A voyager writes

Ian

On a one-way ticket I hope!

Harvey

Don't bother...

Adam B.

Come back soon Melanie, we need you!

Miv Tucker

What achingly witty and clever comments - Melanie, you deserve far better than these morons.

BJ

Please come back soon your blog always cheers me up in the morning.

Pat Conroy-Hargrave

When you finally come to rest, perhaps you can address the plight of the Christian community of Bethlehem, brought about - according to the Times report today - by the disgraceful actions of the Israeli security forces. Or would that be too much to ask at this time of the year?

Blue_and_White_Avenger

To: Ian and Harvey: As you're apparently incapable of contributing anything worthwhile here, please desist.

Englishman

Safe journey Mel. PS Mel, Tip - don't bother offsetting your so called "carbon emissions".I don't....

Joe

Sayonara Mel, don't hurry back. (I assumed that Craig Brown wrote this blog anyway?)

Ian

The Aliya is not worthwhile,Blue and White?

Laura

Oh diddums Ian and Harvey, the truth hurts sometimes, doesn't it? Bless you and your delusions.

Stuart

Pat Conroy-Hargrave, ah the old one's are the best. Every year we get "Israel nasty to Bethlehem Christians" and yet you don't seem concerened that the Christian Community of Bethlehem and other Palestinian towns has dwindled due to the attacks and intimidation by Islamists and Shariah Police. Anan Hashwari, a regular Palestinian member of Arafat's cadre hasn't volunteered anything for a few years now. Better to keep your head down than lose it!

Blue_and_White_Avenger

To Pat Conroy-Hargrave: I don't think that you seriously believe what you've written? The plight of Christians in the whole Middle East today is not a happy one. Back in 1995, after Oslo, Israel stupidly handed over Bethlehem to Arafat's thugs. What was a thriving Christian, frienly, town with an 80% Christian majority was soon turned into the wild west. Those Christians with money & foresight left; those who didn't were pushed out. There's now 20% of Christians in the area. In case you haven't noticed, Pat, whereas Arafat & his co-thinkers hate the Jews with a gut-searing hatred, they really don't like the Christians either. The same is true in Iraq and doubly so in Lebanon, where the PLO decimated the Christian community in the south. Have a look in the Edgware Rd, Bayswater, etc - there are more Lebanese Christians there than there are in Beirut! The only one place, I think in the whole of the M.E. where the Christian Community has grown is in Nazareth. Even there, because of a weak-kneed Israel government, Christians have been pressured by their loving Muslim neighbours!

Paul

Dear Pat Conroy-Hargrave, read this... http://www.melaniephillips.com/diary/?p=1441

Mike

Melanie: If I'd known you were travelling I could have recommended three or four books to accompany you. One is Emma Williams's 'It's Easier to Reach Heaven than the End of the Street'. Emma is an Englishwoman and writes of her experiencies living with husband and children in Jerusalem, and sharing day to day problems with Palestinian and Jewish friends. A powerful book which should be read by all with an interest in this city.

Ian

Walk the talk Laura!

Bob

Quote Blue & White Avenger: As you're apparently incapable of contributing anything worthwhile here, please desist. Was this really aimed at Ian and Harvey or at Melanie?

Ian

And Laura-Kassams are delusions?

Alan Stoddart

Ah the Liberal Left...any one who doesn't think or say what they want should go away or preferably be sent away to the Gulag...unless you tell people to kill Jews, Gays, apostates, women who have been raped...I'm sorry I mean women who have committed adultery, etc. Then you are welcome to roam the UK spouting/preaching tripe, probably get a government grant to help you integrate and feel part of this civilised society of ours.

Brian Pol

I'm genuinely interested in seeing your debunking of 'global warming' (please don't quote Tim Balls). I don't see this out of hostility but because as I said on your latest GW thread, you don't seem to be stupid, ignorant of the debate or being paid inordinate amounts of money by either side with lots to gain.

Andy Gill

Enjoy a good holiday, come back refreshed, and keep up the fight against Islamofascism. You have more friends than you know.

Max Kaye

Merry Christmas Melanie!

There are plenty of Christmas trees in Israel. Are there any at all to be seen publicly in Saudi Arabia?

Tiberius

How soon before Porky Pig lyrically posts, "Kill the wabbitt, kill the wabbitt". Isn't adult (even if humorous) discussion of these topics preferable to some of what we have above?

Mike

Max Kaye: There will be plenty of Christmas Trees in the Occupied territories, but sure as hell you would never see them from Israel unless you knocked a hole in that grotesque Wall!

BJ

As a matter of fact you would be able to see the trees in parts of the Occupied Territories from Israel because the Wall is not of course on the border.