Had we all not got bogged down in the Balkans in the 1990s and instead identified a sort of permanent Helsinki-style Confidence Building Process for the Middle East (as helped end the Cold War), the Israel/Palestine issue could have been tackled in a context of wider mutually-reinforcing progress across the region. No good options now.

Too many countries and movements in that part of the world have ideological roots deep in National Socialism, and some supposedly pragmatic ‘FCO Arabists’ down the years might have paid that aspect rather more attention..?

“Oh Lord, please protect us from the fury of the Norseman”, as we once prayed on Lindisfarne. The above shows our politicians during our finest fifteen minutes. We respectively, beg you desist from hurting our babies. If an area of the Hindu Kush even thinks about harbouring terrorists who wish the area arrest the leaders and so on this is if they only think about not actually protect people like Bin Laden.

Alastair

It is finally nice to see somebody in the establishment that is actually capable of comprehending the blatantly obvious and speaking up for waht is right!!!

I have a story to tell and would love to try and contact the guy if anybody can oblige!!!

Just search my name if you wanna know!!!!

Why? Because he went to Oriel College? Because he is a Sir? Because he was a senior civil servant?
None of these things stop someone from being as thick as two short planks as far as worldly wisdom is concerned.

Back channels, old boy like those you constantly issue your shite from.

And that’s what Halevy was talking about you sorry excuse.

And Iran will have to be kept busy minding its own security. The current regime seems to be overreacting brutally to any raised voice, — precisely what happened in the latter days of apartheid SA, and we know how that turned out.

Well, like so many ex-politicians, ex-lobbyists and ex-diplomats who’ve regularly dealt with Arab states, he’s living out his ‘retirement’ on the Arabo/petrol payroll.

Hamas has offered a ceasefire dependent on border issues and stopping incursions. It can be done, bit of tweaking on each side.

Look, the reality is, if Israel goes in there and kills Hamas or other Palestinians, Hamas will fire rockets. Its really that simple. So it has to reduce incursions, and at some point it will have to ease the borders – I said clearly defined track.