Chris Blackhurst is a former editor of The Independent, based in London
October 25, 2023
In the UK today, you could be forgiven for thinking there are two worlds. There’s the one that sees tens of thousands of people take to the streets voicing their support for the Palestinians. And there’s the one that sees politicians almost unanimously voicing their support for Israel.
It’s as if the two can’t meet, that there is not a halfway. From the pro-Palestinian lobby, it’s to be expected. Such is the grievance of some with Israel that the Hamas attacks, despite their barbarity, are going to make little difference. But from the political class, which prides itself on making connections across society, which likes to believe it is close to the zeitgeist, and which includes some argument in favour of the Palestinian cause, this is strange.
So odd in fact as to be virtually unique. It is rare for MPs and peers across the spectrum to speak with one voice. It usually happens when Britain goes to war, when no matter what they might suppose about the overall merits of the conflict they are mindful of having sons and daughters from their constituencies who may be serving in the armed forces. They’re concerned, too, about riling the press and being seen as unpatriotic.
A 'March For Palestine', in London on October 21, AFP
Otherwise, this degree of polarisation does not normally occur. It did take place with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But in that instance, there were no pro-Russian demonstrations; there is no large Russian population in Britain.
With the Israel-Gaza war, there are substantial Jewish and Arab communities, yet no one at Westminster is speaking up for the Palestinians, not in public at any rate.
The reasons for the lack of balance are various. Most of the mainstream coverage has focused extensively on the savagery displayed by Hamas. More than two weeks on, that still features heavily on news bulletins and in newspapers, as Israel releases bodycam images from killed Hamas perpetrators. It’s been a constant drip feed, day after day.
Then there is the desire to prevent an escalation, to stop Iran entering the war, to try and confine the fighting to Gaza and dissuade Hezbollah from opening a second front in the north, from Lebanon.
That is the US government’s policy and as so often in these episodes, the UK falls neatly in behind.
Washington has sent giant warships to the Eastern Mediterranean, partly to assist with humanitarian efforts but also to act as a deterrent. The financially strapped British contribution has been two much smaller craft. Quite how the latter will instil fear in Tehran or anywhere remains to be seen but as the Ministry of Defence must see it, they are better than nothing.
In Britain as well, as elsewhere, there is another factor at work. The economy is exhausted. Covid-19 followed by Ukraine and global inflation have weighed heavily on the national psyche and purse. The thought of a prolonged regional war (or worse) wreaking untold human and financial suffering is the last thing anyone wants.
There was shock at Hamas’s brutality, there is a desire for the war not to spread and bring in Iran
That in a nutshell is the Conservative party approach, to condemn Hamas (and let us not forget British civilians were killed or captured in the raids). With that, too, has come an opportunity for BBC-bashing, which the right always seizes upon. The corporation’s refusal to describe Hamas as terrorists was used by the BBC-hating right-wing media and Tories.
More of a surprise has been Labour’s stance. After all, it was not that long ago – in 2018 – when the party’s annual conference was awash with Palestinian flags.
This year’s gathering, which began the weekend of the Hamas onslaught, was notable for there not being a single Palestinian flag or pro-Palestine banner inside the main hall. There were some people demonstrating for Palestine outside the ring of security encircling the delegates and one or two MPs were seen to side with them, only to be swiftly criticised by the party leadership.
The Labour response can be explained in similar terms to the Tories, but with an added twist.
There was shock at Hamas’s brutality, there is a desire for the war not to spread and bring in Iran. In addition, where Labour is concerned, there is an almost pathological desire in the hierarchy to put distance between this iteration of their party and Jeremy Corbyn’s.
Keir Starmer and Jeremy Corbyn (R) on March 21, 2019 for in Brussels, Belgium for Brexit talks. Getty Images
What accompanied the sea of Palestinian flags and the chanting of slogans in support of Gaza and the West Bank at the conferences in the Corbyn era were accusations of institutional anti-Semitism. For an organisation that liked to portray itself as most definitely not racist, as being supportive of anyone, regardless of ethnicity or faith, this was embarrassing and mortifying.
Since he took charge, Labour leader Keir Starmer has made it his mission to stamp out any anti-Semitic views, to show that Labour is not remotely that way inclined. That has meant not declaring support for the Palestinians. If Mr Corbyn had been in charge, it is safe to say that Labour’s position would have been very different.
Which is not to say there are no stirrings.
The longer it continues, Israel’s bombing of Gaza, and with it the inevitable inflicting of casualties on civilians and the resulting humanitarian crisis, is testing resolve. The deadly strike on Al Ahli Arab Hospital looked like it could be a turning point but the government, in the shape of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak himself, was quick to point the blame away from Israel.
At present, Israel is just about enjoying sympathy across the UK political divide. It’s straining, though. The comparison with the US after 9/11 is repeatedly made, that in the short-term the US was on the end of a wave of widespread international condolence, only to lose it in Iraq and Afghanistan and at Guantanamo.
Israel would do well to pay heed and avoid making the same mistake or else it will find that commiseration, from the left and even from the right, can switch to anger.
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
Moment of the day Not much was expected – on Sunday or ever – of Hasan Ali as a batsman. And yet he lit up the late overs of the Pakistan innings with a happy cameo of 29 from 25 balls. The highlight was when he launched a six right on top of the netting above the Pakistan players’ viewing area. He was out next ball.
Stat of the day – 1,358 There were 1,358 days between Haris Sohail’s previous first-class match and his Test debut for Pakistan. The lack of practice in the multi-day format did not show, though, as the left-hander made an assured half-century to guide his side through a potentially damaging collapse.
The verdict As is the fashion of Test matches in this country, the draw feels like a dead-cert, before a clatter of wickets on the fourth afternoon puts either side on red alert. With Yasir Shah finding prodigious turn now, Pakistan will be confident of bowling Sri Lanka out. Whether they have enough time to do so and chase the runs required remains to be seen.
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Sole survivors
Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area. Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife. Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple. The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items. According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”. He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale. Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
Arsenal 4
Monreal (51'), Ramsey (82'), Lacazette 85', 89')
West Ham United 1
Arnautovic (64')
Top tips
Create and maintain a strong bond between yourself and your child, through sensitivity, responsiveness, touch, talk and play. “The bond you have with your kids is the blueprint for the relationships they will have later on in life,” says Dr Sarah Rasmi, a psychologist.
Set a good example. Practise what you preach, so if you want to raise kind children, they need to see you being kind and hear you explaining to them what kindness is. So, “narrate your behaviour”.
Praise the positive rather than focusing on the negative. Catch them when they’re being good and acknowledge it.
Show empathy towards your child’s needs as well as your own. Take care of yourself so that you can be calm, loving and respectful, rather than angry and frustrated.
Be open to communication, goal-setting and problem-solving, says Dr Thoraiya Kanafani. “It is important to recognise that there is a fine line between positive parenting and becoming parents who overanalyse their children and provide more emotional context than what is in the child’s emotional development to understand.”
MATCH INFO
AC Milan v Inter, Sunday, 6pm (UAE), match live on BeIN Sports
