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You're dead right. The word guilt should not be tied to voting. I'm sure that the people of Iran, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, China, Russia, Syria etc etc would love to be guilty of participating in free and fair elections. But let's not conflate the debate on this thread.

But that description is, by definition, erring towards a side. As the UN Sec Gen said, we can’t see this instant in a vacuum.

In your posts you make lots of strong points, so thank you. Adds to the debate in my mind. As to this point above I’d pose the question, why would we not do business with Israel? We do business with Saudi Arabia, Qatar etc and they are not democratically elected governments. And it’s not Israel...

I think it is dangerous to presuppose what other people think. Hamas have attacked the only democracy in the Middle East. This is, in the eyes of the Israeli government, a war. If Hamas want to avoid further suffering then they should surrender. Where are the calls from Labour MPs for Hamas to...

Great. Now we’ve got 5 more years of the Tories because Labour MPs feel they have to resign (or get themselves sacked) over an issue that has got f*** all to do with them compared* with getting the country back on track. I am fully on board supporting people who say we should ask the Israeli...

Very well put. But all the while Iran are backing Hamas and Hezbollah that's unlikely. I imagine that Iran don't care than much about Palestinians, but they do care about how this unrest might bring about the conflict they need to extend their power from the borders of Pakistan through the east...

The interview with Sharone Lifschitz at 8.15am on R4 Today is extraordinary. Her mother has just been released. Her father is still held hostage.

Thanks. So do you see the attacks as an anti-semitic act or an attack on an occupying force, or both? And regardless of either, do you think that linking this act of criminality to the actions of the Nazis is the correct characterisation of the situation we now face? Does it risk damaging...

Somewhat perplexed by this line in Andrew Griffith MP's reply to me. "To be clear, the recent and continuing events in Israel and against Israel citizens are extremely grave and represent the largest such attack since the Nazi holocaust." Does he mean the largest attack on Jewish people since...

I agree, but the point he's making is valid. That same hospital had already taken a strike, but fewer people had died. At that time there was no comment from the IDF. This instance (whoever caused it) has resulted in a greater number of deaths and as a result the clumsy PR machines on both...

That was an awful interview, at the end of which I just thought ‘well you guys did it.’ And great to hear Jeremy Bowen tell how the IDF blamed his reports for other governments condemning the attack when in reality their condemnation came out before he filed his reports. I’d encourage anyone...

Who said it was a point of view? Who said that racial profiling and Islamophobia doesn't exist? Who said that every report claimed support for Hamas? In a highly charged atmosphere, you're over-reacting. It's important to keep a level head at times like these. By all means show your passion...

Whoa! They made an error and put it right. You'll not find the Daily Hate ever doing that. Or Fox News. Let's not start accusing the BBC of fuelling Islamophobia. A lot of its reporting has been right down the middle and has shared the pain and concerns from both sides.

I fear the Israeli government are about to make a massive error of judgement. I fail to see how the persecution of all Palestinians in Gaza is proportionate as a response, nor how it will lead to anything other than an escalation in violence. This is only going to bring in other players like...

Thanks for sharing these points. I don’t disagree. My post was aimed at questioning the select clip from Michael Brooks that claimed the issue was not complex (a claim that Mr Brooks may have not intended.) It is a very complex matter. I think the post was pretty clear. As you point out, no...

Yes, I get that, but taken out of context, as one snippet, it's somewhat blunt and far from captures the complexity. For example, how many predominantly jewish countries are there in the world versus other major faiths? That far from excuses the position that Palestinian muslims (and to a degree...

Thanks for sharing this, but I can't help but think that he has just described the situation as it is. That's not complicated. He hasn't actually described what has created that situation and the reasons behind the entrenched cultures and beliefs. That's complicated and needs understanding. But...

Is that true in its entirety? I've heard a lot of stuff on Radio 4 about pro-Palestinian rallies and voices saying that what the Israeli government is doing is unjustified when it comes to the Gaza population. Same with Channel 4 news and Sky News. I can't speak for the press as I don't read it.

As with all these things, what is the plan for peace? As someone far smarter than me once said, “It is easy to start a war. It is harder to stop it.” Always know what you are going to do next. Iraq and Afghanistan are examples of this. The right thing to do now is not invade. I doubt that...

That's wrong. Hamas believe in the destruction of Israel. They are anti-semites. They talk explicitly about the struggle between Islan and Judaism. It's what they are about. They are terrorists. They are not interested in peace of any kind.