Catch-Up Reflections: Antisemitism, Trade Wars, Salisbury

Antisemitism 

This blog is not antisemitic and does not support antisemitism in any form and especially not if it can be seen to be institutional. But it cannot see how attending a Jewish function, run by Orthodox Jews, with a Rabbi present can be said to be antisemitic.

This blog has always favoured a Palestinian State and believes the UK government should have the courage to follow the lead of the House of Commons, which passed a resolution recognising Palestine as a State in 2014. This blog is opposed to the nationalist foreign policy of Israel, followed now for many years by its right of centre governments. It condemns Israel for its Settlement policies and for its annexations and occupations. It further condemns Israel for ignoring a string of UN resolutions calling it to honour the principles of International Law.

This blog recognises Israel’s right to exist and condemns all who want to wipe Israel from the map. But it does plead with Israel to honour its acceptance into the family of recognised nations by behaving according to the rules. Provoking opponents with cruel policies then shooting them when, unarmed, they protest, is no way to behave at all.

Trade Wars

These are a very bad idea and always end up hurting most the people who start them. If a country suffers from excessive imports of manufactures which are cheaper than those produced at home, which then drives local firms to the wall, there are usually two reasons. The first is lack of investment in the core industry so that over time its product becomes too expensive. The other is an overvalued currency, which makes imports cheap and exports costly.

Salisbury

The unprecedented support given by the UK’s allies, thought at first to be lukewarm, has astonished everybody, including the main beneficiary, the May government. It has created a new international dynamic in which for the first time for many years, the UK is centre stage. Whilst this is hugely encouraging to a nation that felt itself violated by the use of a military grade chemical weapon on its soil, it creates not just an obligation, but a necessity, to do everything by the book. This must include granting consular access to the Russian authorities to see Yulia Skripal, a Russian citizen, as soon as it is medically permissible. Meanwhile updates to the Russians about her treatment and improving condition would be courteous at the very least.

At some point the government will have to share with the British people the compelling evidence that it apparently possesses, which it used to convince its skeptical allies, that the outrage was committed by an organ of the Russian state beyond all reasonable doubt. Should that not be possible, the heady mood of triumph wafting through Whitehall could turn very sour. Very sour indeed.