to my very own Cllr Tom

Dear Tom

This thought has just occurred to me:-

To what extent has persecution of the Jews over many centuries, culminating in the Holocaust by our ancestors, followed by Jewish terrorism from 1945 to gain Palestine as their homeland; plus, Zionist success with British surrender and withdrawal in 1948; led to the Jews/Zionists/Israelis being so bellicose and so victorious in every single war over their enemies ever since?  Yet, they never live in peace and justice, live in constant fear of more attacks, and security is their no 1 priority.  How tragic.

Or, is their oppression, coercion and violence because America and the West arm them to the teeth as our Western/Christian/democratic HQ in the centre of the Arab/Muslim Middle East?  Israel is holding the fort for us and is upholding liberal democracy.  Hence, we support and arm them and let them be the only holder of WMD in the Middle East.  Hardly balanced!

Have our centuries of violent behaviour towards the Jews meant their violent behaviour against the Palestinians and other Arabs, who could never accept the UN resolution of 1947 to share the land?  Especially, when it seems that European/Christian violence against the Jews, was very much more than Arab/Muslim towards them, the Jews?

Has the victim of oppression, Palestine, suffered much more grievously than the perpetrator of oppression in every Arab struggle to overthrow the Jews in Palestine?  And, we Brits were responsible for fleeing/deserting Palestine because of terrorism in 1948.  We Brits threw in the towel!  Defeated by terrorism to leave the situation we have now - for 77 years and rising!  There was also our duplicitous ("perfidious Albion") behaviour and partiality/preference/bias to Jews between the World Wars when we governed Palestine under the British Mandate from the League of Nations.

Perhaps, Tom read two relevant chapters on Gaza from Jeremy Bowen's 'The Making of the Modern Middle East' (pub 2022).  Hardback copy can be obtained by the Halesowen Library.  I'm re-reading the library's paperback copy.

Do listen to this week's 'The Today Debate' on BBC Sounds.  Find it here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002d0d7

Former Israel PM, Ehud Olmert, in a speech said,

"How are fears born? They are born because of differences in tradition and history; they are born because of differences in emotional, political and national circumstances. Because of such differences, people fear they cannot live together. If we are to overcome such fear, a credible and healthy political process must be carefully and painfully developed. A political process that does not aim to change the other or to overcome differences, but that allows each side to live peacefully in spite of their differences."^{[11]    FROM: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ehud_Olmert}

Best wishes

YES to expelling Gazans from Gaza

 https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-05-28/ty-article-magazine/.premium/yes-to-transfer-82-of-jewish-israelis-back-expelling-gazans/00000197-12a4-df22-a9d7-9ef6af930000

Analysis | A Grim Poll Showed Most Jewish Israelis Support Expelling Gazans. It's Brutal – and It's True

A new survey showing that 82 percent of Jewish Israelis support the expulsion of Gazans was met with disbelief among those who stubbornly believe that the extremists are outliers. But these trends are as consistent as they are shocking.

For Abercynafon meet up on 11June 2025

 

1. Eighteen years after our 1896 exuberant and triumphalist hymn was published all about a "kingdom of love and light", and of singing a song that "shall conquer evil", we blundered so hurriedly into a totally unnecessary and the most foolish war in the history of humanity.  So much for "shattering the spear and sword"!
2. That war led to the Middle East being blessed with our British and French empires and all the horrors for the poor inhabitants of Palestine and Lebanon, Jews and Arabs, who simply wanted to be left alone from yet more foreign invaders.
3. It was a Christian nation, now on our side, which was responsible for the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust.
4. It is our great friend and ally in the Middle East, the Jews and Arabs of Israel who are prosecuting the current war with "82 percent of respondents reportedly supported the forcible expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, while 56 percent supported expelling Palestinian citizens of Israel."  FROM https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2025-06-04/ty-article-opinion/.premium/do-82-of-israelis-really-back-expulsion-of-gazans-the-data-tells-a-different-story/00000197-39da-da41-a9f7-3dde468d0000
5. ONE READER'S COMMENT:  During a time of high emotion and misinformation, I doubt if any poll results reflect the fundamental beliefs of anyone.
   That said, the fact that there are a significant number of Israeli Jews who call for the deportation of Palestinian Israeli citizens is very troubling. Israel's medical infrastructure will collapse if it weren't for the fact that 25% of all doctors, 27% of all dentists, 35% of all nurses and 49% of all pharmacists in Israel are Palestinians. There is a serious cognitive dissonance in Israel's Jewish society when the very people who profess that they will be more secure if all Palestinians were deported, yet will put their lives in the hands of Palestinian medical professionals every day.
   This dissonance is the result of years of brainwashing and probably makes any poll numbers suspect regarding Jewish attitudes towards Palestinians.

To this very day, our Western, traditional Christian beliefs and values, demand drones and air strikes and bullets and buildings crumpled into dust and ashes to so nicely wipe out tens of thousands of evil Hamas men, women and children.

£2.4 billion for trams "to change lives in one of the most deprived parts of this region."

 " ... we have been able to put the money into our frontline public services but crucially more investment money.

"As a result today we are able to announce £15.6 bn of investment including £2.4bn coming to the West Midlands for Richard Parker to spend on the priorities of the people here in the West Midlands."

Chancellor Rachel Reeves, speaking against a backdrop of a group of young apprentices and local politicians, said the Government was committed to supporting 'left behind' parts of the country to unlock growth.

The much vaunted line will run from the city centre to the Sports Quarter, then later go on to Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham Airport, the NEC and the HS2 interchange at Arden Cross. The first phase could be ready in five years.

READ MORE: £1 bn tram plan for Blues, NEC, HS2 and Birmingham Airport unveiled that will 'change lives'

The West Midlands is one of several regions handed a package of investment for local transport in today's announcement. The aim is to ensure transport schemes are in place to help unlock jobs, skills, housing and opportunities in poorer parts of the country.

Other transport initiatives to be funded by the West Midlands package are yet to be confirmed. A total of £15.6 billion of investment was announced nationally.

READ MORE: Why tram line to East Birmingham, Blues, Airport and NEC has to happen

Mayor Parker said: "This funding means we can now deliver a new Metro line to the Sports Quarter, connecting it to Birmingham city centre and unlocking one of the most significant private investments our region has ever seen.

Are you on the side of the angels?

Tom, You are my elected representative. It would be nice to get a reply, my friend. This time?

Is it reasonable to insist that Hamas must first give up the remaining hostages if they really want our side (Israel, America, Germany, UK, NATO) to no longer murder Palestinians in cold blood, in the hope of killing Hamas fighters in the process?

Or, is Israel right when it says Hamas is responsible and not the most moral and upright army in the world?

And this, when our side knows that only ceasefires, talking and compromise have brought hostage releases.

Tim

Dear Tim, 

I've given a great deal of thought over this. I don't believe there is a simple answer, and certainly not something I can elucidate in an email. 

So I'll simply ask a question in return, then pose a part of my belief. 

Are our side murdering Palestinians? I don't believe so. Unfortunately, Hamas is an brutalist, savage terrorist organisation, masquerading as a legitimate government. 

Dear Tom

Thanks for the reply.  Fantastic for that but, not this:

I woke up this morning to hear on the radio of more Gazans murdered and many injured in cold blood by the IDF, on our side, our friend and firm ally in war and peace that the UK and NATO fully arm.  Still, from HMG, nothing like a 100% arms embargo, no sanctions placed on Israel, no recognition from HMG that it recognises Palestine as a state, no action to tell Israel they must stop the 22 settlements from being built in the Occupied West Bank that Israel calls Judea and Samaria.  They are names from the Bible, that Israel claims is part of their country promised to them by God but others say is needed for a Palestinian state.

Yesterday evening I watched on BBC iPlayer, the documentary from Louis Theroux, 'The Settlers'.  I recommend it as part of our education about the tragedy of Israel in a state of constant worry, fear and insecurity with being unable to live in peace with its neighbours.

The other day I wrote this to Christian friends about a hymn my wife and I sang at church last month, 'We've a Story to Tell to the Nations':

1. Eighteen years after our 1896 exuberant and triumphalist hymn was published all about a "kingdom of love and light", and of singing a song that "shall conquer evil", we blundered so hurriedly into a totally unnecessary and the most foolish war in the history of humanity.  So much for "shattering the spear and sword"!
2. That war led to the Middle East being blessed with our British and French empires and all the horrors for the poor inhabitants of Palestine and Lebanon, Jews and Arabs, who simply wanted to be left alone from yet more foreign invaders.
3. It was a Christian nation, now on our side, which was responsible for the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust.
4. It is our great friend and ally in the Middle East, the Jews and Arabs of Israel who are prosecuting the current war with impunity.
5. To this very day, our Western, traditional Christian beliefs and values, demand drones and air strikes and bullets and buildings crumpled into dust and ashes to so nicely wipe out tens of thousands of evil Hamas men, women and children.

Are you able to help me stop the Dudley Tram destroying yet more nature and housing land to bring it the 600 metres from the about to be built Merry Hill tram stop, into Cottage Street, Brierley Hill, please?

 WBHE plan for Merry Hill.jpeg

which has led to the felling of these trees (for the new Merry Hill tram stop), needed to capture carbon dioxide and, with money saved from unnecessary tram expansion, to help the poorest with food and energy bills and Climate compliant housing:

 6 glorious white trees.jpg

And please read this:

 Stourbridge Friends of the Earth and MP and councillors

and this to our MP, quoting:

 Lord Peter Ricketts

Best wishes

Chris Baines for Daniels Land opinion?

Would Chris Baines meet me at Merry Hill Shopping Centre for me to show him Daniels Land that might be an SSSI, such is its isolation from human hand and foot for many decades. I would like his opinion, please. There is no official access but it can be viewed from the Dudley No 1 Canal towpath opposite M&S and Next. It looks important for wildlife but is down for housing development

"OCTOPUS: RECOMMENDED BY 'WHICH' EIGHT YEARS RUNNING"

"OCTOPUS: RECOMMENDED BY 'WHICH' EIGHT YEARS RUNNING" (bright, cheerful, cheeky Global Player advert!)

My long list of questions, in an earlier email to Octopus, do need to be answered by Octopus with one sensible answer to each question, please.

The same excellent service I had from Good Energy over FIT, now needs to be quickly seen and maintained by Octopus, so that I no longer lose FIT and SEG payments.

Are Octopus able to supply me with quarterly reminders of when FIT generation readings must be sent?

Why has this never been done, so far?

Can Octopus take export readings from my smart meter?

Or, do I have to send them in manually?

Should Octopus supply a smart meter that IS able to send export readings to them?

John Ch

Dear John

I'm writing to you, again because your knowledge and eloquence in arguing our case is a huge asset for us Climate activists.  I also strongly supported you, by writing, in trying to get our alternative proposal for Smallbrook Queensway to be adopted.  I also support Toqueer with a monthly sum.

On Saturday, like Rajan of XR, you also disagreed with me (or, it was not your priority) over my 40 years of writing about the destruction of our regional railway network for Metro tram expansion.  It really is the authorities' top transport spending to relieve road congestion and reduce GHG emissions.

John, I would love you to put me right over my contention that the billions being spent on GHG emissions for tram expansion, should and must be our top priority in arguing our case to the decision makers - the Senior Leadership team at 16 Summer Lane.  My case, below:

WMCA is causing Climate catastrophe by ...

• Allowing congested main roads near or alongside existing but unused​/partly used railway lines.
• Stourbridge Junction ​is very well used but its second mainline railway - once as equally important as the one in use - is used only for freight.
• Instead, people pile into their cars and add to the deepening Climate Emergency and congested roads.

• Why not use existing transport infrastructure for their design purpose​ and a century of use?

• Why not get the existing public transport at least as good as the average on the mainland of Europe?

• Would 150 miles of tramways simply make for a more complicated and slower public transport journey - with three modes instead of two - meaning more changes?

• The tram is like a "bus on rails" and, therefore, accelerates the Climate Emergency with all the concrete and steel having to be used, when both are very high in greenhouse gas emissions from ​their manufacture.

My suggestions to enable the low-hanging fruit to be picked first.   (timweller1@gmail.com)

1. TfWM/WMCA intention is to spend £15 BILLION (Jan 2020 figure) of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for 150 miles of tramways in our region.

2. INSTEAD, could that money go on extending Fare-Free Public Transport (FFPT) to everyone in the region?

3. Spend it on electric buses and finishing the electrification of the railway network.

4. Spend it on level access from pavement bus stop to bus door - for smooth access for all on four wheels or pushing four wheels.

5. Spend it on returning TRAINS to the remaining railway network and not trams.

6. Spend it on recording and fining those thoughtless car commuters who could leave their motors at home and enjoy the reward of FFPT.  In this way, the roads are freed up for essential vehicle users and GHG are reduced.

7. Spend it on retrofitting the homes of the poorest to make their houses solar-powered, energy-efficient and super-insulated.  Get the money back from wealthy landowners by the established practices.

My personal example - if I can do it ... My own house completed Climate compliance on 30 November 2023 when the gas meter was taken out​ (and £30/mth total energy, less a huge sum in what I export)!  In 1992/3 I gave up my right to claim car mileage by cycle commuting and, on official council business, cycling for work calls - for over 90% of the days for the last 20 years of work.  So 15p/mile instead of 40p/mile!

I've had regional FFPT for the last 17.5 years.  Everyone needs it!   (0791 380 4363)

The people to write to:  customerservices@tfwm.org.uk    AND    customerservices@wmca.org.uk

WMCA is causing Climate catastrophe by ...

• Allowing congested main roads near or alongside existing but unused/partly used railway lines.
• Popular Stourbridge Junction but its second mainline railway - once as equally important as the one in use - is used only for freight.

• As a result, people pile into their cars and add to the deepening Climate Emergency and congested roads.

• Why not use existing transport infrastructure for their design purpose and a century of use?

• Why not get the existing public transport at least as good as the average on the mainland of Europe?

• Would 150 miles of tramways simply make for a more complicated and slower public transport journey - with three modes instead of two - meaning more changes?

• The tram is like a "bus on rails" and, therefore, accelerates the Climate Emergency with all the concrete and steel having to be used, when both are very high in greenhouse gas emissions from their manufacture.

My suggestions to enable the low-hanging fruit to be picked first.   (timweller1@gmail.com)

1. TfWM/WMCA intention is to spend £15 BILLION (Jan 2020 figure) of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for 150 miles of tramways in our region.

2. INSTEAD, could that money go on extending Fare-Free Public Transport (FFPT) to everyone in the region?

3. Spend it on electric buses and finishing the electrification of the railway network.

4. Spend it on level access from pavement bus stop to bus door - for smooth access for all on four wheels or pushing four wheels.

5. Spend it on returning TRAINS to the remaining railway network and not trams.

6. Spend it on recording and fining those thoughtless car commuters who could leave their motors at home and enjoy the reward of FFPT.  In this way, the roads are freed up for essential vehicle users and GHG are reduced.

7. Spend it on retrofitting the homes of the poorest to make their houses solar-powered, energy-efficient and super-insulated.  Get the money back from wealthy landowners by the established practices.

My personal example - if I can do it ... My own house completed Climate compliance on 30 November 2023 when the gas meter was taken out!  In 1992/3 I gave up my right to claim car mileage by cycle commuting and, on official council business, cycling for work calls - for over 90% of the days for the last 20 years of work.  So 15p/mile instead of 40p/mile!

I've had regional FFPT for the last 17.5 years.  Everyone needs it!   (0791 380 4363)

The people to write to:  customerservices@tfwm.org.uk    AND    customerservices@wmca.org.uk

Is this deep green or shallow green or neither?

• Congested main roads near or alongside existing but unused railway lines.
• Popular Stourbridge Junction but its second mainline railway - once as equally important as the one in use - is not being used fully.
• Instead, people pile into their cars and add to the deepening Climate Emergency and congested roads.
• Why not use existing transport infrastructure for their design purpose?
• Why not get the existing public transport at least as good as that on the mainland of Europe?
• Would 150 miles of tramways simply make for a more complicated and slower public transport journey - with three modes instead of two?
• The tram is like a "bus on rails" and, therefore, accelerates the Climate Emergency with all the concrete and steel having to be used, when both are very high in greenhouse gas emissions from their manufacture.

Seven Climate Suggestions

My suggestions to enable the low-hanging fruit to be picked first.

1. Your intention is to spend £15 BILLION (Jan 2020 figure) of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for 150 miles of tramways in our region.
2. INSTEAD, could that money go on extending Fare-Free Public Transport (FFPT) to everyone in the region?
3. Spend it on electric buses and finishing the electrification of the railway network.
4. Spend it on level access from pavement bus stop to bus door - for smooth access for all on four wheels or pushing four wheels.
5. Spend it on returning TRAINS to the remaining railway network and not trams.
6. Spend it on recording and fining those thoughtless car commuters who could leave their motors at home and enjoy the reward of FFPT.  In this way, the roads are freed up for essential vehicle users and GHG are reduced.
7. Spend it on retrofitting the homes of the poorest to make their houses solar powered, energy efficient and super insulated.  Get the money back from wealthy landowners by the established practices.

My personal example - if I can do it ... 

My own house completed Climate compliance on 30 November 2023 when the gas meter was taken out!

In 1992/3 I gave up my right to claim car mileage on official council business by taking to the pushbike for work and commuting - for over 90% of the days for the last 20 years of work.  So 15p/mile instead of 40p/mile!

I've had regional FFPT for the last 17.5 years.  Everyone needs it!

The people to write to:

customerservices@tfwm.org.uk    AND    customerservices@wmca.org.uk

David Dundas

David, thanks for speaking to me this afternoon.

You are in very good company, my friend. Over my 40 years of writing about the destruction and misuse of our regional railway network, 99% of people have taken your line. The best I have ever got, apart from one train driver, is that at least the authorities see the tram as the catalyst for getting passenger/freight trains back.

A few tell me, like Back the Track, that at least a dog walkers' and cyclists' paradise does allow the trains back at a future date. But slowing and reversing the destruction of our regional railways is needed NOW!!

FINANCIAL CONFUSION - which figure is correct?

Please clarify.

FROM:-  https://governance.wmca.org.uk/documents/s25053/Appendix%201%20for%20Amendment%20to%20Minutes%20of%2015%20November%202024.pdf

"10. Financial implications:

"10.1 In July 2024 it was reported to WMCA Board that the cost estimate for the delivery of the Metro extension from Dudley to Merry Hill was £261.4m. This upper limit estimate has been protected by prompt DfT and WMCA decision making, allowing us to continue targeting a January 2025 start, as planned. Positive work continues in parallel to embed the cost and programme opportunities described at the previous Board meeting into the final contracted cost."

"12.12 Since rewriting and submitting the FBC and the SAF appraisal in May 2024 it is noted in this report the total projected cost of Phase 2a, 2b of the WBHE project remains at £654.9m"

"the planet is profoundly ill"

Dear Laura and Customer Service

I believe you may still be living in the beautiful rural location of Kinver and to love the outdoors and Nature.  You also remain the most important influence in the Senior Leadership Team at 16 Summer Lane.  Therefore, Laura you might be interested in reading this email from Chris Packham, below.

I might also add that I have heard on BBC Radio 4 News, this morning that the UN Climate and Weather Service maintains that "the planet is profoundly ill".  Continuing with Climate accelerating Metro expansion, instead of fully using our existing railway infrastructure is exacerbating the Climate Emergency you declared in 2019.  Or, are you a Climate denier, Laura with no interest in good governance by the CA?

I think, you need to be abandoning the unnecessary, wealth flaunting Metro expansion and working with Great British Railways/Network Rail on the Railfuture map, here:

 Railfuture's full map.pdf

And the other measures the Climate Coalition has suggested:

 Action Points - 2024 version.pdf

Trump - the Saviour of the World

Trump "saved by God to make America Great again" - to be anti immigrants escaping environmental degradation and American/Western wars inflicted on them.

Saved to make America a flourishing nation putting Oil and Gas consumption first and foremost to ensure the US remains the All Powerful No 1 Nation in the world and to rule over the world. 

Saved by God to boost Israeli settlements to narrow down any chance of Palestinians living in civilised conditions, let alone in peaceful co-existence with their fellow Jewish humans.

Saved by a substantial majority of born again believers, who put their faith in Trump as their saviour on earth rather than follow the teaching of their Saviour from sin in the challenging teachings in his Sermon on the Mount. 

Saved to rubbish Climate science, ...

Gary Lineker, racism and 'Precipice'

As a permissive, loopy, lily-livered, loony, liberal, I have no problem if Gary Lineker had tweeted the opposite opinion by fully supporting Netanyahu. The disgusting outrage over Lineker's retweet shows how far American-led Western public opinion has sunk in depravity and brutality.  The BBC is badly at fault in not standing by him and with him and insisting that he stayed.

State-sanctioned terrorism and cold-blooded murder bringing genocide and ethnic cleansing must be called out by people like me and Lineker and hundreds of others.

Racist language, taunts and images are unacceptable but cannot compare with Western-initiated horrors brought upon the world since 1914 that Robert Harris correctly named, in his latest novel.  We all went tearing over the 'Precipice' in 1914 with disastrous consequences ever since.

It is so important that the BBC upholds the law that is against even supposedly 'civilised' states, like ours, doing cold blooded murder in Gaza and the West Bank. Yet, it is punishing outstanding, upstanding broadcasters like Lineker who is targeted by supporters of cold blooded murder!

Making disciples must mean acting honourably

Go into all the world and make disciples of the non-violent Jesus Christ.

When this is not possible, it should mean non-violent, peaceful co-existence with those we live alongside.

If the authorities cannot accept the life and teaching of Jesus Christ in the Gospels, as we do, they should be able to see the sense of acting honourably and with justice for those with whom they live.

Regardless of our personal beliefs over spiritual matters like faith and religion, it is totally unacceptable for a government acting on behalf of a monarch who has promised to live by the wisdom, laws and commands of the Bible in the Coronation Ceremony, to then ditch all of it and do this:

This, when we Brits were the most Christian, the most Bible-believing and church-attending in the 19th century.  Yet, I believe we were at fault in these examples:

1. Michael Portillo described our Opium Wars against China as "disgraceful".  We grew the plants to sell to the Chinese to make them opium addicts.  When the Chinese government objected we went to war with them and ruled over Hong Kong for 100 years - until 1997.  We still demand Taiwan should be part of our American-led Western sphere of influence and not China.
2. We ruled India as part of our Empire of "Peace and Light" but massacred about a hundred Indians at Amritsar in 1919 when we knew they were unarmed and totally peaceful in their demonstration.
3. Our slavery for 300 years was part of our Christian Empire of "Truth and Mercy" - the biggest the world has ever seen, ruling a quarter to a third of the world population for nearly 500 years.  It meant ruling not democratically but autocratically over populations who had never consented to being taken over by the British white man.
4. We than claim that it was thanks to Bible-believing, born-again Christians that slavery was ended when we were all complicit for centuries and profited from the slaves working for no wages and in desperate conditions and living in the most humble hovels.
5. Eighteen years after our exuberant and triumphalist hymn was published all about a "kingdom of love and light", and of singing a song that "shall conquer evil", we blundered so hurriedly into a totally unnecessary and the most foolish war in the history of humanity.  So much for "shattering the spear and sword"!
6. That war led to the Middle East being blessed with our British and French empires and all the horrors for the poor inhabitants who simply wanted to be left alone from yet more foreign invaders.
7. To this very day, our Western, traditional Christian beliefs and values, demand drones and air strikes and bullets and buildings crumpled into dust and ashes to so nicely wipe out tens of thousands of evil Hamas men, women and children.

Making disciples must mean acting honourably.

My final Donald day - I met a man who was an angel!

20 May 2025 saw me to my final three Donald hills.  I met another veteran walker, of my age, on my way to my very last who, when I told him, gave me a 'Bake Off' handshake - not for excellence in cooking but for hill walking!  (For visiting every Munro, every Munro Top, all the Furths, every Corbett, too using the 1981, then the 1997 SMC Tables.  But, first the Bridges using the 1973 book, in England and Wales, now Hewitts during the 1970s and 80s)

He then advised me to avoid the slow, rough path I had used to get into the heart of the Galloway Forest Park hills.  Instead, to climb the very highest summit, I had already visited a couple of times before, years ago, in order to gain a faster and more pleasant path to the car park.  I did the longer walk and had a magnificent finale, under blue sky, to my 13 hour day as I climbed Merrick, the highest at 843 m and found the best path back.  Even the six lochs from the summit of Benyellary, the very last, shone blue, far below me!

All thanks to the unknown, 76-year-old, God-send I met just below the summit of my penultimate Donald hill!

US Senator Bernie Sanders

US Senator Bernie Sanders has said there are more people in the US outraged by what is happening in Gaza than the rest of the world understands.

Speaking to RTÉ News at the start of a visit to Ireland, Mr Sanders said that what is going on in Gaza right now is unspeakable. He also rejected suggestions by senior Israeli political figures that criticisms of Israel had fuelled the sentiment that led to the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington DC. "I am Jewish, I detest antisemitism, as I hope everybody does. It's a horribly destructive ideology," Mr Sanders said. "But to be critical of [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's right wing extremist government who have killed some 53,000 people in Gaza, already, mostly women and children, that is not antisemitic, that is taking on an extremist, ugly government that is doing terrible things." For more on this story and all the latest Irish and international news - http://www.rte.ie/news

The whole idea was to tap into "the power of the Jews" - now the Western regional power in the heart of the Arab Middle East

How Jeremy Bowen explains how Britain and France,especially us Brits, are wholly to blame, for the tragedy of Israel and the catastrophe for the Palestinian Arabs.

This summarised history is taken from Jeremy Bowen's book, 'The Making of the Modern Middle East' and, in particular the chapter, 'Mission Impassable'.  You can't do better than read those few eye-opening pages from 17-25.

The catastrophe was 750,000 Palestinians being forced out of their homes or fleeing in terror in 1948.  The tragedy for Israel is their isolation in world opinion, their many wars with some initiated by them and all won by them and, their 77 years of fear of attack from their opponents and enemies that they have never been able to get on top of, let alone seen off for good.  Tragic Israel, in feeling that they have to murder the angry, revengeful Arab fighters over 77 years who also believe in violence and the same Jewish ethic of an eye for an eye - lex talionis.  However, many exhibit the pragmatism and higher morality of peaceful co-existence with their neighbour, despite the control and domination of our firm friends and allies, the Israelis.

What follows, I think, is the shocking, shameful truth of how our top decision-makers have behaved.  From the First World War and throughout the British Mandate to 1948, favouritism was shown towards the Zionists/Jews but, much stricter treatment meted out to the Arabs.  It ended with our hasty retreat in 1948 back to these shores in the face of Jewish terrorism.

We also have the despicable record of promises or undertakings all broken given to the Arabs for helping us defeat the Ottoman Empire.

Bowen writes, "The Middle East attracts outsiders and the desire to control it has led to suffering and slaughter ... In the 21st century, the decisions of these powerful outsiders have made lives in the Middle East dangerous, difficult and short." p 18

The First World War finally broke the Ottoman Empire and allowed hungry European Christian powers with a banquet of delights to exploit.  Russia, France, Germany and Britain all feasted at the table and the carve-up was approved by the new League of Nations.  However, it gave Britain and France so much territory they were overstretched and struggling by the 2nd World War.  In addition, "Too many people were fed up with being told what to do by foreigners." p 19

Bowen mentions two imperial grandees, Mark Sykes for us and Georges-Picot for France and their agreement in 1916 to split the Middle East between the two nations.  This was top secret diplomacy "to win the war in the Middle East and get their empire into the strongest position possible."

In London, the power brokers spent months talking to Zionists who wanted a homeland for the Jews.  The Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, "had an instinctive sympathy for Zionism".  In his Welsh school, he wrote that he learnt more about the history of the Jews than his own land. "I could tell you all the kings of Israel.  But I doubt if I could have named half a dozen of the kings of England and not more of the kings of Wales."

"The Jews were regarded as desirable allies", Bowen wrote.  The leading Zionist in Britain, Chaim Weizmann had already impressed Lloyd George by finding a new way to make acetone, a vital ingredient for making explosives.  The PM believed that helping the Zionists would help to keep Russia on our side in the war and help to persuade America to join in.

Bowen wrote, "As they tried to tap into what they believed was the power of the Jews, the British were also looking for an ally to undermine the Ottomans." p 21.

A direct descendant of the prophet Mohammed, Hussein bin Ali was the man who kept his side of the bargain but we did not.  We had to win the war at all costs, by hook or by crook.  And we chose the dishonourable path of helping the side we had most in common even though it meant breaking our agreement with the Arabs.

For all the fine words from General Allenby after he entered Jerusalem as the great victor, all that counted for nothing as we showed favouritism and partiality.  Strong against the Arabs when they massacred Jews but much less harsh against the Jews when they massacred Arabs.

Very Light Rail Angus

Hi Angus

Thank you so much for this excellent, helpful and comprehensive report that has been good to read - and impossible to refute!

I suppose my concerns are how we all feel so entitled to everything and everyone.  We are so wealthy we can afford to do anything we like but, there are downsides.  And just because we are so wealthy we can spend the money in any way we like, does not mean we should.

From 2013 I was trying to convince Nick Mallinson of the WMG to use the 3 Km Kingswinford branch line from Moor Street, Brierley Hill to Pensnett High Street for their test track rather than the former, 100 year old successful, principal mainline railway through Dudley Castle Hill station between Worcester and Derby.  You now have a 2 Km test track through Castle Hill tunnel, when it could have been 3 Kms.  I was given the guff that the test track had to include a tunnel and that heavy rail can only be reinstated once LR Metro has gone on the mainline railway!  Such was the incompetence that in 2013, they even tried to put the VLR test track on the mainline railway to Dudley Port that was intended for LR Metro since 1981!!  The sorry saga of tragic transport in the West Midlands is detailed here:

 Trumpland Transport in the West Midlands since 1981

The 100 year old Dudley mainline station, now a tram stop, is impossible to reinstate with the Innovation Centre and test track built on it.  That line between London and Edinburgh via the Black Country was broken up into heavy rail, light rail Metro, a test track and an extended cycle-walkway from Walsall railway station to Lichfield station when it was built as an intercity railway.  How bizarre is that?!

Billions in price and in weight of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are going into a damaging high speed railway, LR over 150 miles, 8 lines and 380 tram stops in the W Midlands, including Coventry.  Coventry also becomes the electric bus city of the UK and a swish, swanky VLR line that you are working on.  All this, while the poor have to rely on energy and food banks and the most inadequate housing to meet the Climate Emergency.  In addition, lots of new buildings are going up that are not meeting ecological considerations.

It was lovely to meet you last Saturday and to hear of the excellent work you are doing.  Thanks again for writing.

Tim

PS: Do try my quizzes!

Genocide and ethnic cleansing of the Jews begets genocide and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians

Super horrendous violence and slaughter and concentration camps (learnt from us Brits in the South Africa War) by the 'Christian' Nazis in the 1930s and 40s soon led to the victims having learnt too well from us 'Christian' nations. Thus, their three terrorist gangs from '45 to '48 soon saw off the British Empire.  We were only too glad to leave it to the UN to sort out the ensuing mess over eight decades of war and hatred and retaliation.

Revenge upon revenge upon revenge has continued for 77 years - so far.

Only 'I Shall Not Hate' (the name of the excellent book by a Palestinian medical doctor and world authority on infertility) and non-violence is ultimately successful, if we all understand that it is better to be killed than to kill.

The tragic account of the first massacres and wars in this corner of the Middle East is recorded in the Old Testament.  It is the story of the People of Israel who were the first to accept the One True God (Yahweh) whom they worshipped and followed.  They sincerely believed that their God was leading them into the Promised Land for them alone to occupy by coercion, force and violence.  Yahweh, they were convinced, gave them the green light to start, 3,200 years ago, the killing fields of the unHoly Land that has been seen more recently in the last 125 years, in particular.  I understand it was called Palestine (from Philistine?) since the Roman occupation.

Question for Leader Patrick Harley on his one hour Live Facebook session

Is it sensible, let alone competent to be spending over £1 BILLION on only 10 Kms of tramway on some of the already built but unused 56 Kms of the UK's principal mainline railway "of national strategic significance", according to Network Rail and the Dept for Transport?

ANSWER:

Mr Weller is very passionate. Value for money is important. Regeneration opportunity. New footfall, businesses and housing. More money coming into Brierley Hill. It will be well worth it for this borough and be useful for year to come. We have two railway stations with Dudley in their name but neither are in the Dudley borough.

What are you doing about the unsecured Himley Environment Ltd (HEL) landfill site that is used by quad/dirt bikers and 4x4s?

You declared a Climate Emergency in 2020. What is your understanding of what is going wrong and what have you done to address the Climate Emergency over these last five years?

Patrick referred to Dudley Port station and Sandwell and Dudley station that are both in Sandwell. Patrick could have had a reinstated Dudley mainline railway line and station outside the popular Station Hotel at the foot of Castle Hill. Do you think that hotel should now be renamed Tram Stop Hotel?