# 196 – September 12

September 16, 2011

(Written on September 12 – Sorry for the delay)

Today’s Int’l Herald Tribune has transformed me into a very worried person. I am scared for my family, my home, my country (Israel, by the way) and for my future, my life.

Today’s Int’l Herald Tribune has transformed me into a very worried person. I am scared for my family, my home, my country (Israel, by the way) and for my future, my life.

Of course, sitting here In transit at Copenhagen airport, where I have just spent over £5 for 2 little bottles of water, I hope I am wrong. I hope the news will change. Perhaps pigs will fly…..

Where shall I start? The ex-Norwegian secretary of state for foreign affairs a thinks that terrorism can be confronted and overcome by ‘a vigorous rally around democratic values and the rule of law. From the King and the prime minister, down through the ranks of government and political opposition, the mantra has been that the liberal values of freedom  and expression and tolerance are the way to confront terrorism’.

Oooh, I’m really scared, said the terrorist. The virgins will have to go unfulfilled.

Then there are 2 opinions on the ‘Palestinians at the UN’. They are supposedly giving us both sides of the coin, one write being an Israeli, the other a Saudi prince. the prince basically threatens the us not to veto the vote, otherwise it will lose Saudi as an ally.

Oooh, I’m devastated, said the American. We lose our best friend.

The Israeli is basically suggesting that Israel work with the Palestinians; believe in Abbas. Help him in his difficult task.

Oooh, Hamas has suddenly disappeared. Gaza is the new beach resort for Israelis, Jews, Muslims and Christians alike. My friend near Sderot can turn his bomb shelter into a billiard room.

Then there is the sacking of the Israeli embassy in Cairo. (1200 injured, 2 dead, Israeli diplomats saved at last minute). I should have expected this. No matter what I and other optimists have thought, there was always the danger of the mob. I do not know how this started nor who was behind it. But in hindsight, it was always a possibility.

For the Egyptians, it seems, unsurprisingly, that the main concern is the breakdown of society, and they are intending to reintroduce one of Mubarak’s hated laws, allowing indefinite detention without trial. They do not appear to see the potential break of peace with Israel as a concern – and that’s my concern.

I know that the average Egyptian is not in love with Israel. But I was hoping that their other priorities, such as getting a life and a country back, took first place. Maybe I was wrong.

And today is the day after 9/11. We now have a chance to reflect on the reflections, and it is NOT a pretty picture. Apart from the families and friends, there were just a few diehards remembering. And that’s international. There were hundreds at the various events, instead of the required hundreds of thousands.

In addition to the World’s sympathy for the underdog (out of which most terrorism has evolved),

The general consensus is that the US has been badly run. And, or but, the unwavering support for Israel has been a diplomatic disaster.

We ARE losing friends, hands over fist. Right and wrong are no longer factors. The reality is that Israel IS becoming more and more isolated, and that will inevitably have it’s consequences.

Why doesn’t the World let me be a grandfather in peace….

Stephen