Long hot Summer?

A lovely Spring day at last. Earlier, the unmistakable roar of a military jet so high that it is invisible even in a clear sky. Either that or I was looking for the speck in the wrong place. I would bet that they are limbering up for Iran's inevitable reaction to Netanyahu's latest attempt to make Israel a safe place.

Whatever happens in the Middle East we will be right behind the USA, because they are the only meaningful allies we have left after Brexit. A food delivery convoy was shot-up by the IDF again a couple of days ago. Amazingly, nobody was injured but a British UNICEF worker was left with three bullet holes in the side of her car and the convoy had to turn back because the incident made them miss their allotted slot.

There was a huge riot in London a few days ago which was not reported by the BBC. In this case I can understand why they did not report it. The rioting season in the UK has been postponed by months of cold wind and rain, but when they begin they attract people who will travel from afar just to have a good fight in someone else's neighbourhood. The media can show rare moments of responsibility by not publicising civil unrest unless it has gone completely out of control.

We don't hear much about the massive anti-Netanyahu demonstrations in Israel either. Even the group calling for the release of the hostages has joined them. Whatever you think about Hamas or the atrocities committed in its name on October 7th, it is very difficult for any outsider to believe that Netanyahu has acted in the interests of his own country. At first it seemed unlikely that one individual could order such destruction simply to save himself, but as it all escalates out of control it is not so unbelievable. The situation has taken on a life of its own and will continue with or without him.