Increased military aid to Israel and prospects for peace with the Palestinians were discussed at a friendly meeting between US president Barack Obama and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week. ‘We do believe it's very important,’ said Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser, ‘that in an uncertain security environment we are signalling our long-term commitment to Israel and its security, and are designing a package that is tailored to the threats and challenges that Israel will be facing over the course of the next decade.’ Obama and Netanyahu also discussed the fresh wave of Israeli-Palestinian violence that began two months ago and has spread across Israel (see above). Officials said that Obama no longer believes that a Palestinian state can be achieved before 2017. Netanyahu said he still hopes for peace, two states for two people, with a demilitarised Palestinian state and recognition of the Jewish state's right to exist.
Israel: Palestinian divisions
13 Nov 2015
The Palestinian political scene has yet to agree on the nature of the confrontations taking place with the Israelis since early October. Some observers define them as an intifada, while others call them ‘peaceful’ popular uprisings, and a third group believes they are protests against Israel’s police raid on the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Palestinian forces and organisations include Hamas (a Hebrew word which means violence), Fatah (which means conquering), Islamic Jihad (jihad means struggle), the PFLP (a secular Marxist-Leninist revolutionary socialist group favouring a one-state solution), and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (which maintains a paramilitary wing called the National Resistance Brigades). They all appear to want to continue this ‘intifada’ until it achieves its objectives - which the various groups can’t agree on. The choices include ending Israel's Al-Aqsa Mosque policies, Israel returning to negotiations with the Palestinian Authority, and Israel stopping West Bank settlement activities.
Russia now a UK national security threat
13 Nov 2015
Britain's security services published a new list of what they believe are the greatest threats to the country. International terrorism from IS and the threat of returning UK jihadists from Syria are among the top concerns and Russian aggression, in particular Putin's ‘willingness to display force’, has unnerved Britain's defence network, according to the security draft. The report, which will be released by David Cameron on 23 November, mentioned Russia's aggression in Ukraine and the country's soaring military budget as cause for worry. Britain's defence experts are also known to be concerned over Russia's increased involvement in the Middle East. Russia's increasing isolation in international politics (the G8 met last year as the G7, excluding President Putin from the table), increased military spending and apparent willingness to display force in the face of universal condemnation suggest the next five years could well see an escalation of the Russian threat to security.
India's prime minister will visit London this week amid protests that his Hindu nationalist party has created an atmosphere of religious intolerance and impunity. Narendra Modi will have lunch with the Queen and address a joint session at Parliament with David Cameron. The highlight of his trip will be his rally at Wembley Stadium where 60,000 fans are expected to give him a rapturous welcome. Among all the pomp and ceremony, up to £10 billion-worth of deals are expected to be signed over the course of his stay. Meanwhile, David Cameron has been urged to highlight the increase in attacks on religious minorities since Narendra came to power. Christian Solidarity Worldwide reported 600+ cases of violence against religious minorities in that period and an estimated 43 deaths. An atmosphere of religious intolerance is further stoked by systematic attacks against the Dalit community (untouchables in India’s caste system). Many Dalits are Christians.
The Archbishop of York Youth Trust announced on Tuesday that it has further extended its Young Leaders’ Award with 315 schools having signed up to the Award since its launch. The Archbishop said, ‘Young people have the potential to change our society for the better, and my Young Leaders’ Award is helping them to do it. Up and down the north of England these young leaders are using their creativity, passion and energy to transform their communities and be the change they want to see.’ For example Church Walk CE Primary School asked the council if they could put out more litter bins and signs reminding people to pick up litter and clean up dog fouling. The council visited the class and promised to put signs and bins in the churchyard and surrounding area. Young leaders have learned decision-making, compassion, interpersonal and organising skills, and being listeners to others.
Prince Charles urges consumers to buy British
13 Nov 2015
The Prince of Wales has urged people to buy British food whenever they can to support family farms and save the countryside. His appeal comes amid growing fears over the economic future of Kintyre as the area's traditional dairy farming industry struggles to stay afloat. The heir to the throne called on the public to harness their consumer power by shopping for home-grown produce instead of imported food. He highlighted the pressure facing the country's family farms, including falling commodity prices and rising input costs, and warned that some city-dwellers may be overlooking the crucial part that farmers play in the UK. In August this year the president of the National Farmers Union said that farmers struggling to cope with falling prices for milk, lamb, beef and cereals are being driven to suicide. See also: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/business/farming/north-east-farmers-despairing-low-9821650
Storm Abigail: damage and disruption
13 Nov 2015
Storm Abigail, the first storm to be officially named by the Met Office, hit the Western Isles, parts of Argyll and the northwest Highlands and Orkney yesterday (Thursday). Gusts of up to 84 mph and waves up to forty feet high were recorded, with lightning strikes and heavy rain. All schools in the Western Isles and Shetland will be closed today. Two thousand customers in Lewis and Harris lost their power supply, though most have been reconnected. A ferry travelling from Skye to Raasay was prevented from docking for three hours due to stormy conditions, and ferry services today have been cancelled or disrupted.
Asif Khan, a teacher at Oldknow Academy (implicated in the Trojan Horse scandal), allegedly led anti-Christian chants of ‘We don’t believe in Christmas, do we?’ ‘and 'Jesus wasn't born in Bethlehem, was he?' at assemblies. He is also accused of talking to pupils about 'hellfire' and 'prostitutes'. Some teachers, disgusted by Khan’s actions, walked out of school assemblies. A tribunal hearing into his behaviour is listed to run until 18 November. Khan and former deputy head Jahangir Akbar stand accused of unacceptable professional behaviour and / or conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute. Khan denies the claims. Bhupinder Kondal was head teacher there for twelve years before she left in January last year, claiming a group of teachers were trying to impose a strict Muslim ethos. Lessons were segregated, with the girls sitting at the back of the room, and pupils could not sing, use musical instruments or draw trees or eyes.