I’ve been chatting with the comic genius Paul Kaye recently, as he has penned a section of a new book I am writing about Arsenal FC. It’s a very witty contribution, as you can imagine. I’m grateful for it.
On a separate note, did you know that Paul’s mother-in-law was killed on an Israeli kibbutz by a Hamas rocket? He has written very movingly about the aftermath of her death, including how he broke the news to his son and how the family then learned that Palestinians were celebrating her death.
I don’t agree with all Paul’s conclusions about the conflict, but I wish that other celebrities – the ghastly Alexei Sayle springs to mind – were as honest and soul-searching as him. Paul’s article is well worth a read.
Meanwhile, the air raid sirens are sounding in Israel again this morning as another rocket is fired from Gaza.
Gosh: his Grauniad piece is very interesting indeed. However, I don’t just disagree with his conclusions (as I suspect you do) but I also se contradictions in what he says. For it’s personal response, it’s interesting, but for its political conclusions it is misguided: he says himself that what he suggests won’t work. Of course Israel should not pursue any actions that won’t work in bringing security and peace for herself, especially when those actions involve uproting people from their homes, where they have always lived and where many were born. And How interesting that his perspective changed, by his own admission, when he came back to Egland and was there exposed to a totally different (and I would argue very biased) version of the ‘facts’ in the media. It strikes me he’s guilty of engaging in a bit of fisking here:”When I heard in the days that followed Shuli’s death that they handed out sweets in Gaza to celebrate the fact that the rocket had hit a target, I was appalled. Now with all I have seen over the last two weeks in Gaza, part of me feels: why wouldn’t they celebrate?”.
He needs to ask why? How about the idea that their own misery should strengthen their resolve and empathy for Israelis like his mother in law being killed. How come he, a many Israelis, are able in the face of their grief to still behave correctly and humanly in the face of Gaza civilians suffering, but he feels that they are somehow exempt from doing likewise? Did he celebrate with sweets for his kids when the war broke out over the last few weeks? No. Nor should they.
What he is missing is that there appears to be a cultural deadlock. And that is very hard to overcome, if not impossible. It’s all very good looking for doves, but the tragedy of the situation is that doves can simply not survive there now, or any time soon. So what has to come first is security.
sorry about typos there, and random apostrophes. Please add an ‘edit’ button for people like me!
Paul talks at the end of his article of the Gazans having no choice. I disagree entirely. They can rally. They can scream and shout. They can, at least in theory, show that they too have a peace-seeking wing.
The Gazans were given and continue to be given many choices, but at each juncture took the road of most hatred. Of revenge. Almost of national suicide. The “elected” Hamas also had and have choices.
They could have chosen to use the housing and infrastructure left to them by the Israelis in 2005. Instead they chose a path of destruction.
They can choose to end terror. Instead they choose war.
They can choose to distribute aid instead of stealing it and selling it for profit. Instead they sell it in order to buy arms. They can mourn the loss of life. Instead they celebrate the deaths of the “enemy” and rejoice in their own dead as martyrs for the cause.
Of course the Gazans have choice. Now all they need is the courage and wisdom to choose correctly.