Occupied Palestinian Territory
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Israel’s strategic intent remains constant
The focus has been on Gaza, understandably so. But this has perhaps been at the expense of ignoring, or at least marginalising, what is simultaneously happening in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in particular since the 7th October. In order to understand Israel’s strategic intentions towards Palestinians, its important to keep in view events… Continue reading
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Beware London! An intifada is coming to your streets.
Readers will be much relieved that the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) has girded its loins to stand firm against the possibility that an Intifada could occur here in London. It proposes to hold a march in the capital on the 26 November, to help ward off the possibility. So, if you’re concerned about the imminence… Continue reading
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Are there words enough?
It feels as though the world has become unhinged. All assumed stable reference points are suspended. Prime Ministers and Presidents can look us in the eye and, by their equivocations, by their sophistry, by their contrived selective vision allow – allow, give permission to, endorse, support, stand alongside, watch the back of, provide the means… Continue reading
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As you sow…
In what must be judged an utterly repellent gesture, the UK government along with other governments, has decreed that the Israeli flag be displayed on official buildings to indicate support for Israel. This performative act of perverse, inverted virtue signalling proclaims, by implication, that Jewish Israeli lives are more valuable than Palestinian ones. For what… Continue reading
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Archbishop Welby: You stand on unfirm ground
On the 6 September St-Martin-in-the Field hosted a series of talks on the theme of reconciliation entitled ‘Here I stand, I can do no other’. The event was organised by Embrace the Middle East. The speakers were the Archbishop of Canterbury , Justin Welby, Daniel Munayer, CEO of Musalaha and resident of Jerusalem, and Revd… Continue reading
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Israel: Protesting and oppressing at the same time
Whilst Israel’s democracy warriors continue their mass protests against the Netanyahu coalition’s current and projected changes to the powers of the Supreme Court, the Israeli state’s murderous campaign against Palestinians in the OPT, East Jerusalem and Gaza not only continues, but is escalating before our eyes. This appears not to be a source of major… Continue reading
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Israel’s democracy: strange fruit
Israel is a country in denial. That is to say, it is a country which has obscured from itself its own nature; and until now, it has been adept at that. But the protective carapace of self-delusion is now under considerable strain. Shattered. Perhaps beyond repair. But not admitted, faced-up to. Purportedly liberal, primarily Ashkenazi,… Continue reading
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Two-state solution: Not a policy, more a futile prayer
A couple of blog articles ago, I wished the two-state solution, the two-state notional solution, good riddance. And, in summary, I adduced some of the reasons why, ethically and practically, it could no longer even masquerade as a feasible approach to ‘solving’ the Palestinian/Israel situation. Yet, like a family unwilling to withdraw treatment from a… Continue reading
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Just numbers?
Some numbers: 17, 15, 16, 14, 17, 17, 17, 16, 10, 16, 16, 14, 17, 16, 17, 15, 14, 14, 17, 15, 17,11, 8, 5, 17,10, 5, 16, 2. Twenty-nine numbers. Added together, they come to 401. Those numbers can be expressed as an average. Do that, and the answer is 13.8. In addition, when… Continue reading
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Good riddance: two state ‘solution’ is dead
The two-state solution is dead, notwithstanding that various governments, the EU, the Palestinian Authority, along with sundry organisations, Jewish and not, tenaciously cling to what was always an ill-conceived, unjust idea. For many, the reasons for now proclaiming the ‘solution’ dead beyond the possibility of resurrection, tend to focus on what might be characterised as… Continue reading
About Me
This is Bernard Spiegal’s blog.
I write mainly about Palestine/Israel and related issues; sometimes other stuff too
Bernard Spiegal 