Sunday, March 13, 2011

The UK and Israel: saline or not?

Today’s ‘Positive and Optimistic Sunday’. David Cameron (pictured) [1] has been the UK’s Prime Minister since last May. A few days ago the UK Jewish News published the first exclusive interview Cameron, as PM, has given to a Jewish media outlet. Here’s the full interview [2] and a précis [3].

Regarding Iran’s (delusional) protest that the 2012 Olympic Games emblem spells the word ‘Zion’) [4, 5], Cameron said: 'It's completely paranoid. If the Iranians don't want to come, don't come, we won't miss you.’ He added that athletes unwilling to compete against Israelis wouldn’t be welcome at the Games.

He said it was ‘absolutely appalling" that IDF soldier Gilad Shalit has been captive by Hamas for nearly five years…[and]…He should be released unconditionally’.

Asked whether Britain would recognize a unilaterally-proclaimed Palestinian state if there was no other solution by September, he replied with a resounding ‘No’.

And so on.

I’m old enough to know that politicians aren’t above the odd bit of lying. Or at least the odd bit of truth bending. Indeed as a breed they’re partial to it. When it suits them to do it. Which usually depends on whose company they’re in at the time. So perhaps Cameron’s Jewish News interview should be taken with a grain of salt [6]. But at this time in history when Israel’s increasingly isolated and beleaguered, she and her supporters must grasp at every straw, including this one, and declare: How positive and optimistic is that.

1 comment:

Chris Burrows said...

Hmmmm! Trust? The conservatives here have broken just about every promise they made to us over their last tenure, but the liberals were equally as bad before them; people are unlikely to vote for social democrats, so we will have a low turnout and more lies.
The baby alpaca makes me smile each time I see it.