Matt - Thankyou for this brave and sensitive piece.... for the careful ‘panning out’ to take in the full frame, while clearly denunciating the latest atrocities. It has become nearly impossible to safely call out appalling actions perpetrated in the name of the state of Israel without being branded antisemitic. You have walked a fine line in this short essay and walked it well. I hope you’re not attacked for doing so. shalom salaam
I have found this piece rather belatedly and, despite the fact that I share a name with an earlier commenter, I am not the same person.
Matt asks if anyone can explain the huge disparity between the number of Israelis and Palestinians killed since 2000. Isn't the explanation simply this? When Hamas fired rockets into Israel, many of them - but not all were - blocked by Israel's defence systems. But when Israel fired rockets back, they tended to hit a target.
In an ideal world, both sides would have stopped long ago. One can only speculate as to why Hamas would ever shell Israel once it knew what the result will be. But, then again, one can only speculate at the motive behind the attacks on 7 October when Hamas must have known what the result of that would be.
Having read this piece and Nick Cohen and David Aaronovitch I am no wiser. I just say give peace a chance but realise that isn’t part of the narrative.
Matt - Thankyou for this brave and sensitive piece.... for the careful ‘panning out’ to take in the full frame, while clearly denunciating the latest atrocities. It has become nearly impossible to safely call out appalling actions perpetrated in the name of the state of Israel without being branded antisemitic. You have walked a fine line in this short essay and walked it well. I hope you’re not attacked for doing so. shalom salaam
Thanks Matthew. Much appreciated.
I have found this piece rather belatedly and, despite the fact that I share a name with an earlier commenter, I am not the same person.
Matt asks if anyone can explain the huge disparity between the number of Israelis and Palestinians killed since 2000. Isn't the explanation simply this? When Hamas fired rockets into Israel, many of them - but not all were - blocked by Israel's defence systems. But when Israel fired rockets back, they tended to hit a target.
In an ideal world, both sides would have stopped long ago. One can only speculate as to why Hamas would ever shell Israel once it knew what the result will be. But, then again, one can only speculate at the motive behind the attacks on 7 October when Hamas must have known what the result of that would be.
Having read this piece and Nick Cohen and David Aaronovitch I am no wiser. I just say give peace a chance but realise that isn’t part of the narrative.