OK, so this is a Jewish blog in a Jewish publication - ok, in a largely christian (oops, muslim!) country that has its share of anti-semites.
But whatever is written here, by and large, is going to be pro-Jew, pro-Israel. Preaching to the converted, if you will.
That said, I think most people of Jewish faith in a mixed faith society have to learn knowledge of, respect and understanding of and for other beliefs - as we have to live in and around peoples from varying backgrounds and with varying value systems.
Furthermore, I think the British have a (n outmoded) sense of being the world's ethical police force. Militarily and monetarily, we haven't been for a hundred years or so, But i still suspect the average Brit feels he or she thinks they'll be the last one not to take a balanced view or give "the other side" a fair hearing.
There are "nut cases" wherever one cares to look - far right or far left. and those in the "middle" are not incapable of talking utter twaddle, too.
The issue of Johnny Arab vs Israel is (if i may dare to do go here...) kinda sorta possibly, a little bit like a fierce London soccer derby; West Ham - QPR in the bad old days, Gunners - Spurs on a warm day of free beer. You have your sides and you'll support your team. Words will fly. So may bottles and other things.
There's no outcome that will ever change things - so we believe.
As to the best possible outcome of the "middle east war", to be honest it is so complicated, that I do not feel qualified to comment on it. I "support my team" and I know a little of the other side - enough not to like, but not enough to be judge and jury.
In terms of media coverage and how Israel is seen, I have a couple of percentage points' more knowledge (not much!). And I can't help thinking that there is a bias.
Have there been out of control Israeli soldiers in Gaza? Sure. I bet there have. It's a war. And you have young men with high powered rifles on a mission from G-d. I'm sure there have been terrible mistakes, friendly-fire deaths etc - as there have been, in all likelihood, during all wars, ever.
The thing I come back to is this:
MOTIVATION
An Israeli soldier doing his job looking for people trying to bomb Israel; fair enough.
A palestinan soldier doing his job defending what he believes is his land; fair enough.
Siting rocket launchers under hospitals, gun emplacments near schools or densely populated areas; different story.
The media still persists in depicting the Palestians as the “victims”. And so some extent, I agree - the average Palestinian IS a victim. Because the folks that rule him (or her) do not appear to place the same value on his (or her) life (here on Earth, let me add...) - and seem to think it’s ok to use their own population as sandbags and human shields.
If an Israeli rocket hits a school, Israel does NOT benefit. There is no “up” side. People get killed. The media go nuts . Israel has no interest in killing civilians.
Hummus (sick), however not only has an interest in killing OUR innocent civilians, it even has an interest in having ITS OWN civilians killed.
So I shouldn’t be surprised when a Palestinian ‘man’ attacks a thirteen year old boy. With an Axe.
I have no answers.
I do know that this is a war being fought with both sides abiding by different rules.
Ultimately, either they play “fair” or we play “dirty”.
I hope, for their sakes, and the sake of their people that they choose the former.
The irritant with Israel, I believe, stems from the fact that Israel is rich and quite powerful. The Arab world seems to forget that about 61 years ago, this was not the case. And that Israel started as a rather crummy piece of land that was worked on to provide prosperity.
Those same people - while hugely outnumbered in the region - have consistently demonstrated they can fight above their weight - and win.
If the war escalated (you don’t think it can?), I could see the death toll ratio hit around 20 - 1 Arab to Israeli.
The media will not be the Judge. (It may support the weaker party.)
That is the role of History.
Al that it takes for Evil to triumph is for enough Good Men to do nothing.