The global psychosis

Jenny

Steyn is just superb.

He is sorely missed on these shores but given the times we live in, it's good he's in America to expose what's happening over there. It's where all the fate of the free world now lies.

Richard Ingrams wonders who would criticise Israel?

Sounds like he's been fortunate enough never read The Guardian or The Observer despite writing for the Guardian Media Group.

Alf Tupper

Steyn at his incisive and all encompassing best.

Yet still the sleepwalk to oblivion continues. He's so right in correcting the timescale for the unspoken 'handover', from some over the hill date, to something very much closer. A couple more Olympics perhaps, and we're there.

Michael B

Steyn, Phillips and a few others - too few - lend sanity, depth and insight to an otherwise Stepford Wives, unthinking, uncomprehending and fearful-of-not-complying world.

Joshua

To add to the tragedy, the owner of perhaps the most important pro-Israeli blog has recently turned on many of his former allies including Melanie Phillips. And, as if this weren't enough, it now seems that one of the owners of an important pro-Israeli British blog has taken to mocking and attacking Ms. Phillips. It appears that Melanie Phillips will be treading an even lonelier path in future. 'Tis lucky for us, the vast majority of Jewish people in Britain who love and support her, that she is so very courageous.

Ian G

Steyn's article is brilliant, incisive and terrifying. We are sleepwalking towards destruction but are so frightened of being accused of shouting 'Fire' in a crowded theatre we have forgotten that there is, in fact, a major conflagration throwing its deadly sparks hither and thither.

Nannette

Joshua,

So many of us love our Mel, because she's actually stood up for us Jews and for Israel in a way that the politically correct Jewish organisations here won't do.

Of course they've got a beef with Melanie, but they're only cutting their own throats, because like ostriches, they'll bury their heads in the sand until it's far too late - much like the Jews in Germany in the 1930's.

This piece by Steyn is brilliant - it's just a shame that no British media will sign him on again... they're far too pc for that.

Go Melanie Go.... your supporters are behind you all the way.

An American

I've had the opportunity to listen to Mark Steyn when he is filling in for Limbaugh and have to say that I'm really impressed with him. Limbaugh sees the big picture while Steyn see the big picture along with all the nuances. He is incredibly perceptive.

Steyn's one very smart, articulate fellow. I just hope Americans will listen and learn.

Celina

Thank you Melanie. The truth is too uncomfortable for most people to see so they don't see it.
Keep up the good work.

Margaret Muller-Johansson

Any intelligent person will see that the Jewish are not respected in Britain, accept the sleep walking lefties who think Britain is the best country for the Jewish, the younger Jewish age 20, 30, 40 etc, what are you doing? you are busy having fun, going to the pubs, sitting around the parks, going to the theatres, schools, work work, shopping shopping, it is about a time the young British Jewish to wake up and study the SIDDURIM, Jewish prayer book

EscapeVelocity

Melanie, keep fighting the good fight. You and Mark Steyn have a power us smaller voices dont have...but you speak for us, and and we've got your back.

Carolyn

There are a few other blogs for those who treasure Melanie.One is
Atlasshrugs.com,another is Jihadwatch.com,which is a scholar of Islam, and who wrote "Stealth Jihad," an excellent primer, steynonline.com,
centerforsecuritypolicy.org,(headed by the fabulous Frank Gaffney),
frontpagemag.com,
YidwithLid.com,SultanKnish.com(I think, it's 'com'.).Don't miss Caroline Glick, who appears in the JPost.com on Fridays and Mondays, or Tuesdays.She,also, has a website, Caroline@CarolineGlick.com.She has a razor sharp analytical mind and is extremely well-connected.For expert analysis of anti-Semitism and the Muslims, also, see Andrew Bostom's blog.PJMedia.com has Michael Ledeen, another expert in Iran,
along with Phylis Chessler, Anne Bayefsky, Roger Kimball, and others.Rachel Erhenfeld is a forerunner and investigative journalist on terrorist funding and, I believe, it was she who exposed the UN's Oil for Food Scandal. Steve Rosen is exceptional as you may garner when reading Daniel Pipes' piece on him in the current issue of JPost.com.He has a blog and the info is in this Pipes' piece.Every one of these individuals is firstrate and pro-Israel and advocates for the Jewish People.

just Louise

Steyn used to write for the Daily Telegraph - how he's missed!
One of the flourishing Diaspora communities is Australia's - long may it remain so.
Is it any wonder that anti-Zionism is an almost Pavlovian response these days when the general public is faced with statements like this, on today's BBC website: "Before the creation of the state of Israel in 1948, up to 20% of the population of the Palestinian lands where Jesus Christ lived and died was Christian. That number has now dwindled to just two percent."
Whether sloppy reportage or a purposeful malevolent attempt to imply that the decrease in the region's Christian population is somehow Israel's fault, this is likely to have the latter effect. Note the misleading term "Palestinian lands" as well.
Is it any wonder, when faced with such language, and such hijacking of history, that the person in the street sees Israel as the big bad wolf? I hope the Beeb is taken to task.

Pete Hoskin

Joshua: would you mind sending an email to phoskin @ spectator.co.uk

I just have a small query. Thanks.

John Thomas

Thank you, Just Louise (8 May '09, 10:12). My attitude - if I may adapt an old phrase - is that if the BBC correspondent for the middle east, or something, said a dog had bit him, I'd want to hear the dog's story.

max

Quite right, Louise. I'd go for "sloppily malevolent", based on 20 odd years of listening to the bias in all its forms. To-day's morsel underlines the "sloppy". I've seen the "20%" but, at the same time, you'll also find "Figures from 1947 put the Christian population of what was then Palestine at 7.3% of the total. Now the Christian populations of the West Bank and Israel are both thought to be about 2%" on the BBC page headlined "Pope in the Holy Land: The Issues". And nary a mention of the precipitous decline of the Christian population of Bethlehem under Fatah domination.

Alex Bensky

Actually, Louise, there is one country in the Middle East where the Christian population is growing, albeit slowly. Hint: It's a small country on the coast, filled with a bunch of argumentative and quarrelsome people. And in the US when various Christian groups, like the Episcopalians and Presbyterians, decide to condemn someone in the area, it's also the country they pick.

Original Tony

Jenny 11:04 pm...I have to disagree with you this one time, the fate of the free world does not lie in America. It lies in Israel.

In the end, even America will finally turn on Israel and the final battle of the free world (good versus evil) will be played out on Israeli soil.

And I believe, Israel will be the victor.

Gil

For all the supporters of Israel who write here using religious/theological terminology or who believe Israel can do absolutely no wrong? Is there any room in the tent for Secular or atheist supporters of Israel, people who think that perhaps Israel itself has committed many misfeasances and delicts over the years and hasn't acted very wisely?

Stephen Rothbart

Yes Gil, there is. No one behaves well when fighting for their existence. Churchill bombed civilian cities in Germany, the USA used nuclear weapons on Japan. Yet many in the US and Britian condemn Israel even when they try very hard to avoid civilian casualties gets accused of war crimes.

I know many Israelis who condemn their own leaders, and many Jews who condemn Israel.
Of course, as the Mark Steyn piece points out, and he is not a Jew, the Islamic world has already won their argument for the secular soul, by a combination of intimidation and victimhood. This would not normally work excpet the target of their campaign is the Jew, and this finds a great deal of resonance in both the Christian and secular world.

Normally these people would take the side of a largely democratic, liberal people, who neither condemn women as second class subjects, nor put homosexuals on trial. But against the Jew, all that is forgiven.

This makes us Jews very paranoid. I feel that we are all talking to ourselves though, the list of commentators to Melanie's blog is the usual names, who have their usual positions.

So welcome to the blog. Bring it on. Don't expect many supporters of anti-Israel bias here, but you will find some dissenters and they will be usually extreme and gross in their blinkered defence of the indefensible.

In the end all we are asking is to be judged as others in the world are judged, and treated by the Press as any other nation in the world is treated.

But you would have to be totally blind to see that Israel is not. Just watch the Doha talks on the BBC. There is not an Arab crime against another Muslim that cannot be blamed on the Jew. This is funded by taxpayer's money including Jews who have to pay for the BBC by law.

You will find us embittered, defensive and in some cases blinkered against Israel's abuses, but we are literally coming to the point where we are frightened for our lives and the lives of our family.

Soon Europe will be a no-go area for us to live, and Israel a target. Once we could have looked to the US for support, but this new Messiah in the White House has forsaken us.

The prophecy was that the end of the world is going to arrive before the Messiah comes back.

Looks to me they had it the wrong way round!

Joshua

A correction

In my post above I spoke about a British blog that is pro-Israeli. I have now consulted the very highest authority and it appears that the blog in question is not, strictly speaking, pro-Israel at all and is much more concerned with combating Islamism and anti-Semitism. Even though I have grave doubts about that last, I stand corrected.

Original Tony

Gil 2:52pm...please explain what you mean by saying that Israel 'hasn't acted wisely'. What do you mean by that comment?

As to there being room here for atheists and secular people to comment, you must be new to this blog because most of the contributors are either atheist or agnostic or dont give a darn about the spiritual aspect of this conflict, which I personally believe is the key to everything that revolves around Israel, but it will be very late in the day when people finally acknowledge this I am afraid to say.

ahad ha'amoratsim

Gil, there is indeed "room in the tent for Secular or atheist supporters of Israel, people who think that perhaps Israel itself has committed many misfeasances and delicts over the years and hasn't acted very wisely?" Of course, much of what passes for wisdom today is based on faulty knowledge of Israel's history, or wishful thinking about the nature of Israel's enemies. That said, Israel is run by human beings who are by definition fallible, and many of her recent leaders have been more fallible than average.

Only a scoundrel or a maniac would believe that Israel's mistakes -- let alone her refusal to commit suicide -- justify eliminating the world's only Jewish state, terror attacks on her civilians, or violence and boycotts against Jews across the world.

The Steyn article in full is both incisive and terrifying. To be non-secular, we are believers who are the children of believers, and we have no one to lean on except our Father Who is in heaven.

I am amazed that the usual gang have not yet shown up yet on this thread to charge that Melanie is exaggerating or hysterical or that she, Steyn and the rest of us are all a bunch of bigots. How long until they appear?

AC

Phenomenal stuff from Steyn

An American

Gil,

Oh please...no one commenting here believes that every person or country is perfect or has made perfect decisions in the past or will in the future.

But, most of us do believe that Israelis have a right to live a peaceful life...to be left alone to simply live life....that's all, and its not much to ask for.

Gareth

As a non-Jewish, strictly neutral obsrever, I think it is high time Israel and its supporters stopped caring what the PC lefties think. Hit Iran with a couple of nuclear warheads, and then negotiate.

Jess

Stephen Rothbart-

Your comment regarding anti-semitisim resonating with christians has me somewhat baffled.
I'm an american, and the greatest supporters of Israel and the Jews are Christians. At least it's what I have noticed in the States.
BTW, I am catholic and support Israel fully.

Jenny

Gil: "Is there any room in the tent for Secular or atheist supporters of Israel, people who think that perhaps Israel itself has committed many misfeasances and delicts over the years and hasn't acted very wisely?"

Gil, there isn't a country in the world that has created Utopia, unless you've got one to hand to show us all?

I don't know everything about Israel myself but it seems conspicuously short of people wanting to slit as many throats as possible across the world until the world is subjugated to Judaism, unlike the 'oppressed' Palestinians who made this man their tribune Hamas MP Yunis Al-Astral (aired on Al-Aqsa TV on April 11, 2008):

"Allah has chosen you for Himself and for His religion, so that you will serve as the engine pulling this nation to the phase of succession, security, and consolidation of power, and even to conquests thorough da'wa and military conquests of the capitals of the entire world.

"Very soon, Allah willing, Rome will be conquered, just like Constantinople was, as was prophesised by our Prophet Muhammad. Today, Rome is the capital of the Catholics, or the Crusader capital, which has declared its hostility to Islam, and has planted the brothers of apes and pigs in Palestine in order to prevent the reawakening of Islam – this capital of theirs will be an advanced post for the Islamic conquests, which will spread through Europe in its entirety, and then will turn to the two Americas, and even Eastern Europe.

"I believe that our children or our grandchildren will inherit our jihad and our sacrifices, and Allah willing, the commanders of the conquest will come from among them. Today, we instil these good tidings in their souls, and by means of the mosques and The Koran books, and the history of our prophets, his companions, and the great leaders, we prepare them for the mission of saving humanity from the hellfire on the brink of which they stand."

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=x_qbKrOF64w

Spare me the sanctimony, Gil. Please.

Mishca

Gareth:
"Hit Iran with a couple of nuclear warheads, and then negotiate."

Im afraid that if Israel hit any Muslim nation with a nuclear warhead there would be no more Jews left to negotiate with.

Archie

As Melanie will be aware, the celebrated Mark Steyn's writings are hugely well thought of by most here, and he is sorely missed in the Speccer and The Telegraph to boot. l, as a lapsed Anglican, I have nothing but admiration for the State of Israel, its domestic and foreign policies; and God help us all if Israel is annihilated! Stephen Rothbart: I watched just one of the Doha Debates and was so repelled that I refuse to soil the telly with another!

Ganpat Ram

Am I not right that Muslim fundamentalism is biblical in origin - in that it springs from Muslims' fierce conviction in the Bible's injunctions against polytheism and idolatry? That Muhammad merely learned from the Bible?

In which case what is all the Chrristian and Jewish fear of Islam all about?

For some reason, whenever I try to post these obvious queries, the Spectator censor blocks me out.

Why?

Larry in Israel

I sit here in a cafe in Tel Aviv trying not to meditate on the future. I will not get married, I will not have children (I am in my late thirties) simply because I cannot protect them from a future where I fear the very worst. Commentators here may say that I should not think like that, and if all of Israel thought like that, then there certainly would be no future for us, and they would have a point.

And yet I cannot blind myself as so many Jews do to all the terrible signs (again!), hoping that somehow we will muddle through. Yet I will not leave (because life is not about playing it safe and it doesn't work anyway even if you try), it is not myself I worry about so much (or try not to at least). I see the young women here, the little children, and I think what is their future?

YA

..that is definitely not only about Jews. In my "standard" UK google, I look at headlines and.. - "US-Afghan probe: Civilians killed in US battle" and "Tributes to 'committed' Rifleman". The quotations used to describe a soldier killed by Taliban, and no quotaions when defining the same Taliban as "Civilians".

Also astounding view today at http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree - where the photograph of Al-Aqsa mosque carefully placed near the white-washed anemic British banner, and the photograpph of Pope, very thoughtfully attached to the sypathetic swine mug nearby.

..welcome to this shameful dhimmi cesspit everybody, it's you and me, here and now.

Bhaskar

Mark Steyn makes Barbara Amiel look like a bleading heart liberal (although some might say no one will make Amiel appear left liberal). There is something fake about Steyn since this hardened neo con is not even an American. He is a Canadian. Ever heard of a Canadian Neo con? We Know Conrad Black, Steyn's fellow Canadian waxed lyrical about Bush and his actions until the American incarcerated him. In the mean time Israel is not about to be anihilated by Iran. Obama is not bringing Western Civilisation down. Uk will not become an islamic state. Melanie, get a life! Go on a holiday, or for God's sake have some therapy (most charge £50 per hour). Both during the 1967 Arab Israel war and the Yom kipper war, the Western liberal left (including the much despised Guardian) were Israel's biggest supporters. Ever wondered why this is no longer the case?

Raymond Joseph Douglas

Larry in Israel. If I have any counsel to you at all, I would say this. If you find a good woman willing to marry you, then do it. ! Why deny yourself the love and companionship along with a family life, that marriage can bring ? I know life is uncertain. But I do know that he that holds the future, would not want you to live your life in fear !. God bless you !.

Marian C

Larry in Israel
May 9th, 2009 12:19pm

Larry I read your post, here in England, and felt rather sad that you should feel that way. Larry, can I say to you that there are no guarantees in this life and you cannot live your life in fear of what the future may or may not hold. Larry, if may be so bold, life is for living, it’s not a spectator sport; stop meditating and start living. Go out and meet some lovely lady, get married, have a family and stop dwelling on what may or may not happen. Good luck

Common Place

From the Telegraph 9 May 2009:

"I'm appalled at the anti-Wall Street rhetoric. It was OK on the campaign but now it's the real world. I'm surprised that Obama is turning out to be so left-wing. He's a real class warrior."

logdon

Howard Jacobson is really playing a blinder in this. He patiently rips apart all the hiding places these left wing bigots scurry to when accused of antisemitism. They always, always try the zionist/ordinary Jew schtic only this time they are well and truly rumbled.

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/howard-jacobson/howard-jacobson-a-letter-to-an-antisemite-who-isnt-1681843.html

Rose

Larry in Israel

You have touched people with your post. Mark Steyn's article is very perceptive and very true ,but there are greater truths. It will be very sad if you later in life regret missing out in the joys of marriage and children having had opportunities and rejected them.
Also family life is Eternal, and you can't prove it's not.You come from a family that goes back throughout many, many generations of time ,right back to the Beginning.Because of Adversity mortal life is a lot about suffering, but there are always opportunities for joy.

However, and wherever our spirits leave this mortal coil having eternal relationships with our families and friends is much of what it is all about.If you can find a righteous girl who you can live worthily of you will be Eternally Blessed.

aramkr

Bhaskar:
Steyn brings forth a giant and your response is to bring forth this mouse?

Noah Aaron Bashi

Larry, you have to get married a nice Jewish girl have a lot of children maybe 8 or 9 more is better, and don't worry in the future because G*d knows what is going to happen tomorrow, hopefully something good!

Chris H

What did you make of Max Hastings piece in yesterdays Guardian, Melanie?

nosmo29

Larry. It is a good job that not all Jews in Israel think as you do. In fact the Jewish birth rate there (at 20.4 per 1000)is the highest Jewish birth rate in the world and perhaps the highest birth rate in the developed world! Even non religious Jews have more babies than elsewhere in Israel - there must be something in the air there that encourages conception and allays fear for the future !

Rob-NY

Larry in Israel
Cheer up Larry. I share you age and your status. Don't use mid-east turmoil as an excuse to give up on life. That is a cop-out. If you carry on with this kind of thinking, you will not be sparing a family from disaster. You will only end up being a very old man all alone. Please reconsider. Israel is filled with beautiful and vivacious women. Pass me the numbers of those you don't fancy. lol

RobNY

Larry
As jocular Mark Steyn would suggest, do your patriotic duty and get out to those single bars and on your wedding night, close your eyes and think of Israel with some lovely Israeli woman. Now that should not be so difficult, should it?. Or as Bob Hope and Benny Hill would say "You have been fighting for peace so now get a piece of what you have been fighting for"

Groovy Times

To Stephen Rothbart, I agree with all you have said, articulate and from the heart my friend.

And Gil, are you exposing a prejudiced position here yourself? Believing that anyone who supports Israel must be motivated by some blinkered religious fanatacism?.

I think you will find the evangelism on this site comes from those who show a rabid and hysterical antipathy to Israel.