Comments on: Ian Austin deplores Cameron’s double talk on Gaza

By: We should welcome Cameron’s views on Gaza | Liberal Conspiracy

We should welcome Cameron’s views on Gaza | Liberal Conspiracy — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:42:17 +0000

[...] But nevertheless, even such a small move is important, and unless it is loudly supported by those who want peace in the Middle East, Cameron will only hear pro-Israel frothing from the Tories and Labour. [...]

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:40:21 +0000

Cameron was being opportunistic and simplistic. Anybody who supports peace between Israel and Palestine cannot fail but be dismayed that we once again have a Western leader stumbling into the region’s diplomacy with rhetoric based on exaggerations, fallacies and selective memory.

Again and again, such action (which is analagous to the West’s historical misadventures in the region) serves only to bolster the intransigent elements on both sides of the green line.

It was, at best, amateurish. At worst, hypocritical. You want to promote humanitarianism and self-determination in the Middle East and you choose to do so while, in the very same breath, fawning over Turkey? Really?

By: Edward Carlsson Browne

Edward Carlsson Browne — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:33:35 +0000

There’s also the slight matter that the Labour Party takes exactly the same line on the Gaza flotilla attack. David Miliband – no swivel-eyed lefty he – condemned it as completely unacceptable.

You cannot defend killing unarmed civilians in international waters, that’s your prerogative. It was wrong when the PLF murdered Leon Klinghoffer, and it was wrong when the Israeli navy decided to indulge in a little piracy.

Israel needs critical friends. Israel is doing things wrong – it’s doubling down on a policy that can’t bear fruit long-term and failing to reach a meaningful solution before demographics overwhelm it. Why the hell would you stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them when a) they’re acting against their own interests and b) their actions completely contravene international law?

Pretending that Israel is entirely without fault is not being its friend. It’s closing your eyes to reality.

By: Sunny H

Sunny H — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:12:27 +0000

He might have impressed some people in Ankara today, but he will have reduced Britain’s influence on the peace process where it really matters – in Jerusalem.

The peace process isn’t just dependent on what Israel does or says. There’s also the small matter of giving Palestinians the confidence that western powers aren’t trying to screw them – like the last 4 or so years.

As a result, he’ll have set back the chances of Britain contributing to the peaceful solution we all want to see.

If he wants peace, Cameron will have to go furthr and ask Israel to stop building settlements. This was a mild rebuke in the form of saying what is obvious to everyone in the world.