about whilst also being faced with an enemy with a far larger population. Even back when the existential threat was on every border, Israel wasn’t always an easy sell, and there is no point pretending that Western Nations have only just … Continue reading Israel’s right to live in peace – BDS and the big lie

Israel – don’t give up an inch of the truth

This was hardly the first article in Counterpunch I read that brazenly claimed Israel should not exist; in fact Counterpunch runs that line more frequently than the Daily Express headlines the British weather. It is undoubtedly Counterpunch’s ‘thing’. I often wonder what goes through someone’s minds as they write a sentence that denies Israel’s right to exist, a sentence that carries the implication of the … Continue reading Israel – don’t give up an inch of the truth