Dear Steve - if you wish, do reply and put me right, please.
I have read every single word in your book and parts of it more than once. The first part took a different and interesting approach but I wondered how much was your first-hand experience and how much was a good guess.
It is notable for its use of the words 'hatred' and 'antisemitism' very many times. Since I have read your book, I would urge you to read the book, 'I Shall Not Hate' by Dr Izzeldin Abuelaish.
FROM: https://www.amazon.co.
"Heart-breaking, hopeful and horrifying, I Shall Not Hate is a Palestinian doctor's inspiring account of his extraordinary life, growing up in poverty but determined to treat his patients in Gaza and Israel regardless of their ethnic origin.
"A London University- and Harvard-trained Palestinian doctor who was born and raised in the Jabalia refugee camp in the Gaza Strip and 'who has devoted his life to medicine and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians' (New York Times), Abuelaish is an infertility specialist who lives in Gaza but works in Israel. On the strip of land he calls home (where 1.5 million Gazan refugees are crammed into a few square miles) the Gaza doctor has been crossing the lines in the sand that divide Israelis and Palestinians for most of his life - as a physician who treats patients on both sides of the line, as a humanitarian who sees the need for improved health and education for women as the way forward in the Middle East. And, most recently, as the father whose three daughters (and one niece) were killed by Israeli shells on 16 January 2009, during Israel's incursion into the Gaza Strip. It was his response to this tragedy that made news and won him humanitarian awards around the world. Instead of seeking revenge or sinking into hatred, Izzeldin Abuelaish called for the people in the region to start talking to each other. His deepest hope is that his daughters will be 'the last sacrifice on the road to peace between Palestinians and Israelis'."
My own observation on the tragedy is the Hebrew Scriptures teaching on retaliation that cruel Bibi Netanyahu takes to the ultimate, 'nth' degree. He very successfully got many hostages released because of the seven day ceasefire in November 2023. Since then, it has been revenge upon revenge under the guise of a righteous, self-justified, war of self-defence. It seems to have no end until every citizen of Gaza is either dead or permanently incapacitated, so that not one of them can ever again be a threat to mighty powerful, WMD-capable Israel, the most military powerful nation in the heart of the Arab Middle East. Our friend and ally also has the 100% support of the USA, whoever is President. Our American-led Western Empire is supplying weapons and ammunition to continue the war on Gaza.
I am tougher on my own faith, country and power bloc because I do think we should know better. Our track record over the centuries is far worse than that of the Arab nations. Our side is the most powerful and wealthiest sphere of influence and the most responsible for the tragedy of the Middle East in the violent 20th century. Therefore, we must take the initiative in announcing a permanent ceasefire on Hamas, Gaza, Palestine, Hezbollah. Yet, you Steve believe this is being antisemitic and anti Zionist, don't you, because I, the demonstrators and Corbyn have been insisting on this from the outset. Have I got that right?
The wholly innocent men, women and children of Gaza are trapped in the world's biggest, open-air prison camp. They cannot even flee in small boats along the coast to escape the relentless onslaught.
If dear Bibi ever stops, I expect he will want the whole world to pay for the rebuilding of flattened Gaza. I expect he will resist pressure to contribute to the rebuilding. I am paying through my taxes for the shelling and destruction of Gaza and will have to pay again for reconstruction. This is ecocidal and immoral behaviour by us lot. You can't blame it on anything other than ourselves and our inability to be the Good Samaritan (or Jesus) to the other. Even the saved behave no better after they have been saved!
My born-again Christian believers, like your good self, Steve and my brilliant, caring wife who met you at the conference, are all insistent that Israel is in a spiritual battle against the devil and the forces of darkness in the world. All believe in violence and that getting a good end does justify using bad means to get there. I remain convinced that my Lord and Master, Jesus Christ taught the exact opposite. Hence, I follow the non-violent JC of Nazareth and love the JC of Islington North who shows similar compassion for the poor and the down-trodden in this world.
With every good wish and the Lord's blessing be upon you.
Tim (Weller 28 Hunnington Cres HALESOWEN B63 3DJ)
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