French author Bernard-Henri Levy out-jousted Jeremy Paxman on BBC Newsnight this week. After BHL recalled how he had phoned his president Nicolas Sarkozy from the Libyan rebel city of Benghazi, he was asked by Paxman whether he had not thought similarly about intervention when Israel had "laid siege" to Gaza.

That was different, retorted BHL. Hamas were fascists, oppressing their people and throwing rockets at Israel, and there was no comparison... "Alright, alright," Paxman retreated.