Occupied Palestinian Territory
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Before 7th October
Zone of Interest is a depressing, fascinating British film, performed entirely in German. It charts the life of Rudolf Höss, Auschwitz’s Nazi commandant who, along with his family – wife, five children – lived in the family home. That home, along with its extensive, walled and well-tended garden, abutted Auschwitz concentration camp such that it… Continue reading
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Israel and the West: A joint enterprise in genocide/ethnic cleansing
Do they, Biden and Sunak, turn away their faces, avert their eyes, block-up their ears, against the images and sounds of Gaza so desperately pleading for their attention? Paying the cries no heed, committed only to perverse, bloodless political calculation, the USA, the UK, the West in general, now are Israel’s collaborators in an… Continue reading
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Israel and its uncritical proponents: a danger to Jews
Jews genuinely concerned about antisemitism are ill-served by the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) for its actions and approach are more likely to engender antisemitism than to counter it. This is because its main function is to protect and promote the foremost generator of antisemitism, the State of Israel. It is joined in this enterprise by… Continue reading
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Israel: A state of contradiction
The Israeli state sustains itself despite the contradictions that underpin it. Viewed this way, it’s an inherently unstable structure, its disparate parts coalescing in various formations to produce fragile, temporary, governmental coalitions of ill-grace. The state’s foundations rest, in part, on sustained acts of legerdemain. On ethical, conceptual and theological trickery. This, in part, contributes… Continue reading
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Chief Rabbi Mirvis and the distorting mirrors
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, in his Sunday Telegraph article, sought to give the impression that he was taking a dispassionate look as to the merits of the charge of genocide against the state of Israel, brought before the International Court of Justice by the South African government. In so doing, he pointed to the definition… Continue reading
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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
About Me
This is Bernard Spiegal’s blog.
I write mainly about Palestine/Israel and related issues; sometimes other stuff too
Recent Posts
- Sanctioning the settlements: A bullet bitten. A space opened up.
- Chief Rabbi Mirvis: Moral purpose shattered
- A charade and a reflection on relative time: Jewish Establishment meets with Foreign Secretary Miliband
- You don’t have to succumb to…
- Synod begins loosening the shackles that tied it to the pro-Israel Jewish Establishment
