I now have a fortnightly column in Jewish News, starting in today’s edition. If you are not in the newspaper’s catchment area you can read it in full online here.
Here is my first column:
So apparently I am a philosemite – it sounds like a medical condition or a multi-legged insect doesn’t it? Before you call a doctor or an entomologist, it actually just means I am a Gentile fan of all things Jewish. Well, that’s true enough. Although goy in heritage, I am enthralled by your history, culture and religion. My trips to Israel were joyous occasions and I’ve even been lucky enough to visit a couple of synagogues in London, and one in Amsterdam. I run hundreds of miles each year to burn off the colossal Shabbat meals I enjoy at the homes of my indulging Jewish friends. I always love them and the festivals too: I personally think that the Pesach Seder is over far too quickly. Why the rush? I blog in support of Israel and against antisemitism (as well as about far less serious topics) at www.oyvagoy.com
Another non-Jew who has backed Israel is Tony Blair. I’ve no party political affiliations, but I mostly admired him during his reign – particularly for his foreign policy. It was never more admirable than during Israel’s 2006 war with Hezbollah. He was halfway out of Downing Street and was under a lot of pressure to speak out against Israel. With his legacy already compromised by Iraq, he must have been tempted to give in – I’ll wager that his missus was piling on pressure too – but he bravely resisted and remained supportive of Israel’s right to defend itself against terror.
Admirable stuff, and I nearly got to tell him so in person. I was in Israel a few weeks after the Hezbollah conflict ended. My friend Susi and me got wind that he was staying just down the road from our hotel in Tel Aviv. We both had the same idea: find him, shake his hand and congratulate him on his foreign policy. We really wanted to do it, but didn’t fancy our chances of getting close to a still-serving Prime Minister, especially in Israel of all places. I admire the Shin Bet and Mossad with all my heart, but I’m happy to not meet any serving members up close. So we stayed by the pool instead.
Although I admire him, I can’t say I’m backing Blair’s bid to become EU President. Perhaps he would do a good job in that curiously nebulous position, but I’d actually rather he took power closer to home – as the next Prime Minister. Come on, choosing between Gordon Brown and David Cameron at the next election will be like choosing between gastroenteritis and root canal. Much better to bring back someone we can at least semi-trust do the job, who won’t get lost on his way to the loo at Downing Street and who could show Barack Obama that it is possible to be a good speaker and actually stand for something.
The Bring Back Blair campaign starts here. While we’re in nostalgic mood, let’s go really retro and put the Great back into Britain. I want the lovely Leona Lewis back on The X Factor as a contestant, Patrick Vieira to rejoin the Arsenal midfield, and That’s Life to make a toothy, bawdy return to the Sunday night TV schedules. Got it? I don’t like change (although the addition of White House Express to Golders Green Road has caused surprising levels of excitement in my Gentile, Berkshire household – oh my Solly’s of long ago…)
Returning to Blair, while trying to keep my self-aggrandisement under some sort of control I must say I feel personal kinship with the man. He has an enthusiastic, boyish smile that reveals eye-catching dentistry…and so do I. He loves exercise and drinks too much coffee…and so do I. He is one of the most influential men on the planet…and I have a fortnightly column in Jewish News.
So I’ll see you next time.
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Goodness, how well you write Chassy. You should do it more. hehe
Are you the first non-Jewish columnist on Jewish News?
We are big fans of Mr.Blair in this home as well. We believe he is very underestimated and were quite glad that he was the Prime Minister following the 9/11 attacks. Do wish you all across the Pond would bring him back.
Nice article Chas, and what’s more, I like the way the Jewish News is set out online. Very snazzy presentation!
Chas,
Mazal Tov on your column. It is just the next obvious step. There are few greater proponents of Israel and the Jewish People out there.
Looking forward to our next amba in Solly’s, or better still, Jerusalem!!!
Thank you all.
Ashley that’s very kind of you to say. Thanks for helping with my education, including the introduction to amba! I look forward to our next amba too! Israel even in the height of summer won’t be as boiling as Solly’s was that night!
“and was under a lot of pressure to speak out against Israel. . . but he bravely resisted and remained supportive of Israel’s right to defend itself against terror.”
A false dichotomy. He could have remained supportive of Israel’s right to defend herself against terror while criticising certain aspects of the way the war was being carried out, which is what David Cameron did.
So, General Highnlonesome, since you and Cameron seem to be military experts, perhaps you’d like to delineate PRECISELY what “aspects” of the war were being carried out in a way that merited criticism?
I think I find Hague and Cameron’s mealy-mouthed relativism more offensive than those who simply reject Israel outright,
NM: “. . . PRECISELY what “aspects” of the war were being carried out in a way that merited criticism?”
For a start, the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure and especially bombing that oil refinery. You don’t have to be an expert on military matters, or anything else, to realise that this was wrong. Another example would be the use of cluster bombs in civilian areas.
You may be able to give me any number of reasons why these actions were justified, but you can’t tell me they weren’t controversial. I just don’t accept the whole “you’re either for us or against us” mentality. I agree with your opposition to moral relativism, in fact it’s one of the most pernicious diseases of the 21st Century (I have read “What’s Left” and I think Nick Cohen’s main fault is he doesn’t defend Israeli ENOUGH!) but this doesn’t mean that an extreme view is always the right one. Criticism of Israel isn’t inherently good or bad – we just have to judge each argument on its merits.
nice work Chas!
Congratulations on your column and your moral clarity
Good luck with this latest venture Chas!
Thank you, thank you.
Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, Chas Newkey-Burden. A great dynasty of philo-semitism.
Can we expect “Chas for PM”?
Congrats Chas. Another great article. You need to put your picture up when you comment on this (and other) blogs!