What a great word that is: shalom.

Its hebrew. And it means hello, goodbye and peace. All at the same time. So every time you greet someone, you’re actually wishing them ‘peace’ as well. And we could all use a little ‘shalom’ in troubled times.

Peace occasionally breaks out in the Middle East, but its rare and soon gives way to violence again, which is almost the natural status quo in the region.

So yesterday there was a demonstration in support of Palestinians. Although it looked just like a fun-filled day of anti-Israel hatred and passionate anti-semitism in general. As one observer noted; where were these people when Assad was (and is still) murdering his own people; when ISIS slaughters thousands across the region; when Boco Haram kidnaps 250 children in Nigeria? Even when Britain and America was bombing the shit out of Lybia? Yet when Israel attacks the places in Gaza responsible for sending over 250 rockets into its land, every day, the entire wold is in outcry. ‘Disproportionate!!’ yells uber-tosser Nick Clegg. “Children are being killed!!!” cries the BBC and the Independent and the Guardian as they conveniently fail to mention that ALL the rockets fired by the Palestinians are aimed at civilian targets. And that before this ‘heavy handed’ Israeli response, Israel sends over leaflets, sends text messages, automated phone calls and now, they even fire warning shots at every building targeted before they strike in earnest. No other nation in the world would offer such things to the ‘enemy’. Yet the fact remains that innocent Palestiians do get killed by the fire. Mainly because Hamas encourage those receiving warnings to ignore them and become ‘martyrs’. As an Israeli said the other day: ‘we use missiles to protect our people; they use people to protect their missiles’.

Today was a ‘peace rally’ in support of Isreal. Specifically, to show that Israel, like any other country in the world, is allowed to defend itself. To protect its citizens. Mel and I went down to Kensington to show that we don’t read the fucking Independent and its poisinous and partisan reporting, and we don’t beleive what the BBC’s horribly biased reporting tells us and because there are two sides to every argument. Unless its a jewish arguement in which case there’s one more side than the total number of people arguing. But no-one was arguing today. This was about peace and it was so peaceful it felt like a street party. And it was fun and it was funny and there was no hate-mongering, no nastiness, no anti-anything. Except one (Zohanesque) banner which read: SAY YES TO HUMOUS, SAY NO TO HAMAS.

Hamas refuse a ceasefire. Even one in which, if things were as ‘disproportionate’ as they maintain, you kind’a think they’d want just to protect their people. The truth is they really don’t give a shit about their people as much as they care about the destruction of Israel to which they have sworn.

Because Israel has the Iron Dome defense system which manages to destroy most incoming missiles does not mean those missiles aren’t being sent in anger. Or just to make a statement. Of course the Palestinians mourn the death of a child. Yet they publicly celebrate the death of any Israeli, man, woman or child.

Israel has the right to defend itself and its populus.

Happy peaceful sunday

A xxxx