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Current Thoughts May 9th 2012  The new coalition in Israel bodes ill for the rest of the world and, ultimately, for Israel. The new
government, with 94 seats out of 120, can do what it likes. Attack Iran? Probably. Pass legislation to thwart Israel's Supreme Court instruction to dismatle settlements? Certainly. Ignore the
US and the rest of the world? Absolutely.
May 8th 2012 It is rather appropriate in this Titanic centenary year that David Cameron, in response to different wings
of his party saying "Iceberg ahead, tack to the left" and "Iceberg ahead, tack to the right" says he will continue to go straight ahead.
May 4th 2012 So the Tories think reform of the House of Lords is "barmy." Let us look at the so-called democracy
of the UK. The House of Commons is considerably unrepresentative, as millions of votes are ineffective due to the first past the post system, one reason why the turnout in elections is
so poor. The House of Lords is even worse, representatives being there either their by birth or by political nomination, together with the bishops by virtue of their job.No, the UK is not a democratic country and the reform of the House of Lords is one of the most important tasks for the government.
Last Month
April 11th 2012 No-one believes the Syrian government will honour a cease-fire but there is a (relatively) peaceful way
of forcing Syria to comply with international presuure. It is to close the country down: nothing allowed in except humanitarian aid, nothing allowed out except refugees. A no-fly zone to
ensure Syria cannot export anything or import weapons and to ensure as far as possible that the Syrian leaders are trapped in their own country. Humanitarian aid could be dropped from the air.
True, Syrian forces could use their weapons, but that would be Syria's choice, the international community could make it clear that no force would be used except in self-defence. It might
only take a few days of total isolation with the promise of an indefinite "siege" to bring Syria's leaders to their senses.
April 5th 2012 Remember Ariel Sharon's exhortation to Israelis to take every hill in the illegally occupied
Palestinian Territories? Binyamin Netanyahu has the same intention: “The principle that has guided me is to strengthen Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria" he said yesterday
in the context of authorising further building of 800 apartments in Har Homa and Givat Zeev, in the West Bank. How can the Palestinians negotiate for their own land when faced with blatant
colonialist expansion, for decade after decade? Why does the US condemn such settlements yet do absolutely nothing to curb the most aggressive colonial power on earth bar none?
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