JC columnist Geoffrey Alderman was very surprised to find himself invited by the Syrian Ambassador, Sami Khiyami, to the annual celebration of Syria’s “National Day” at the country’s embassy in London.

Said Alderman: “I have not a clue why I was invited but I accepted. The only person I recognised at the reception was Jeremy Bowen.”

As the only guest sporting a kippah, Alderman admitted that he did receive one or two perplexed glances but said that the behaviour of his hosts was “punctilious”.

He added that he has yet to be invited to a reception at the Israeli embassy.