Melanie Phillips is a guilty pleasure, she's actually a very good writer who is just a poor journalist with very low critical skills.

"One Nation Under God, has turned into One Nation Under the Influence of One Drug"
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Because in Syria the situation isn't just about palestinians killed by a dominant state, but a brutal oppressive regime that doesn't hesitate to utilise violence as a means of social control.

Something most nations regard Israel of being above, or morally beyond, given their close alliance to the west.

"One Nation Under God, has turned into One Nation Under the Influence of One Drug"
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Funny, that.

I've just watched a documentary currently on cinematic release in the UK, called 5 Broken Cameras.

It was filmed by a Palestinian farmer; over the course of the film he had to use 5 cameras as they kept getting smashed by the Israel Defence Forces.

The film shows Israeli settlers gradually - and illegally - stealing Palestinian land by night. When the Palestinians peacefully protest, the Israeli settlers physically assault them as the IDF stand by and watch. The settlers then set fire to the Palestinian farmers' olive trees - their livelihood.

And whenever the Palestinian villagers gather to peacefully protest by the fence that is cutting them off from their farmlands, the IDF race up in their armoured vehicles, jump out and immediately start pumping tear gas cannisters and firing live rounds into the crowd, often directly at groups of young children.

In addition, at one point, the IDF have a Palestinian blindfolded and with his hands handcuffed behind his back, simply standing still, and then they quite deliberately shoot him in the leg.

Some IDF soldiers also dress up as Palestinians, join the protesting villagers, start a fight and then arrest every one who starts fighting back.

On several occasions, the IDF drive into the Palestinian village in the middle of the night, go door to door and arrest young boys who must have been between the ages of 8 and 10.

The IDF also come to arrest the filmmaker, apparently on the grounds that he lives in what they have declared a "closed military zone", which is to say, the Palestinian village. He is even ordered to stop filming inside his own home on these grounds too.

Some of the footage is incredible: IDF forces are filmed quite clearly aiming and firing at obviously-unarmed Palestinians, murdering at least one.

Not unlike most Israeli governments. The religious zealots and political hawks in Tel Aviv said 'goodbye' to morality a long, long time ago.

Why else would they sanction (very loud) low flying fighter aircraft over Gaza at 2am in times of relative calm in the past?

Still, I'm sure Benjamin et al understand more than me how traumatising 3,4,5 year olds is an effective strategy and not terror.

Big chest and massive boobs

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I watched the trailer and I must say the actions of the army are reprehensible. I have not seen the entire film, neither heard of the Israeli response (if indeed there is one). Nonetheless, intimidation is unjustifiable towards non-combatants/civilians.

But if you know of the conflict and its history, you will be aware that Jewish settlement activity only arrived in the late seventies. The Israel-Palestinian conflict far transcends that.

I welcome your input, but I would be extremely cautious not to gloss over an issue that delves into the metaphysical, namely the perceived imposition of Jews in the Muslim world. Nb. This notion is especially pertinent within the ME Christian community that suffers endemic torture and suffering.

I don't agree that the behaviour shown within that film is a valid argument against the validity of an Israeli state.

What it proves is that the IDF needs a serious looking at. If the behaviours are state sanctioned then that should be blown open. The commitment to the morality of democracy demands it. If the behaviours are limited to this unit or a few like them then this still needs a major investigation and action. Sure all armies will contain the unprofessional or 'nutter' element, but a modern professional army deals with them.

Some will use a film like this and the recent action in Gaza as support for the argument that Israel is basically an evil disposition. Their views are often strikingly similar to an Iranian one.

To my mind I have little sympathy for the current Israel government and its obvious chess moves. Yet, that in no way shifts my view that Israel has a right to exist as a modern successful state.

We are stuck in a period of drift. Fear and anger has emboldened the militarists on both sides and there is very little hope of real progress. Democracy has spoken and both sides have decided that this isn't a time for peacemaking.

The settlements have to come down, I imagine that's a difficult issue within Israel itself but the reality is that no one side can't be allowed to 'win' in this situation.....One cannot completely destroy the other...Well, not without involving the rest of us and god forbid that.

Real UN protected security for Israel with practical borders and a viable workable Palestinian state with non-aggressive neighbors. At the moment we are a very long way from that.

Edited by Stirlingsays (25 Nov 2012 5.41pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)