There were 4,000 people… demonstrating?… protesting… ok, vigil-ing last night on Whitehall opposite Downing Street. According to the papers. I didn’t count but didn’t seem like quite that many to me, I’d have guessed 800. Spurs Paul was there, I saw The Wolfman and I know Tory Boy was there with his mate, The Very Posh Scouser, but the rest I never counted. My error. There was also a woman waving an Iranian flag. And to be honest, I really like that. Because everyone is allowed their view. So ‘we’, the mob, had a choice: stone her to death and stick an Israeli flag in each eye; or ignore her.

When I came home Mel was screening a Pray for Israel event at a local synagogue. We opted not to go on the grounds that being so close to Yom Kippur, it would have exceeded my annual limit on pray-time. But the Chief Rabbi was there, and he gave a fabulous speech. And then, amazingly, Rishi Sunak was there too. And he came up, wearing his little head cover kippa, and looked like a barmitzvah boy. But also gave a heart-warming speech in support of Israel. “We will not just support Israel today, nor just tomorrow, but…” and in my mind the next line was “until the next election”, though what he actually said was “always!!” Very appreciated that the PM himself cancelled everything to come to Finchley.

Because people are hurting. Not just in Israel where that is sadly, literally the case, but here. We are all ‘hurting’. Is it because these are ‘my people’? I’m not sure. I’m not Israeli, I’m a card-carrying, life-long, born-and-bred Cockney scumbag. Definitely not Israeli, I just go on holidays there, fairly often. They often argue is being Jewish makes you part of a race? A religious minority? An ethnic group? What it really is is an identity. Linked by a culture. And a history filled with people who hate us and try to get rid of us, one way or another. Not for nothing is antisemitism called ‘the oldest hatred’. Which is why Israel is so important. It offers refuge and security that we all hope we’ll never ever need.

And the images of beautiful children killed by terrorists is heart-breaking. Images of other beautiful children taken hostage, along with others to a future so horrendous you simply can’t even let your mind go there, is beyond humanity. As is having street parties celebrating these events. But supporters of Hamas revere death. Or simply don’t give it consideration, no matter who is dying.

Because Saturday’s attack was not spontaneous or random, it was planned with precision and care. Which means ‘the aftermath’ was not only considered but planned as well. That being; a massive Israeli offensive into Gaza. There could be no question of that inevitability. Therefore, for Hamas’s attack, whatever the reason, the known cost was basically throwing the entire population of their own home under the proverbial bus. And why? To inflame more Palestinians, hopefully, as far as they’re concerned, their ‘mates’ in Hezbollah, who share a sponsor (Iran) if not a complete ideology, so that they might join the attack on Israel too from Lebanon and the West Bank. With Iran sitting back admiring its handiwork, watching from afar. As it does in Yemen.

I just despair.

Happy (ish) Tuesday

A xxxx