I met one of my friends on a dog walk with my daughter. He is someone who is responsible for my job change to what I do now, and while I do not see him as often as I would like, it is always enjoyable to see him.
We have similar views on politics, but I am more centrist than he is. One issue where we disagree is about Starmer and Israel. I do not back the appalling ethnic cleansing that Israel is carrying out in The West Bank, and considering the land grab in Gaza, there as well. But I am aware of the pressure that Starmer is by both sides of the debate to pick one side over the other.
What may forget is that Benjamin Netanyahu does not like Starmer and has spoken out against him over the recognition of a Palestinian State. Starmer said Netanyahu criticisms over UK export suspension were wrong, and in August 2025, said that Israel’s plans to escalate the "war" in Gaza would ‘only bring more bloodshed’ all of which has not endeared him to the current Israeli leadership.
Like voters in the UK, Starmer has united most of those for and against Israel in the UK in their dislike for him over how he has dealt with the matter.
