The issue is that the Palestinian areas are shrinking as Israel spreads. Ultimately, there will only be one outcome. The history of Israel has been violent from the word go and it is a sad irony that Nazi Germany evolved from a sense of injustice and that the current situation is a direct result of that. Now Jews and Arabs alike have a sense of moral justification which results only in bloodshed with Palestine living on borrowed time.
Maybe some short sighted fool in the future will propose a new homeland for them.

The issue is that the Palestinian areas are shrinking as Israel spreads. Ultimately, there will only be one outcome. The history of Israel has been violent from the word go and it is a sad irony that Nazi Germany evolved from a sense of injustice and that the current situation is a direct result of that. Now Jews and Arabs alike have a sense of moral justification which results only in bloodshed with Palestine living on borrowed time.
Maybe some short sighted fool in the future will propose a new homeland for them.

I only made the point a few posts ago that our parliaments are hypocrites for getting sniffy about Trump while they have wined and dined actual dictators for many years.

Back in the real world a full frontal country like ours that is actually invested in world events can't take a back seat and spend its time moralising like an armchair critic can.....not and actually have any influence at all....or be able to trade.

The purity spiraling that armchair critics do amuses me greatly.

I bet you anything you like that if I could examine the decisions they make in their own lives....who they brown nosed to....what they are willing to look the other way at to get on...what expediencies they did or allowed for....I bet this same criticism could be leveled....Ultimately it's just a matter of scale on expediency.

It all comes down to what people are willing to risk losing.

Anyone remember Labour's risible 'ethical foreign policy'?

I'm always reminded about Yes Prime Minister and the line about clear consciences and luxuries.

Edited by Stirlingsays (17 May 2018 4.07pm)

The issue with this article comes from what ‘trade deals’ we are actually doing. After the Saudi King was given the red carpet earlier this year, the main deal that came out of it was a 2 billion pounds arms sale May had accomplished. Yes yes, we know those will be the same arms used in Yemen to destroy hospitals and weddings, but at least we made a few quid.

As for Turkey, of course we have private trade like beers, coffees and kebab shops, but erdogan is not coming to sell us more greasy 3 am takeaways. He wants more weapons, so he can continue his fight with the Kurds and avoid international sanctions.

In terms of Gaza Israel's actions are clearly shameful. Their actions in recent weeks have been deliberately inflammatory and their response to protest has been unacceptably heavy handed to say the least. Tit for tat is not an excuse to murder 60-odd people. Approaching a fence does not warrant being executed. These actions should be a last resort not a first one.

I would stop the arms trade. For the income generated, no way is it worth the tragedy and devastation it produces.

If worrying about our role in human rights abuses is purity spiralling then call me Mother bloomin Theresa.

To my mind, you can’t really moan about Islamic terrorism and condone our arms sales. There is a very clear link.

Edited by serial thriller (18 May 2018 7.41am)