| I am happy to attest, Richard, that you you are not prejudiced against Jewish people. Nor do I imagine for one moment that you are a a supporter of Hamas (though I can't say say the same for the Deputy Leader of the Green Party, who saluted the pogrom of October 7 as an act of Palestinian resistance). Where I disagree with you and many of the bien pensant critics of Israel is your one-sided approach to the conflict. Sitting in Putney, where you are not threatened by abduction, rape and murder from Hamas or rocket fire from Hezbollah or (potential) nuclear attack from Iran, it is is easy to engage in high minded condemnation of Israel. It is also easy to propose facile solutions such as the unilateral withdrawal by Israel from all Palestinian land, whether Gaza or the West Bank. Critics of Israel such as yourself are very sensitive about accusations of anti-Semitism. But if you constantly criticise Israel in a one sided manner, if you repeat false and incendiary accusations of genocide against the Israelis, if you insist that the Israelis must withdraw from occupied land without any credible guarantees for Israel's security thereafter, you are in effect fuelling anti-Semitism however much you despise racism and furthering Hamas' cause however vehemently you condemn their aims and methods. |