The Nobel Peace Prize, Trump and Gaza

Over the last few days, there has been speculation that Trump has ensured that a ceasefire takes place in Gaza so that he can win the peace prize. The idea of this is ludicrous, especially with how he has backed Israel since they broke the last ceasefire this year. Since then starvation has hit Gaza with the murder of those seeking aid after the UN was banned from helping those n Gaza.

What Hamas did on October the 7th was horrific but does not justify what is happening now.

I hope that this peace will last. I suspect that Israel will find an excuse to return to violence once the hostages are released though. 

Saying that, if Trump can force Israel to return to The Oslo Peace Accords, then he will deserve that prize. 

Kemi Badenoch, the current leader of the Conservatives

I almost feel sorry for Kemi Badenoch.  She is a woman in politics which means that she is under more scrutiny than a man would be.  She is a woman of colour which means that she will be judged on that.  Both however will not be overt, there will just be something off about her.

Some mistakes are not down to her, the most recent one (at the time of this being posted) being the chocolate bar with incorrect spelling.  Others are though, such as her comment about Northern Ireland and the Brexit vote.   

This may be her first and last conference as leader.  I imagine that she is hoping to last until Reform implode, infighting being an issue with Nigel Farage and his tribute acts in the past.  It may not happen, but I hope it does, as do those who have stood by the Conservatives.

For those who would like to listen to her in some easy interviews, I hope this post is of interest.

Is Keir Starmer complicit in genocide?

Two years ago, an attack was launched from Gaza that brought about a response from Israel.  The attack was intended to remind Jews in Israel what happened to Jews during the Holocaust.  Images were taken of Israelis being murdered and hostages (though not all of them being Israeli or Jewish) were taken.  Israel responded, initially with the backing of much of the world.  But Israel went too far and openly worked towards the Ethnic Cleansing of Gaza, its actions now being considered by many to be genocide.  

I do not think that there is any justification for the attacks two years ago, just as there was no justification for Israel breaking the ceasefire that had been previously negotiated and would have freed people on both sides.

Other than the production of parts for the F-35, I think that the UK should be offering no aid or support to Israel.  And the F-35 parts being produced can only be justified due to the role of the UK in the production of the fighter.  I think that I understand why Starmer has not cut off all support, I suspect this being that he can try to influence Donald Trump, the only man who can actually force Israel to stop the continued murder of so many Palestinians.  That and doing so may cause Trump to raise his tariffs on the UK. 

While the world is focused on the brutality in Gaza, it is important to remember how Palestinian land is being taken for Living Space (I know the use of this term will open me to accusations of antisemitism) by settlers in The West Bank. Palestinians have been attacked BEFORE the horrors of two years ago, little or no action being taken by the IDF to stop settlers from doing so. 

Do I think that he is complicit in genocide?  No more so than many other world leaders.  But I am fed up of people saying that he is.  There are actions that people can take on this matter, they can report Starmer and if he is guilty, action can be taken against him.  Will people do that?  I doubt it.  

When should direct action be limited?

Direct action has been part of protests in the UK for some time. The Suffragettes took part in direct action, some of which was more violent than others. This matter is in the news again because many have been arrested for protesting while supporting Palestine Action. My views on them and how they have “accidentally” supported Russia n the invasion of Ukraine have been posted before. 

This post is about if direct action is okay depending on the group engaging in it.

In August there was a story about how demonstrators had tried to enter a hotel housing asylum seekers to take part in direct action. Other actions have been taken since then, not just in Scotland, not counting the criminal damage that happened during the Farage Riots last year. Charities who have been trying to help refugees have reported abuse and intimidation by those who care about what they stand for. 

Palestine Action have also taken part in criminal damage, breaking windows of offices in Milton Keynes, but also targeting Jewish businesses in Stamford Hill. And of course there are the actions which have accidentally hindered Ukrainian efforts to defend against the invasion Russia. While there will be those who will say I am wrong to compare Kristallnacht to what is happening now, but many of those who are considered to be Jewish were concerned about history repeating itself, that being before the appalling murder of Jews in Manchester. 

I will finish on two points. Loads of organisations are protesting the brutal ethnic cleansing of Gaza and are staying within the law to do so. The other point is if it is acceptable for one group to engage in intimidation and criminal damage to bring about change, is it also acceptable for others to do so? 

A trip to Bristol

My wife, our son and I went to Bristol yesterday to see our daughter. Sadly, she and I are now unwell. While I would love to blame my daughter, I started to feel unwell in the morning before we left.

We are getting used to the drive and our son ensured we were entertained by talking to us and picking music to play on Spotify. As we approached her halls of residence Leia, our dog, realised where we were. The dog and my daughter were overjoyed to see each other. When there, we got to meet the two girls she stays with in her flat and later, one of the boys.

We went out for a meal (which was great and we will return), took down some items that my daughter wanted and after spending some much appreciated time with her drove back.  Unlike last time, the drive back was relatively event free, as usual, there was a lot of traffic on the M25 between the M4 and the M40, due to an accident this time.

It was after I handed over to my wife that our virus hit me. When at home, I went to bed, with a fever though later I did get to watch the Arsenal game, before passing out on the sofa!

Paracetamol and vaccines

The world we live in is becoming a joke.  A sad tragic one for many as they are to die sooner than they should.  People in power should not be claiming that paracetamol (Tylenol/acetaminophen in the USA) causes Autism when the overwhelming evidence states that it is safe.

But this is from an administration that is spreading lies and half-truths about vaccines.  And a president who commented about using bleach in bodies to cure COVID.  

Remember that thanks to misinformation that had been spread about COVID, more Republicans died of COVID than Democrats in the USA.  Also, in the UK, we have our own morons who have an 'interesting' view on science, let alone Farage refusing to accept that paracetamol does not cause autism.

Should Blair be a Middle East peace envoy

There appears to be hope on the horizon for peace in Gaza. I say hope, we had that before until Israel broke the agreement. There is an argument about the suitability of Tony Blair in this, but if he is involved in a just peace, so be it. 

It is a surrender by Hamas if they accept it, considering how the Palestinian Authority wanted to remove them by force in the past, when they had a democratic mandate, it will be an issue for them.  I am this will not stop the horrors in The West Bank. But it is a step to ending the ethnic cleansing in Gaza.