Election Year or Fear!

[Ram Pant]

This is what Dave Bautista thinks of 47.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGxwn_N9DtE

[swaledale]

I don’t know enough about the creation of states or the detail behind Palestine’s existence to know. I do know that I’d be disinclined to give statehood as I do understand it to an entity which has a governing group and who’s prominent religion has an objective to destroy another state in its entirety

Totally against what Israel has done in Gaza, but it does have the right to defend itself and retaliate for the Oct 7 attacks. IMO it’s gone about things in the wrong way to the multiple of 70,000 if that number is civilians not HAMAS agents

Against any illegal annexing of land so if and when Israel do that I’m against it.

My brief response to rA wasn’t about any of the above issues though

Well it was connected, in that you seem to hold the opinion that any support for the Palestinian's and their right to a nation by displying a Palestinian flag is antisemetic.

I do not profess to be an expert on the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, other than history suggests it arises from the creation of Israel, by Eurpoean countries after WW2, with a lack of consderation for the people who already lived in those lands, which was so typical of how ex colonial powers carved up land into nations back then, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh being prime examples. It is a complex area and impossible to arrive at a simple solution IMO>

Your presumably referring to HAMAS, as the entity "whose prominent religion has an objective to destroy another state"? I'd argue that Muslims in general and Islam as a religon doesn't have that as a stated aim, but that as you well know, within all religions, whether Christian, Jewish, Muslim or indeed Hindu is used by men (its predominantly men) as a cover for violence to achieve aims that are generally both at odds with the philosophy of the religion? HAMAS is just one in a long line of human groups that do this.

There are ways and means by which Israel could destroy HAMAS or render it ineffective, the slaughter of 70,000 people, the majority of whom posed no threat not only doesn't achieve that, but is counter productive, further encouraging Palestinians into HAMAS influence. If Israel fails to disarm and remove HAMAS, then all its endeavours will have been for nothing.

But then there is a view that, there was a significant failure by the Israeli, Defence force and government that allowed the 7 October atrocity to occur. Border observers had warned senior officers for weeks about unusual activity in Gaza, these warnings were ignored. this comes from Israeli sources, as does the view that the Gaza action is largely "performative" to keep questions being asked about Netanyahu's failure.

I'd agree that Israel has the right to protect itself and go after the perpetrators, but that must surely be within the terms of international law? In any case IMO, rather than doing that it is "punishing" people who had nothing to do with the attack, other than they lived in a place governed or more accurately controlled by the organisation that did. One might hope that HAMAS's credibility is udnermined, given that they must have know that Israel would retaliate and that risked the lives of ordinary Plalestinians, but I'm not holding my breath.

Israel is annexing land in the West Bank, its just not calling it that, but the not so subtle encourgaement of settlers onto land occupied by Palestinians, backed up by state infrastructure, with accompanying violence and intimidation.

As I've said previously, I don't disagree, that amongst those demonstrating in support of Palestinians, there will be elements with an antisemetic intent, much in the same way I believe you countered that not all those who attended Yaxley-Lennons "Freedom March" were racists.

Given that a substantial proportion of Israeli citizens and other Jews support a just and peacefu solution to the issue, its inacurate surely to apply a broad brush antisemite label to those displaying the Palestinian flag?

[SithHappens]

Irrespective of our political beliefs i think we all must pray and hope Nadhim Zahawi is doing well after his near brush with death. His bravery in being prepared to re live this to warn others is commendable.

https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/london-not-safe-nadhim-zahawi-5HjdSK8_2/

[Ram Pant]

Irrespective of our political beliefs i think we all must pray and hope Nadhim Zahawi is doing well after his near brush with death. His bravery in being prepared to re live this to warn others is commendable.

https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/london...awi-5HjdSK8_2/

Indeed, seeing someone who looks like they haven't slept for a week is a terrifying thing to suffer. If Zahawi needs a getaway spot to recover, I'll gladly put him up for a few days until he recovers.

[ramAnag]

Irrespective of our political beliefs i think we all must pray and hope Nadhim Zahawi is doing well after his near brush with death. His bravery in being prepared to re live this to warn others is commendable.

https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/london...awi-5HjdSK8_2/

Hmmm. Frightened of homeless looking people. Wants the army sent into London to deal with such threats and applauds Ratcliffe’s half baked comments about immigrants, which, coming from someone who arrived in the UK as a refugee from Baghdad is a tad odd.

[SithHappens]

Hmmm. Frightened of homeless looking people. Wants the army sent into London to deal with such threats and applauds Ratcliffe’s half baked comments about immigrants, which, coming from someone who arrived in the UK as a refugee from Baghdad is a tad odd.

Yeah Baghdad must be a peaceful haven

[swaledale]

Hmmm. Frightened of homeless looking people. Wants the army sent into London to deal with such threats and applauds Ratcliffe?s half baked comments about immigrants, which, coming from someone who arrived in the UK as a refugee from Baghdad is a tad odd.

I listened Nick Robinson interview Farage on political thinking radio 4 tonight. Farage claimed he didn't now anyone whose family hadn't been a victim of crime in London, Robinson then said, well none of mine has Farage afftected surpise, saying he msut have been lucky! Well Farage you shameless lair and grifter, nor has mine, my Brother has lived there for over 40 years mu daughtera decade and I visit regualry and have never had an issue, even in the so called dodgier parts. The only time I felt a wee bit threatened was when some West ham fans, all white by the way, entered a tube train I was on and were very "boisterous" including being over friendly to a number of women!

This false narrative, which does nothing to consider real social issues is not helpful at all.

I note Goodwin is further exposing the inherent misoginy in reform by suggesting girls need educating about the dangers of leaving it late to have children. Jeez, these fraudsters really do want to turn the clock back to te 1950's don't they?

[swaledale]

Hmmm. Frightened of homeless looking people. Wants the army sent into London to deal with such threats and applauds Ratcliffe?s half baked comments about immigrants, which, coming from someone who arrived in the UK as a refugee from Baghdad is a tad odd.

Find someone in Reform who isn't a tad odd!

[SithHappens]

Well this is the Farage who said he was frightened when he heard foreign voices on the train.

Don't the statistics say violent crime is down and homicides in London at their lowest for 2 decades?

I bet most people can pull an example out the bag of knowing someone somewhere whos been the victim of violent crime. I can, locally that id, in fact ill go one better and know someone who committed one.

[Ram Pant]

Well this is the Farage who said he was frightened when he heard foreign voices on the train.

Don't the statistics say violent crime is down and homicides in London at their lowest for 2 decades?

I bet most people can pull an example out the bag of knowing someone somewhere whos been the victim of violent crime. I can, locally that id, in fact ill go one better and know someone who committed one.

Ah, but you promised not to tell...