This blog and (some of) its readers

Dr Martin Meenagh

I enjoy your views immensely Melanie, and though I do not always agree with you, this blog is thought provoking and valuable. If more people were as honest as you are about your views, and as committed to reason rather than simply parroting consensus, the country--the west--would be a better place. There is also absolutely nothing wrong with standing up for the state of Israel, whether one is Jewish or not. It is a defining issue. So, don't let them get to you Melanie--keep on going on, and keep on producing your brilliant polemics.

Damien

Melanie

I for one think what you report in your blog is absolutely splendid! If you want to spend a lot of time on Israel then that is fine by me. If others don't like it then why don't they just scroll past it?

P. Hayman

"Israel is the defining moral issue of our time"

Agreed. Keep going.

Peter Thompson

Well said. Hits the nail on the head exactly. Sadly the British political elite do not get it. An Obama Presidency will make Jimmy Carter look like a wise man (which of course he is not). What is depressing that politicians learn nothing from history.

Don Fattig

Your brave and intelligent voice standing against a growing anti-semitism in Britain (a British commission said this last year) is refreshing.
Don't let the PC squad get to you.
Many of us in America simply don't think that Barak Obama and his black muslim friends and associates share the same love of freedom that was founded here by white men from western European states. Most folks with other origins who came here have learned our values, assimilated, and made their own contributions. Barak is not a patriotic American, I think; he's more like his so-called minister, who damns and hates America.

Chris

Melanie - those who whine about your nailing of these particular concerns are just the usual suspects - islamist fellow travellers and useful idiots. Ignore them - the huge majority of us already do.

Adam B.

The Israel and West bashers resent that there is any dissenting voice from the liberal/left religion of the mianstream media outlets. That is why they are so vitriolic in their attacks (lots of insults without much substance). It is also why several of them visit this blog (they don't stumble on it by accident!)precisely because they have a problem with Israel and the West generally. Please keep up this vital work Melanie!

Levy

'... this is MY personal blog and it represents MY own views and interests and MINE alone. The Spectator very kindly hosts it on ITS website, thus choosing to give ME this splendid platform on which to air MY views -- for which I am very grateful. Nevertheless, the content of MY blog is wholly INDEPENDENT OF THE SPECTATOR, and it does not try to replicate THE MAGAZINE'S standpoint or ITS range of interests. People read MY blog because they are interested in what I have to say. If they are not interested, they need not read it.'

So nothing to do with the Spectator then, all this stuff we read here. Who the hell is sanctioning this? Why not have her open her own publication (let's say 'Melanie Phillips News' or 'The Melanie Phillips Chronicle')?

Harvey

"Israel is the defining moral issue of our time"

Agreed - I just draw a very different conclusion.

Simon

I'd like to complain that I suspect that pro-Mel bloggers are being given preference and space here when contrary views are being ignored and left out. I have noticed a number of similar intimations from other bloggers while the usual suspect crew of Mel supporters always get their views aired.

Alcuin

I see your post on Obama has 150 responses, which I have not read as I thought the point about his cynical positioning (posturing, more like) was pretty obvious. I hope the Paxmen of the US media pull his flaky position apart.

Re Israel. In 1945, the world was dominated by what is now referred to as "the West", and what are now described as "Western values" were then thought of as universal values, formulated in the UDHR. Muslim countries have very successfully challenged this position, supported by oil wealth and quite unscrupulous propaganda, much of which is blatant lies, far too often uncritically sucked up by Western media and armchair "intellectuals".

We are already in WW4 - the fact that it is not a hot war does not mean that it is not a desperate struggle for the soul of humanity. But there are places where it is hotter than others, and riding point for our side is Israel. Some may not view our current situation this way, but if you do, you must take sides, as Islam does not take prisoners, and Israel is on "our" side. Criticise their behaviour, by all means, but not their right to exist, which is all that Zionism (a term much reviled among the Left) means.

In such criticism, it is important to realise that faced with the existential threat and quite extraordinarily virulent hatred that Israel does, any democracy would behave in much the same way, and much of the "holier than thou" criticism (i.e the vast majority) is as deeply cynical as was criticism of British behaviour in Ulster.

You can gather from this that I fully support Melanie's vehement defence of Israel. I also support her right to express denial of climate change, with which I strenuously disagree.

Harvey

I was going to naff off but Don Fattig cannot pass without comment...'

Many of us in America simply don't think that Barak Obama and his black muslim friends and associates share the same love of freedom that was founded here by white men from western European states'.

Ohhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

Black as well, are they?

'the same love of freedom that was founded here by white men from western European states'

That would be the founding fathers? A bunch of slaveowners?

Says it all really...

Barrie

A key contradiction is Obama's confusing new 'pro-Israel' stance, while his official website publishes anti-semitic trash regualrly. Check it out.
The guy's a phony.

Cohen

If you don't like (some of) the bloggers, don't do the blog. I'm afraid that's what happens in discussions, people agree and (even) disagree and in different ways. You'd make a good bolshevik, pity you weren't around in the twenties and thirties.

Verity

Melanie has had her blog from long before it was hosted at The Speccie, and her concerns and focus have never wavered.

People should restrain themselves from being amazed that she has kept her gaze steady during these years.

Bogdan of Australia

100% support from Australia!!!

Mark H

Melanie is BRILLIANT! I just can't disagree with any of it... its amazing, I understand Mels thinking more than I do my partners!? you free for drink Mel? ;0) PS: Run for PM ..SOON!

Frank Pulley

You got the whip hand, gal. Keep floggin' and bloggin'. The negative reponse from the trolls is a clear indication that you are gaining ground. The vast majority of positive comment is surely reassuring? Good of you to take the time to clarify your manifesto, though, as I already nominated you for the shadow Home Secretary's job. Dave's been too busy to respond as yet. :-)

Leslie

Levy and Cohen,don't lose your soul to gain the world.

Michael B

This blog reflects some of the finest expressions in the blogosphere and in media in general. It lends a consistently cogent, coherent and unbeguiling quality to some of the most important issues of our day, our era; it lends depth and scope in areas that are too often rendered in a surface level manner or even in a mendacious and malevolent manner, often enough by the status quo within the MSM (whether naively or otherwise is difficult to say at times); this blog consistently enjoins discussions on a level that reflects a comprehension and empathy for a variety of other views, without losing focus upon a better sense of proportion and prioritization and scale; it also reflects an appreciation of the balance within the idealism/realism nexus and divide, a particularly critical juncture any time, but especially so during a time that is largely defined by poorly rooted ideological enthusiasms, some of which reach religious and quasi-religious levels of enthusiasm and dogmatism or unreflective certitude.

As to Israel being the defining moral issue of our time, I would place only a slightly different emphasis upon that subject. In regards to some noteworthy particulars Israel most certainly is the defining moral issue of our time, antiSemitism in its sui generis, late modern form is the most prominent example. But Israel also reflects some broader, geo-political issues of our day that are not at all so specific to Israel and Jewish communities. For example, the issue of national identity and sovereignty, conceived within better proportioned, classical liberal categories and definitions.

More succinctly put, keep up the thought provoking, probing and probative work, it's easily among the finest and better written in the 'sphere.

Brian O'Connor

Levy wrote:

So nothing to do with the Spectator then, all this stuff we read here. Who the hell is sanctioning this?

Hosting and sanctioning are two different things.

Why not have her open her own publication (let's say 'Melanie Phillips News' or 'The Melanie Phillips Chronicle')?

Irrelevant — and worse, downright dumb. Why not have your grandmother open her own website so you can have your say there?

Tas Walker

Good on you, Melanie.

Brian O'Connor

Simon wrote:

I'd like to complain that I suspect that pro-Mel bloggers are being given preference and space here when contrary views are being ignored and left out.I have noticed a number of similar intimations from other bloggers while the usual suspect crew of Mel supporters always get their views aired.

Factual error first: her supporters don't always "get their views aired." I've had a few posts, ones supportive of Mel's position, not appear. I am a strong supporter of her.

More general point. This is a post hoc, ergo propter hoc logical fallacy.

I'll not embarrass you publicly. You may consult this site for an explanation of what you're unknowingly doing: http://tinyurl.com/6nq68v

Brian O'Connor

Harvey wrote:

That would be the founding fathers? A bunch of slaveowners?

Says it all really...

I'm not sure what you mean when you say: "Says it all really..."

Could you please elaborate?

George Steiner

The people who run the Spectator are not fools. By having Ms Phillips as one of the three, they are assuring a larger readership for the magazine. I for one have a quick look at other things as well, while I am here. I must tell you that the other two bloggers are featherweights in comparison.

Kevin O'Malley

I read your blog daily. I am a resident of Chicago. I first learned of Barack Obama's connection with Rev. Wright from your blog. This is a credit to you. It is a discredit to our local compliant media.

Ozzie Phil

You go, Girl. We in this part of Oz think you're a gem. Keep the bastards honest.

rudolph camillo

melanie ,re your article defending your repeated stance pro the jews, i hope you keep at it and dont be discouraged. appropos the dissenters and the left wing media, there is an old german proverb which says that against stupidity, even the gods are powerless...regards

Geoff Miller

Melanie, you are quite right to say that it is completely legitimate for you, as a Jew, to speak out for your own people.

As an Englishman I too reserve the right to speak out, and defend, my own.

Unfortunately you and I are members of two groups of people who, uniquely it seems, are denied that right by the left, marxists, liberals, socialists, multiculturalists - whatever you want to call them.

The people who, despite the proliferation of titles, represent a narrow section f society and yet hold sway over it.

All other ethnic and religious groups are encouraged to celebrate promote and defend their cultures but if I, as a native English Christian or you as a British Jew speak out for our interests, culture, religion we are shouted down.

Racists, b*stard race (in the case of the English), thugs, monocultural, boring, evil, slavers, moneylenders etc etc.

Dont worry though - we are all waking up.

From my English perspective I can say that the more alien cultures are forced upon us and we see the consequences of multiculturalism, mass immigration and Islamism we are begining to resist.

The ballot box is but one avenue for us. We should learn some lessons from the left - and employ them.

paul almond

I love this woman!

A Chaffey

I wouldn't accept that what is on this blog is "wholly independent of the Spectator". The Spectator publishes it. If there are libels, I don't believe they could hide behing MP. Likewise if anything falls foul of the PCC code, that will I think be a matter for the Spectator.

Martin Wickens

A friend introduced me to Melanie's articles several years ago and I have enjoyed them ever since.

It is refreshing to see honest, intellectual and well written articles.

Roy

With you all the way.

beedeekay

"If I am not for myself, then who will be for me? And if I am only for myself, then what am I? And if not now, when?"

Or, if not Melanie, who does speak for Israel and indeed the Jewish people. The BBC? The Guardian? The Independant? I don't think so. Apart from one or two brave individuals such as Michael Gove, there is no one out there with the courage to put the case for Israel in the face of the mass of lies and distortions that appear daily elsewhere.

Melanie - you are doing a fantastic job and all of us, Jewish or not, who care for truth and freedom owe you a huge debt of gratitude.

Otepoti

Since your posts attract huge numbers of comments, would you please add a function by which they can be read in ascending or descending order?

Charles

'.. canary in the mine..' etc., I don't think so.

Surely, Israel is a semitic homeland for a semitic people living alongside semitic neighbours. That is, I believe, how the modern-day incarnation was conceived. Not as a colonial outpost for Western democratic people and values in the Middle East. That really would be a crazy idea.

If Israel stands for "truth", "freedom", "liberty", "justice" and "reason" then it has been a singularly ineffectual beacon for these values in the Middle East. Indeed, since Israel's creation, it would seem that the Muslim countries within the region have actually gone significantly backwards if measured against these criteria.

If what Melanie is proposing is more of the same, then don't expect things to get any easier for any of us, Israel included.

cjcjc

The Spectator is a private newspaper which can host whomsoever it likes.

I, for one, am glad it chooses to host Melanie - even though I often do not agree with her.

Yet another Dave - not that one

Dear Melanie,
Your blog is needed because you DO raise issues like anti-semitism, drugs and the great global warming scam which are air-brushed out of the picture by the msm. Your masterly use of facts to cut through spin and dogma is fairly unique in the UK and which I liken to a "daisy cutter" bomb. Indeed, you are the proverbial diamond shining out of the camel's a*se that is the Daily Mail. My American friends have also described you as "right on the money." You are prolific but slightly less would actually be more. On some domestic social issues I think that you sometimes write from too lofty a viewpoint. The conduct of your most avid supporters on this blog ranges from petty to downright nasty and detracts from YOUR message. I don't think that the comments section adds anything to your work but if you insist then give the Speccy a break and do not post just before the weekend. This will not only prevent their system resources being overburdened but it might help some commentators to "get out more" which can only be good.

Shalom!

N. Simon

Fourth, the suggestion that it is somehow illegitimate for a Jew to write in defence of Israel is in itself highly unsavoury...Exactly the same charge was levelled in the 1930s against those Jews who (vainly) tried to wake the world up to the dangers of Nazism.

Melanie, you're spot on (as always) - and shouldn't have to defend yourself against these detractors, who are so happily looking the other way when it comes to the issues of the genocides in Sudan, Congo, etc. And who are also happy to ignore the issue of the Jewish refugees from Arab countries - because it doesn't suit their anti-Israel, antisemitic agenda.

We have to continue to try and show the world the truth, which many of them don't like. They don't want facts or historical truths, they just want to propagate the fabrications which are contributing to their own moral bankruptcy and clouded vision.

Let's face it, even the left wing Jewish Chronicle is more concerned with pro-Palestinian issues than Jewish ones these days. I really don't understand why anyone bothers to buy it.

Keep up the good work Mel, WE NEED YOU!

GNO

Melanie, you are the essential counterweight to the bias of the BBC, CNN and other cringingly sycophantic organisations enamoured by every thing Islam, Obama, the EU/UN and the environment.

I may not agree with every thing you say, but on the whole, if it weren't for you, I for one would not have been alerted to the insidious bias of the media towards Palestine/Arabs or to the plight of Jewish school children, who in this day and age need police protection to attend their schools, or to the ugly raise of anti-Semitism in the West, or the despicable support for Hamas and Hezbollahs on our campuses and many more such issues that are completely ignored by our politicians and MSM.

It is you and blogs like "BBC Bias" that restores this balance. You are necessary in order to breathe life in the freedom of speech that would otherwise be stifled under the weight of appeasement, threats, propaganda and self-censorship imposed by the Fascist Left.

I honestly believe that we are fighting a war for our civilisation - a war that our politicians, BBC and other MSM would not let us dare name.

Hats off to you for your courage and conviction.

Charlene Hale

Just a quick line of support. Your journalism is of an excellent quality, sadly lacking in so much of the current day journalists such as Tim Butcher et al. I have just neared the end of a book titled 'Selected to live' by Johanna-Ruth Dobschiner. And that really does bring home to you the cold hard reality of how evil can operate in a society. It is time for the world to wake up. Another excellent book is 'The Shackled Warrior' by C Glick. How lies and prejudices are abounding in these times. For those who think the Saudis et all are so wonderfull ho hum who is controlling the price of crude oil at present an all time high which is causing untold hard ship to the average western citizen. So much for the protocols of zion. Wakey wakey it is the calliphate in waiting beware and be warned.

phil

Melanie -LIKE DR M M (FIRST POST) I do not always agree with everything you write but I know you write with passion and honesty and it gives me a clarity of thought that I might otherwise not have .We also read posts from people who would not always see the light of day anywhere else-like the one masquerading as Levy here.harvey and patricia-this shows that we are a free press and your views are necessary in an increasing anti Jewish world .I applaud the Spectator for hosting this blog which is contrast to the columns from the likes of robert fisk in the independent-it is a necessary balance to that kind of thought ,so I hope you will continue for many years to come -It is obvious already from the numerous posts this morning that your work is valued highly and lastly it gives me a chance to air my own views sometimes serious and occasionally humorous (I hope) like your own nobody is forced to read them .

MD

Charles hankers for the days of King Faroukh and King Saud. Is it really Israel's fault that other countries in the region no longer have colossi of their ilk defending truth, liberty, freedom, justice and reason? Or could it be something in Islamic culture that stops many from recognising the reality of Israel's values, their robustness when things go wrong, even the legal reality of the State of Israel?
Keep it up Melanie. You are a one person counterpoint to the BBC, Guardian and Independent. Quality will out.

MD

Charles hankers for the days of King Faroukh and King Saud. Is it really Israel's fault that other countries in the region no longer have colossi of their ilk defending truth, liberty, freedom, justice and reason? Or could it be something in Islamic culture that stops many from recognising the reality of Israel's values, their robustness when things go wrong, even the legal reality of the State of Israel?
Keep it up Melanie. You are a one person counterpoint to the BBC, Guardian and Independent. Quality will out.

Robin

For me, this blog is required reading and Melanie's views almost always scratch me where I itch.

If labels are of any value, I would label myself as a born-again, evangelical, Bible-believing Christian. Nothing that Melanie says about the Jews and Israel differs from my own views.

Write on, Melanie.

D Gray

Look,as far as I am concerned Melanie you must defend the Jewish people and Israel,and every day if needs be.The tragedy is that you HAVE to do it at all and this is because of the collosal venom directed at Israel from almost every part of the media and beyond.Had the media coverage been totally balanced and without spite then you would perhapes not need to fight a constant rear guard action against this rising venom.Israel is under real threat every day from hatred and violence via the murderous islamic fanatics.You are brave and committed to seeing off the threat not only to Israel but to the UK and for that we say thank you.God only knows there are precious few who have the guts to stand up against the threat.Maybe its because you are Jewish that you can relate directly to how threats {if not taken seriously} can escalte into mass murder and war.The Jews said they would never again be persecuted and murdered the way they were during the hell of WWII.So people had better get used to the Jews showing what they are really made of...they are not some bunch of pathetic cowards to be bullied and persecuted back into gas chambers.They have proven that they have the hearts of Lions which of course id why islamists hate Jews.The Jews wont play ball,they are not falling into their percieved historical role where they can be rounded up and masacared with a peep.

Those days are long gone {if they ever really existed at all} and Melanie is just one soldier doing her best for her people.I have written a couple of e-mails to Melanie in the past concerning a few comments she has made and we have had a little 'spat' over it.But its not really important if you have eyes to see the bigger picture....Melanie keeps our eyes on the ball.Keep at it soldier.....KEEP AT IT.

Joshua

"Apart from one or two brave individuals such as Michael Gove there is no one out there with the courage to put the case for Israel"

There's also Andrew Roberts:

Happy birthday, Israel and Shalom

http://tinyurl.com/43qfh3

Nigel Hamley

You are right Chaffey. This country no longer has freedom of expression thanks to the sh**s who have governed us over the last 60 years

Hereford

BRAVO!

john doe

Keep up the good work Melanie. I really appreciate your blog and read it regularly. I do not agree with your approach to drugs but am in complete accord with you over Israel, radical Islam, and global warming.
Your fifth point and last paragraph above is stupendous and captures the essence of our present global predicament.

Joao Costa

Melanie,

As far as I am concerned, you can write about anything and I will gladly read!

You are one of the best voices of conservative thought not only in the UK, but in the whole world. Please, keep up the good fight.

Kind regards

Joao

Paul L

Hear hear!

This blog is one of the few mainstream antidotes to the self-loathing, totalitarian, Guardian/BBC 'consensus' mindset that runs the media and public life/spending in this country.

Nice Jewish Girl

Keep going Melanie! Your diary/blog is essential reading!

Kevyn Bodman

Melanie,
I do not agree with you on everything but you are the finest columnist writing today.
Clear thinking, clear writing and always a pleasure to read.

Rod Hull's Emu

Levy (June 9th, 2008 12:14am), many publications host writers who do not see eye to eye with each other. Sometimes the differences will be mild, at other times it will be much stronger than that.

Over the last few decades, print publications have become much more open to offering very different points of view. This trend has become even more pronounced in the blogosphere.

Does anyone really think this magazine would have the readership it does if it was a hymn sheet? That’s the whole point of magazines like this, surely? To exchange and discuss views?

The Spectator is hardly unique in this respect. Someone here has mentioned the Jewish Chronicle, which as Melanie’s readers know, she writes for once a month. That publication ran a piece a while back by another regular columnist, Jonathan Dweeb-man, entirely devoted to an attack on Ms Phillips. What’s uniform about that in terms of the paper’s identity?

The same is true of national newspapers and other journals. Columnists within the same publication are allowed to do battle over any number of issues.

(May I emphasise that I didn’t object to the Jewish Chronicle letting Mr Verybland spew his tripe. If it was not immediately apparent for the A-grade twaddle it was, Ms Phillips had her right of reply in her column the week after.)

Cohen (June 9th, 2008 12:43am), those who wish to attack the idea of Israel’s existence are not being gagged on this blog as is well apparent, it’s just that many of these attacks are so sustained, I suspect that Ms Phillips just decided to spell out a few fundamentals.

As for A Chaffey, June 9th, 2008 7:13am, er, yes, we know hosts are responsible for libel and breaches of the PCC code. What’s the law that says that all their writers have to hold the same views, though?

And do tell me, too, the last time Melanie was successfully sued for libel or successfully admonished by the PCC. What a pompous, stupid comment.

Says Charles: “If Israel stands for "truth", "freedom", "liberty", "justice" and "reason" then it has been a singularly ineffectual beacon for these values in the Middle East.” Really? Funny that it’s the only fully functioning democracy out there. Why’s that? Or are we not allowed to go there for all the home truths it would involve?

Dee Ranged

Melanie - do keep it up!

There's a Churchillian dimension to this.

'We shall fight on the seas and oceans,
we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be,
we shall fight on the beaches,
we shall fight on the landing grounds,
we shall fight in the fields and in the streets,
we shall fight in the hills;
we shall never surrender.'

Thom

You wont hear any complaints from me Mel; I agree with you fully that Israel is the touchstone for our generation as to whether you support a return to barbaric times or further enlightenment; this doesn't mitigate Israel from ALL criticisms (such as those I would level against the left-leaning Ehud Olmert) but does give it a status aboves others.

The only real criticism I have Mel is your support for 48-days; this is by far the most inexplicable aspect of your blog and should be eroded by the same good reasoning that guides your other comments.

London Calling

You are entitled to your views Melanie, as we are entitled to ours, and if at times we disagree, then that’s OK to, that’s what a Democracy is, we discuss it, we listen, we learn, we try to understand, or we remain strong to our own convictions, truths or beliefs.

In many of your posts there has been a trail by participants who accuse others of being Trolls or Anti Semitic or grammatically incorrect etc, and it is personal and offensive and unnecessary and I do not understand why you allow this to continue as it not only derails the discussion it serves no purpose whatsoever in my view.

One of the main reason I admire you Melanie, is that you express yourself so well in writing and I agree with you on many issues.

In the past I have put forward many points where I have felt a need for balance, not so much with your views but with others posting their comments, and if I was to put forward any constructive Criticism with regards to your posts on Jews, it would be that you do not criticise Jews, and this sometimes confuses me considering your Liberal views, for instance, you are willing to say what is wrong or right within Britain and Western values, yet no mention of the corruption within Israeli politics or the Russian Jews being stripped of their Judaism in Israel or the fact that Jews who accept Jesus as the Messiah but still practice their Jewish faith are being persecuted by other Jews in Israel and are accused of trying to convert other Jews.

My point is, when you say all Jews are being attacked, you are making quite an assumption which
stereotypes all Jews and this is not the truth in my view, when one looks at the facts and fractures within Jewish society I mention above, and as many people from all around the world read your post’s and respect your views, I think it is important to remember that other people see only your view and this could be also seen as biased if you remove parts that are deemed to unimportant to mention, when in fact it is essential to any debate.

With Respect.

logdon

I agree absolutely with Melanie's comments but why do my responses never appear? Verity mentioned this last week and since then I posted a couple to disappear into the ether. Either this spot is for fair and free speech or it's not. If not a complete waste of time and a falling into the very trap's it lambasts! Maybe I'd be better responding to BBC blogs!

Richard Koeppel

This is ight on, and is your forte. Keep it up.

Verity

2:04 pm Levy, who thinks it might be a good idea for Melanie to have a blog independent of The Speccie, Melanie Phillips must be new to you. She had an independent blog for years -melaniephillips.com, in case you want to check the site. I believe she was the first major British journalist to start her own blog. So she was way ahead of the game. Since being hosted by The Spectator, her focus and the quality of her writing have not been compromised one whit.

Rich Harris

Your voice is clear and welcome. I read you almost every day.

Brian

Bravo Melanie!

You are the the most sensible voice in the media. I try to read everything that you write because there are precious few other sane voices that fight for the Jewish people, for Israel and who have the wisdom and courage to defy the 'Emperor With No Clothes' global warming religion that nearly everyone else in the media seems to accept without question.

Melanie's writing is like a beacon in the dark and largely dishonest world beyond its light.

As to Simon:
June 9th, 2008 12:21am
(quote)'I'd like to complain that I suspect that pro-Mel bloggers are being given preference and space here when contrary views are being ignored and left out. I have noticed a number of similar intimations from other bloggers while the usual suspect crew of Mel supporters always get their views aired.'(unquote)

Although I am 'Brian' I am not the 'Brian O'Connor' who has commented already above - he also quotes what you have said Simon.

As I am sure Melanie could confirm, I have in fact complained to her twice that comments I have submitted have failed to appear. Given that I consider myself an utterly devoted fan of her writing (and only rarely disagree with anything she says - although it does happen sometimes) it is by no means a certainty that one of my pro-Melanie comments is going to appear. I have to accept that maybe something I said was potentially unsuitable, perhaps for legal reasons, but never for a moment have I imagined your sort of inferences into this failure to appear.

This, as Melanie rightfully says above, is her Diary and her blog, and if she wants to defend or attack those things that she chooses to defend or attack then I would have thought that is her perogative.

Melanie, keep up the fantastic work; don't let pro-jihadi lefties, anti-Jewish and anti-Israel mongers or any of your other enemies and detractors stop you from being the courageous, brave and often lonely truth-teller that you are.

The late jazz trumpeter and radio host Humphrey Lyttleton once wrote an auto-biographical book called (I seem to recall) 'I Play as I Please' - it would make an apt title for your ethos Melanie.

Thank you for giving us your voice!

BRAVO!

Dr Michael Grave

Melanie, the issue of Israel is central. Thank you for your courage and your intellectual clarity. And well done for (typically) having the balls to run this piece.

N Campbell

Brilliant -- We love you here in the States. If the local folks do not appreciate your insight/thoughts, you will always be welcomed here. Cheers.

Pete Hoskin

logdon: apologies, we've been having trouble with the comments software recently, which - as the tech people tell me - may or may not have something to do with pop-up blockers.

If you ever have trouble getting a comment up on the site, you can always e-mail it to me on phoskin at spectator.co.uk and I'll put it up manually for you. Hope that helps!

Tim M

Melanie

I know how it feels to live under the barbarism of the iranian islamic theocracy, so as an iranian muslim apostate you have my eternal gratitude for your bravery.

Michael Taylor

Melanie,
Your time is limited and valuable, and I'm sure there must be many of us Brits who desperately value your work, and who therefore get impatient when so much of your time and effort goes into Jewish issues. For me, the fight is right here, right now, and I'd rather have you helping lead the charge here than off standing picket duty in Israel. It's not clear to me why you think Israel is, or should be, the defining issue for me. Barbarism is deeply, broader and so much more present in my everyday life than anti-Semitism.

On the other hand, it's your blog and you can and should write what you damned well please. I'll be reading, anyway.

S Brown

Amazing the amount of people who literally go out of their way to come here to be upset by Melanie...

Wouldn't they be happier on "Comment is Free" (sic) where they could indulge their anti-Jewish fantasies ad infinitum?

As for me, keep up the good work Mel! You're sorely needed.

Laura

Brava, Ms. Phillips. Love your blog, by the way.

Edward Beaman

Without the strong voices of Melanie Phillips and Douglas Murray, I fear Britain would be lost.

She is a British gem and can't wait to see her on the likes of 'Question Time' again.

canon alberic

Melanie
I often disagree with your opnions, but I love your writing for that reason as much as for its acuity and style. You are in my view absolutely right about the status of Israel as one of the dominant issues of our time (surely not as crucial as the tension between modern secular empiricism and values derived from the sacred) , and it is always shocking to see it expose deep seated and reflexive anti-semitism.
Obama has to be good news though doesnt he?

Andy Gill

Well said Melanie. The torrent of anti-Israel propoganda we see in the MSM, and the anti-semitism spreading like a cancer in British universities needs to be challenged and exposed.

The cowardice of the liberal left in confronting these issues, and their fawning connivance with the Islamist agenda is sickening to behold.

J. Isaacs

Well done Melanie Phillips. The numbers of comments on almost every one of your posts on any subject demonstrates to everyone just how popular and widely read you are. Your superstar popularity is also, doubtless, a knife in the hearts of your detractors.

Louise

Melanie, for telling things as they are, for clearly and courageously articulating the case for Israel in these perilous insane times, you have no need to justify yourself or apologise to anybody. You would only need to do so if you stopped being a beacon of light amid the anti-democratic, anti-Israel darkness. Continue to be true to yourself and to the cause, which although some may have trouble comprehending such is the West's no less than Israel's. You are an inspiration!

John

Melanie, you're wonderful. However, I still don't understand why you couldn't contribute to an independent news and current affairs broadcasting channel to act as a counterpoint to the left-wing BBC. Such a balance is desperately neded in the UK.

nbittner

Melanie, All the reasons you outlined above are exactly the reasons I have your blog on my RSS feed. I need a different opinion than the intellectually bankrupt nonsense that comes out of most US journalists. And I especially need a voice in the UK that speaks honestly of the conditions of this some time friend of the US.

Shaun Pilkington

I disagree with you on almost every tangible subject (cannabis - I am an MS sufferer who finds it helpful to such an extent I could bore your hind legs off before you could point to a gurning chav on pot, the war(s) and so on) but I was fortunate enough to have had a History teacher at school who instilled in me the value of always reading things you disagree with. Which is why I read your blog - its always useful to challenge one's own preconceptions.

With that in mind, I feel you can and indeed should, write about whatever you like. If some people find it a bit one-note, well sod them. It's still (more or less) a free country - they don't have to read it!

Herbert Eiteneier

>Israel is the defining moral issue of our time.<
That's something I like to emphasize.
But I believe it's also the religious issue of our time. And, unfortunately, many leaders of the big churches all over the world don't get it, I might say.

Ann

"the usual suspect crew of Mel supporters always get their views aired"

Factually untrue. How do you know how many of my posts have failed to see the light of day, just as a fr'instance?
The number of posts from the usual crew of Jew-bashers proves that your complaint has no leg to stand on. And we know why you made it.

Mel, it is superfluous for me to say how much I admire your stand for reason and truth in the face of an avalanche of lies and hatred, but I am saying so anyway.

Ann

"since Israel's creation, it would seem that the Muslim countries within the region have actually gone significantly backwards if measured against these criteria"

Not even true, but even if it were, blaming Israel is a logical fallacy. It's not Israel's responsibility to change things in the countries that attack her.

I just loved the post that accused Melanie of being a Bolshevik for allowing the writer's bile to be posted on her blog!

phil

Logdon switch your pop up blocker to "okay" andI think it will work -I had a problem some time ago and its ok now

---and for those that think they get moderated because they dont agree with we Melanie fans ,I have to say I have been moderated ,thankfully, on occasion ,usually when I get fed up with patricia and her pals .Its not Melanie doing the moderation its Pete "wot dus it" and I must say he has saved me from myself on occasion . This is the most moderate of sites and sometimes I wonder why they tolerate the extreme views of the "dissenters" and I have to say some of the defenders -rock on Melanie !!!

Ann

Rod Hull's Emu: I don't read the JC, but would be interested in a summary of the attack on MP(unless it's on the website). I have my own suspicions as to what might have been said, knowing a little about some of the stuff written in the JC in the past, but please could you enlighten me? Thanks.

Commondog

Melanie.

Have a heart.

Put yourself in their place. They are on the back foot and trying to defend their spent and crumbling ideas. They can't and it hurts them.

You are getting it very, very right.

I can't believe you're not secretly encouraged by your notoriety in the eyes of these people.

You say what matters, when not many do.

You're winning.

Keep singing.

Mr H

I read your blog when you hosted it yourself.

I don't always agree with you, but I always respect that you are honest to the truth as you see it.

You shine a light for all.

Pity some won't see it.

phil

Ann I assume I along with you will be one of the usual suspects that simple simon referred to .so may I say to you that if your quote ---"Mel, it is superfluous for me to say how much I admire your stand for reason and truth in the face of an avalanche of lies and hatred, but I am saying so anyway."---- would be your future style I would be a fan of yours ,rather than a critic .we may have different ways of expressing ourselves but we ARE on the same side.,and this time you have said it beautifully .

George of Currumbin

A farmer knows how to prepare his field for planting.
Islamists prepare the ground so that when they invade, they meets little or no resistance -like Hitler in the invasion of Austria.
That preperation is the constant coercion and subversion of western society to accept that Islam is superior and supreme in western eyes. So that they will bow and accept their status as untermensch or dhimies when the day comes.
Israel is the testing laboratory for the acceptance of Islamic propaganda vis a vis the Western democracies.The more the media and public accept without question, the lies and distortions of islamic propaganda against Israel, the more the fields of democracies are ready to accept the poison seeds they plant.
That is why Melanie's work is so important. There should be hundreds like her fighting the leftist dupes and their masters. But there aren't.

Lynne T

If some of the bloggers who protest that Melanie protesteth too much about the rise of antisemetism and Israel's right to exist unmolested within its border, were as vigilant in protesting all the usual suspects at such sites as CiF, she wouldn't have to speak out as strongly and frequently as she does about those causes.

Joe Strummer

Maybe its pointing out the bleedin' obvious...but why shouldn't Melanie Phillips defend her religion, cultural dentity and heritage when it is being maligned and slandered on an almost daily basis.

Being of Ulster Protestant descent myself and therefore also not on the " most favoured group" list of the British liberal Establishment and its satellite press and media, I know exactly where she is coming from, why she does what she does, and support her wholeheartedly.

J. Isaacs

Ann. You don't read the JC. You really should. This week's front page has the headline caption, "How an unemployed ex-mayor cheers himself up" over a photograph of ex-mayor of London Ken Livingstone, who has made a number of uncomplimentary comments to and about Jews, reading-The JC. You can find Melanie Phillips' reply to Jonathan Freedland on Melanie Phillips' own published articles archive. I am not sure how to find his piece on the web.

Gareth

Quite right Melanie. Since 9/11 I have gradually become more Zionist than the (British) jews. When people understand that the arab-Israeli conflict is a genocidal jihad, they will understand the threat to Britain and the rest of Europe.

Wilf

Barbarism versus civilization. Nothing more, nothing less.

Where would we be without you? You and Janet Daley are my greatest heroines.

I don't know how you stand up to the strain. I worry for you sometimes.

But, this time, I think we are winning. Due, in no small part, to those like you.

A thousand thankyous and may you live forever.

Will

I do not like Melanie Phillips as a commentator due to her daily mail-esque, hysterical, uncompromising ranting even agaisnt reasonably minded people, I assume because she just wants to silence them. I notice that almost all the postings here sing abundant praise in her favour so I must be in the minority. Then again, I've posted two comments during the course of the day and neither has been published. I wonder how many other like-minded people have been eliminated from the debate as well and why. Propaganda perhaps.

Steve

How many of you are actually one and the same person? Ann to answer first.

N. Simon

Will thinks Melanie wants to silence his opinions. He's wrong - he's been allowed to voice his opinion on this blog! Try putting a valid pro-western, pro-Israel opinion on MPACUK or the the BBC and then see what censorship truly is.

Has he spoken out against the pro-Islamists trying to silence free speech not just in the UK, but in the rest of Europe and the USA?

Simon J Ferguson

Well said Melanie - don't shut up. regards

Reid of America

Thanks for blogging Melanie. You have fans all over the planet and possibly beyond the confines of earth.

Live long and propser \//

Graham James

Keep on speaking the truth our Mel and send those darned lying leftists/Islamists home to roost. Thank you for exposing them at all times. Shalom and God Bless you.

Rob-NY

Thank you a million times Melanie for keeping this point of view viable and out in front in your own brillant and brash style. You must be under great pressure to scale back. Please stay the course day after day.
You are among a very precious and very, very few voices in the UK media that understand what the stakes are in this struggle. Thanks again.

Bill M

HARVEY, keep up with the pace here, Bud. In addition to the Founding Fathers being slave owners, so were Obama's ancestors. Be sure to include them from now on, as well.

Nick C

Well said Melanie and keep up the good work.

I've only been reading your blog a short while and rarely comment but you hold my attention and its nice to have some ammo to argue back when our 'friends' from the left pick a row!

Well bowled.

J Isaacs

No doubt mel has one of her yes-men moderating this to filter out all the dross. Then from on high she can read all the hymns and prayers in her praise and feel weeeeel good about herself.

Harvey

Bill M says...

'HARVEY, keep up with the pace here, Bud. In addition to the Founding Fathers being slave owners, so were Obama's ancestors. Be sure to include them from now on, as well'.

Nice try. Okay, it isn't...

ajmalkov

It's been going on for a lot more than 100 years, Mel.

Gemma

'You have fans all over the planet and possibly beyond the confines of earth.' You really must start a sect mel. You could brainwash these idiots (job already done by and large), extract large sums of money from them, seclude them in some far off ranch (or kibbutz I suppose), and then ..... Who'd need to bother about matters Israel, the Jews and all this blogging business. Many thanks.

Peter A

As I go about my normal saturday morning chores,my travels take me past more than one north London synogogue.Where once all that was of note about this was the sight of rather nicely dressed family groups making their way to and from worship,what now assaults the eye and jars one into realisation of it is to be Jewish in this so called civilised county of ours, is the routine sight of uniformed security guards intended as protection from attack.How can it be that this has happened with so little comment anywhere?This is the reason why Melanie must continue to expose anti-semitism wherever it appears

Norm, UK

Until I discovered Melanie's blog some years ago I was like the guy in the Matrix. An illusion had been pulled over my eye's since the days of Edward Heath. Melanie opened my eyes and now I see the world as it is, not as Blair, Brown and Brussels want me to see it. Thank you Melanie.

Ron

'Israel is the defining moral issue of our time .... Israel ... stands at the very centre of the titanic fight by truth against lies, fact against propaganda, freedom against totalitarianism, liberty against slavery, justice against injustice and reason against irrationality in which the entire free world is currently engaged.'
This reminds me of some of the pronouncements of Serb demagogues at the start of the war in Yugoslavia in an attempt to justify/cover up their viscious onslaught and murder of countless Croat and Bosnian victims. The notion that somehow they were defending the free world and we should all be eternally grateful to them and just ignore what was blatantly in our gaze. Nobody's fooled Melanie, we've seen the TV broadcasts, read the sensible reporting and heard statements of countless decent witnesses. You are talking a load of complete and absolute twaddle and are turning truth on its head.

L Wald

Melanie - keep going, your work is indispensable.

What we need is a book outlining WHY this anti-Israel anti-Jewish cancer has established itself so deeply in the mainstream media and the minds of its audience. Why do people care so much about Israel-Palestine/Jews and yet not give a toss about real, intense and extensive adversity and threats around the world? This is a complex subject and needs to be tackled by someone of your calibre. I’m sure you are not short of projects :-), but perhaps such a book would do what it takes to reverse this pernicious trend.

mikeNZ

Thank you Melanie for being forthright and honest about a couple of the defining issues facing Western society and global freedom.
New Zealand's with you too.

Alan Bernson

Re: This blog and its readers where you say:

Fifth, the reason why Israel figures so heavily in any discussion about the predicaments of our era is that Israel is the defining moral issue of our time. It is Israel, and the century-old existential onslaught against the Jewish people in its ancient homeland, which stands at the very centre of the titanic fight by truth against lies, fact against propaganda, freedom against totalitarianism, liberty against slavery, justice against injustice and reason against irrationality in which the entire free world is currently engaged. Israel is the quintessential canary in the mine. It is the front-line in the defence of the free world. If it goes down, the rest of us will go down. Those who are on the wrong side of the Israel issue are on the wrong side in the great struggle for civilisation against barbarism. That is why I return to it again and again.

Congratulations , Melanie. I don't know about others who read your blog, but this reader , who lives in Boston, thinks you are terribly smart, terribly brave and gifted with wonderful eloquence.

Brian Gould

The saddest aspect of all this is that only a handful of determined journalists such as Melanie and one or two others find themselves in the position of having to fight constantly against the self-inflicted blindness of most of Fleet Street. There is only one obstacle in the way of creating a Palestinian state, and that is the revanchism of the Palestinians and their supporters in the other Arab countries. They refuse to accept that Israel won its War of Independence in 1948. A majority of Israelis are in favour of the two-state solution. Yasser Arafat was against it for many years but eventually accepted it, as does Abbas and the PA leadership. But Hamas won in Gaza because most Palestinians say they intend to hold out for their one-state solution. Result: the present situation, i.e. going through the motions of holding negotiations but without really moving anywhere, is going to continue for the foreseeable future. The Palestinians have nobody to blame but themselves.

Brian O'Connor

Will wrote:

I do not like Melanie Phillips as a commentator due to her daily mail-esque, hysterical, uncompromising ranting even agaisnt reasonably minded people, I assume because she just wants to silence them.

Hysterical?? Ranting?? Against reasonably minded people??

Have you an example?

Or are you, er, heading into the land of hyperbole, one which might be the domain of anyone who disagrees with you, one specifically intended be an ad hominem attack?

Bill M

HARV,
You lost on your response to my last comment but, regardless, from the TimesOnline, I share a part of the story entitled, "Obama's slave-owning forebears revealed."

To quote, "THE maternal ancestors of Barack Obama, the Democrat who hopes to become America’s first black president, once owned slaves, genealogists have revealed.

As the son of a white woman from Kansas and a black man from Kenya, the background of Obama, who went to a school in Indonesia, was already considered exotic.

According to the genealogists, George Washington Overall, Obama’s great-great-great-great grandfather, owned two slaves, a 15-year-old girl and 25-year-old man, who were listed in the 1850 Kentucky census. Another maternal ancestor owned two older slaves.

In his autobiography, Dreams from My Father, Obama referred to family rumours that his relatives had links to both sides during the civil war, but he did not know he had slaveholding ancestors. Bill Burton, a spokesman for the Illinois senator, said it showed his relatives were “representative of America”."

So, will you be supporting the descendant of a slave-owner or the descendant of a slave-owner?

Bill M

Melanie. Sanity we can all believe in.

Brian O'Connor

Ron wrote:

Nobody's fooled Melanie, we've seen the TV broadcasts, read the sensible reporting and heard statements of countless decent witnesses. You are talking a load of complete and absolute twaddle and are turning truth on its head.

Would those objective TV broadcasts include the al Dura incident? http://tinyurl.com/5b6ov7 How about "Green Helmet," in the video here? http://tinyurl.com/5gypod

And then there's this partial list of fauxtography . . . http://tinyurl.com/q6pnb

What criteria do you use to determine that something has been "sensibly reported?"

At least we can agree that the truth has been turned on its head, right? Just not by Melanie.

phil

gemma has provided her own proof of why we need Mel-I have never understood blind hatred ,is it a mental illness ?and should we feel sorry for her?

Kiffa

Israel didn't have to be a flashpoint, if it's existence was recognised, and it's neighbours traded instead. But they won't. Why? Because Islam MUST prevail.
I don't see why lefties don't get this.
Regarding Bosnia, with the perfect vision of hindsight, the Serbs had a point. Kosovo is now undergoing ethnic cleansing: of non-muslims. Where are the shrieks and screams of liberals? They just don't get it.
The other thing liberal group-think doesn't seem to get is: why do so many millions of muslims vote with their feet, and relocate to the West? Surely then there is some failure in instituions in their culture that fails to support their humanity and their aspirations?
Conversely, surely it means that there is something in our institutions and culture that should be stoutly defended??

anglicus

There really are some strange posts here; you have to wonder about some reader’s grasp of history. I agree with most of what Melanie writes, but sometimes she makes my blood boil, that’s the nature of debate surely.

The Telegraph Group Limited is owned by the Catholic Barclay brothers, more famous for the bank of the same name. The Telegraph group publishes the Daily Telegraph, the Sunday Telegraph, the Weekly Telegraph, and The Spectator magazine, as well as other, lesser media interests, including The Saturday Telegraph. Although the outright owners of these papers are therefore not Jewish, the editorial stance remains identical to the other media forms in the UK: solidly pro-Jewish. That sorts that one out.

The first English colony in America was Jamestown and the first slaves were English,
The year 1619 also saw another significant development: the first arrival of black workers on boats from Africa. These men and women were originally indentured servants, who worked a plot of land for a few years and then got to keep the land as owners.
After the civil war, and correct me if I’m wrong here, America established Liberia for the purpose of repatriating the ex-slaves. Obviously not many wanted to go back, what does that say?

Fully agree with Geoff Miller’s post.

keith

" Israel is the quintessential canary in the mine. It is the front-line in the defence of the free world. If it goes down, the rest of us will go down. Those who are on the wrong side of the Israel issue are on the wrong side in the great struggle for civilisation against barbarism."

The predicament in a nutshell. Brilliant. Quite brilliant.

peter watkins

What's really interesting is how few objections to Mel's post appear here.

Sure, the usual suspects have backed her to the hilt.

But the silence from the gallery
is suspicously complete, which is strange - why would there be such little dissent to this article when it was provoked by so much dissent before?

john doe

Ron: So you trust what you see on the BBC and Channel 4 etc? Your abject gullibility and surrender to the authority of media with an obvious agenda is the acme of irresponsibility.

epaminondas

'Just tell the truth, and they'll all THINK it's hell'

Raising the issues we have in common concerning Mr. Obama and what I believe his world view, BASED ON THE INARGUABLE facts of his voluntarily made adviser appts, generates some interesting reaction both among his supporters (especially the jewish ones), and the professional Israel blamers/haters/ and Smears &Waltheimer aficionados.

Carry on

BJ

I agree Israel/Palestine (or more specifically the continued occupation and theft of Palestinian land in breach of international law) is indeed one of the defining political and moral issues of our time. Unfortunately you just don't get it (as I will continue to point out in the comments to your blog!).

Sempronius

"But the silence from the gallery is suspicously complete, which is strange - why would there be such little dissent to this article when it was provoked by so much dissent before?"

Possibly because the astroturfing Obama-philes have found something better to do?

Brian

'anglicus' wrote:

anglicus
June 10th, 2008 10:27am
(quote)'There really are some strange posts here; you have to wonder about some reader’s grasp of history.
After the civil war [the US civil war of 1861-1865], and correct me if I’m wrong here, America established Liberia for the purpose of repatriating the ex-slaves. Obviously not many wanted to go back, what does that say?'(unquote)

Sorry, anglicus, but your own knowledge of history seems to be a little weak.

America did not establish Liberia after the civil war to repatriate former slaves to. Liberia was purchased from local tribal chiefs by American Christian philanthropists in the 1820s and was established to provide a place where former slaves could settle in a country that would not be legally colonised by any of the imperialist powers.

Unfortunately, by the time the American civil war ended in 1865, Liberia had fractured into two separate societies: the American former slaves, emulating the only society most of them had ever known, set about enslaving the local Africans.

It was therefore not exactly a tempting place to be sent to from the former Confederacy. The problems the well-meant experiment created are reflected in the endless civil wars and strife that Liberia has suffered for much of its history.

Sybil

Bravo Melanie! You have the courage of your convictions --pity there are not more with the good sense you have.Carry on regardless!

Verity

Will, may I suggest that you read the posts of others, given that the purpose of this blog is not to serve as a platform for your valuable thoughts.

Pete Hoskins of this parish has noted several times that this site is having problems with its software. He has suggested people whose comments are getting lost disable their pop-up something-or-other. I have no idea what he's talking about, but it's apparently the reason some posts are disappearing into space.

He has also offered, two or three times (you must have missed all these posts, as you scanned down looking for your contribution) that if you like, until they get the problem solved, you can send your emails to his email address at The Speccie and he will personally post them manually.

If you think Melanie Phillips has been running a blog for years and doesn't allow criticism or doesn't run opposing points of view, you are a rather petty person.

And to style Melanie's cool, rational, lucid arguments "hysterical ranting" tells us you don't have the mental wherewithal to present an opposing view rationally.

Ann

"the continued occupation and theft of Palestinian land in breach of international law"

Pure fantasy.

Ann

J. Isaacs: thanks. Pretty hair-raising.
I won't waste words on the ... ahem ... strange person claiming to be you (without a full stop) who has reading comprehension issues.

Frank Pulley

Brian Gould

Your post(3.28am)is as neat and concise a summary of the basic truth of the matter as I have seen on this blog or any other.

If your distillation were to be adopted by the MSM as a constant message, rather than the ambiguity and thinly-veiled antisemitic sentiments ingrained in most of the coverage, then perhaps there would be some chance of a negotiated settlement. But as long as the anti-Zionist forces see division in the West they will exploit the weakness and soldier on - probably to self-destruction, which is the logical outcome of the madness.

Frank Pulley

Will

" ...I wonder how many other like-minded people have been eliminated from the debate as well and why. Propaganda perhaps."

Then how come your last idiotic comment got through? You're not Will Hutton by any chance are you?

phil

Just for ron "in the land of the blind the one eyed man is king" its seems obvious that your,s also has a glide.
"nobody is fooled Mel"-well its obvious that you have been -one can only suppose that you read fisk and watch bowen -on this thread virtually everyone Christian and Jewish agree with Mel-but of course you are the only one in step -we walk left right, left right, and you ?left left ? I will make you a prediction ,nay a promise when the crazies come to get us they will include you too.

John Adam

Some people do not think before they blog. If some of your readers do not understand that Israel and Jews are often the primary target of evil -- that Israel is the canary in the mine -- they need to read more of your columns and blog-less.

Jason

The unctuous Jonathan Freedland (what I wouldn’t give to see him given a Parkinson-style mauling by the Emu):

http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?ParentId=m12s114&SecId=114&AId=51460&ATypeId=1

And Melanie Phillips’ reply:

http://www.melaniephillips.com/articles-new/?p=500

Jonathan Bodack

Barack Obama will endanger a lot of innocent people, and the people he associates with are the wrong people to associate with! If he becomes president in November,? he'll be sorry!

Jonathan Bodack

The guy who writes his blogs is something else, etc.

Ron

Yeh, Phil, on this thread, the land of the brainwashed governed by mel's henchman moderator, of course everyone supports her. I actually meant in general.

You know, there is a world out there, outside of this blog!

Steve

Ann writes: '"the continued occupation and theft of Palestinian land in breach of international law"

Pure fantasy.'

Pure tripe.

And she complains of people on this blog who come up with soundbites devoid of argument.

You're obviously not a woyer anyway Ann. Or an English teacher.

By the way, why is it that her comments are posted one after the other after the other?

ndm

Melanie Phillips writes that "Israel is the defining moral issue of our time. It is Israel."

She is correct to the extent that the Israeli subjugation of the Palestinian people is the defining moral failure of our time. Supporters and advocates of this subjugation have abandoned all moral scruple in favor of appeasement of the racism implicit in Israeli colonization of the Palestinian Territories. A racism we thought we had left behind with our "never again," a never again which Melanie Phillips forswears in this case BECAUSE Israel is a Jewish State.

Melanie Phillips needs to have a long and deep look at what is meant by anti-American, anti West and anti-Semitism because she does not understand there is nothing Western, American, or Jewish about supporting and advocating for a continued subjugation of the Palestinian people by the state of Israel. And it is certainly not a British value – other than among the friends and fans of Melanie Phillips.

Adam B.

BJ, there simply is no "theft of Palestinian land" (you mean Arab) because the land was never "Palestinian" (Arab)in the first place. You just don't get it, do you? I'll continue to point this out as long as you repeat your lies and nonsense.

Ann

"on this thread virtually everyone Christian and Jewish agree with Mel"

And the odd atheist, Phil ;-)

Ann

Steve, the one with a statement totally devoid not just of argument but of factual content is you. You claimed that it's 'illegal' without offering any evidence whatsoever. Repeating this lie will never make it the truth, however many times you repeat it.
Resolution 242, for example, specifically authorises Israel to stay in the territories until there is a comprehensive peace settlement in which its neighbours guarantee her safety. Even then, Israel is NOT obliged to withdraw from ALL territories (which is another oft-repeated lie). Read 242, which obviously you are unfamiliar with.

My posts appear in sequence because I post them in sequence. As the Americans say: Duh!

What a great legal and historical brain you are, mate ... not.

Ann

"She is correct to the extent that the Israeli subjugation of the Palestinian people is the defining moral failure of our time"

More pure fantasy. There is no 'Palestinian people'. There are Arabs - as they themselves have asserted categorically many time - who attacked Israel and sought to annihilate her. Israel flatly refused to be annihilated. Clearly, this really annoys some people. Good.

ndm

Ann -

You can deride the truth as "pure fantasy" as often as you want but that will never make it untrue. I am always amazed at those who seek a virtual holocaust of the Palestinian people by denying them the right to call themselves Palestinians as opposed to a generic "Arab." It is about as stupid an argument as claiming that there are no English people - only Europeans.

Levy

Ann:
If you would just climb down a minute off your horse - I know you enjoy it - I suspect the point was that your comments seem to get posted in successive abundance whilst others (me included) seem to have problems getting a voice. I know you're a longstanding resident of this blog with a heavy axe to grind but questions do arise when some seem to obtain such a preference. I've read your postings and quite frankly do not see anything in them which ought to lead to such preference.

Cohen

Ann:
The tone of your postings generally seems to me to be derisive, hysterical, condescending and paranoid. I'm concerned about you, were you bullied at school? There's no need to fret or use a sledgehammer to crack a nut - we're winning.

James

"Israel is the quintessential canary in the mine. It is the front-line in the defence of the free world." That is absolute nonsense. Islam is certainly an unavoidable threat to Israel, but that is because Israel is not geographically part of the West, whatever it may be culturally and politically. Islam would be no threat to the UK or US or Europe if Muslims were not here in such large numbers. The Muslim world is militarily very weak and would have no chance of winning a conventional war. We should support Israel and oppose mass immigration by Muslims. Unfortunately, neo-cons like Melanie do the former and omit to do the latter.

Gemma

'"on this thread virtually everyone Christian and Jewish agree with Mel"

And the odd atheist, Phil ;-)'

So you're the bolshevik Ann.

Croat

Nice to see the priestly classes talking a bit of sense, especially on this blog board.

Kiwi

Put quite simply, Melanie "gets it" - Hers is a voice that needs to be amplified five times daily.

Friedrich

I read Melanie Phillips a lot from my home in Germany. She talks nothing but sense, I would make her an honorary German. Wunderbar!

Adam B.

NDM, there is no such thing as the "Palestinian" people - they are Arab people. The whole notion of "a Palestinian people" was invented in the 1960's, purely as a weapon against Israel. The term was never used before then (not in relation to a specifically Arab people. Indeed, "Palestinian" meant Jewish as well.) Your use of the word "holocaust" is designed to be inflammatory and offensive, thus you show your true colours.

Adam B.

If everyone stopped laying into Ann for a second, they might actually find that she speaks the truth. Her posts are precise and accurate.

Adam B.

NDM, if you want to see racism, read the Arab press and its take on Jewish people. Straight out of Der Sturmer. How about sermons declaring "Blessed is he who puts a bullet in the head of a Jew" (official Palestinian TV). You won't find the equivalent on Israeli TV or the press. You can also witness the discrimination faced by minorities in Iran and the Islamic world generally. Racism? You don't know the meaning of the word.

Joe Kaffir

who knew...a jew interested in jewish things and not afraid to speak her mind rather than cawtow to those she thinks are wrong. what is the world coming to!

great stuff as always Melanie. more courageous and clearly reasoned than any other columnist i have ever come across. a vital contribution to an increasingly bigoted and hostile environment here in blighty.

i hope you will be coming back on the JC letters last week (6th June)?

Joe Kaffir

ndm has used the term colonization and holocaust in reference to Israel. These are great examples of the simplistic comparative phallacies propogated by the far and liberal left in their complicit re-importing of politically antisemitic views from the arab and muslim world. Colonization is an inaccurate term in this context, as is is holocaust, genocide, ethnic cleansing or apartheid, yet these are the terms used by the anti-israel groupies. why? because they include assumptions that avoid the fundamental flaws in there world view. These terms contain significantly more dissimilarities than similarities to the conflict and are thus demonstrably false, but they are used to create emotive, unquestioning responses in readers (brain washing you might say, although even that is simplistic).

There is no real difference between use of such illegitimate propoganda aimed at delegitimizing and demonizing the jewish state and the kind of Nazi propoganda that existed in the the 30's to delegitimze and demonise the jewish communities of europe. It is merely more ....modern, and left-friendly. What will ndm say if Iran drops a bomb on Israel....well, "the jews have only themselves to blame"!!!

a good book on modern antisemitism in britian is "the resurgrence of antisemitism - Jews, Israel and Liberal opinion" by bernard harrison. read it, if you are not too attached to your simplistic world view!

Mark

"They seem to believe that it is wrong for me to write about Israel as often as I do, not least because they think that, since I am writing on the Spectator website, I have some kind of duty not to write about it so much. "
-Well, it's just that there's only so many of these pieces one can read before falling over catatonic.

J. Isaacs

Ann. Many thanks for your June 10, 2.25pm comment. I am glad you spotted my impersonator's reading comprehension issues. This and the huge response to Melanie Phillips' posts reinforces my earlier point that Melanie Phillips is an internationally popular blog superstar whose posts continue to turn a knife in the hearts of her detractors.

phil

"on this thread virtually everyone Christian and Jewish agree with Mel"

And the odd atheist, Phil ;-)-

sorry Ann -forgot!!!

Ann

J. Isaacs:
Thank you for your support. I know I can always count on it when I'm being bombarded with eggs and tomatoes. These people have narrow minds whereas we open our minds especially when thinking of Israel. If only we could exchange emails, we could achieve so much more, but I suppose this isn't a dating site and you haven't seen me anyway.

Dragan

Friedrich:
Melanie can be an honorary German if you like but here in Serbia she is most popular, I/we would make her an honorary Serb any day.

phil

Ron" You know, there is a world out there, outside of this blog!

you,ld better believe we know it! and the likes of you gemma ,croat ,ndm are inhabiting it -you post rubbish and think anybody is fooled -not many of us would object to reasonable argument although no doubt we would seek to refute it .but rubbish based on hatred is consigned mentally to the garbage dump .I suggest you go and read history ,not sound bites ,determine the facts and then come back and argue your case-Melanie allows you space here to post your stuff which shows what a democratic person she is .you would not get room in your pals papers to write like that about them

Cohen

Phil:
See my previous post to Ann. Don't fret. If you had a hard time before, don't let it get to you now. We're winning.

J. Isaacs

Ann. Thanks again, but we have not even established our respective genders, ages or marital attachments. However, this seems the right time to let the world know that Jews are thriving and there are any number of Jewish and Israeli dating agencies and websites advertised in - The JC.

Alan

Just read on the Al-Beeb that another child in Gaza has been killed (decapitated) by Israeli fire. So more lies, deceit, and anti-semitic nonsense from the Biased Broadcasting Company? Smack head against wall Ann.

Seriously, until the world realises that, as with the Serbs, you simply cannot reason with the 'Israelis' (in fact a more invented term than 'Palestinians') and their supporters and that reluctantly force is the only thing which will change them (or historically ever has done), this whole mess will continue.

It took many years for the world to realise this with the Serbs. With hundreds of innocents dead this year alone, COME ON WORLD let's get to grips with them once and for all. You owe it to all the people of the Middle East, not just a tiny minority.

Croat

Dragan:
I wholeheartedly agree with you, an honorary Serb she most certainly is.

Jake Phillips

"If it goes down, the rest of us will go down"

Now just who are "the rest of us?"
Zionists? Jews? English people? Americans? Westerners?
Let's keep our feet on the ground here please; such broad brush strokes and generalizations are illogical, unreasonable and downright wrong.
If Israel goes down, absolutely nothing will happen except perhaps the Middle East will become a more peaceful place.

patricia

Ann dear,

If you were any funnier we'd simply have to give you your own reality show.

Except that you live in such an unreal world that it would be more of a melodrama.

Nigel

Well done Melanie, and Hod bless you for speaking truth like a voice crying in the wilderness of lies.

ndm

I understand why Joe Kaffir is shocked by the word "colonization," because in this day and age it is a shocking word. However what truly shocks me and any decent human being is not the word "colonization," but its actual implementation in the Israeli colonization of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Over the last four decades the State of Israel has transferred almost five per cent of its population into the Occupied Palestinian Territories in an action that can only be deemed colonization because that is the English word to describe.

The denial of colonization is now a commonplace among ultra-right wing Zionists, as is a denial of the occupation itself and even, as we have seen several times on this thread, the denial of their own name for the Palestinians. The latter is just one representation of that old chestnut of the virtual holocaust - a land with no people for a people with no land. This wanton denial infests the same moral plane as the holocaust denial of David Irving - and deserves the same contempt.

The idea that colonization, settlement, targeted assassination and collective punishments are war crimes or crimes against humanity - recognized universally as such, except when Israel commits them - is utterly untenable in the modern world. It is an idea indicative of the moral failure of its presenter.

There are times when exceptions are called for and the creation of Israel was one of these times. It was incumbent on us, however, to recognize the exceptional nature of that event and seek to minimize its consequences. In failing to do so we betrayed the existing residents, we betrayed Israel, we betrayed Judaism but above all we betrayed ourselves. We, however, are not the ones suffering the consequences - the Israelis bear some consequences but the Palestinian people bear an overwhelming burden.

The last four decades have been a physical catastrophe for the Palestinian people and a moral catastrophe for the Israeli people. We can lay much of the blame for these catastrophes on those Western commentators who appeased and apologized for Israeli mistreatment of the Palestinian people. But they are passing into their dotage and are being superseded by younger commentators who are not in thrall to an Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories and the colonization that is its inevitable consequence. I would recommend that anyone genuinely interested in ensuring a long and successful future for Israel should stop reading Melanie Phillips and start reading the likes of Eric Alterman and Matthew Yglesias. They have a greater understanding of Israel’s place in the world than does Melanie Phillips and for that they are a far better friend to Israel than she ever will be.

Aidan Mann

Well I for one support the outlined five points. I have been impressed by seeing you on Question Time and even more so by listening to you on The Moral Maze. I am myself not Jewish but I agree wholeheartedly with the points made about antisemitism, Israel, the Jewish people, and the line of defense against forces internal and external that would overthrow civilisation as we know it. I have returned to full time study and and am astounded by the viewpoints espoused by both tutors and fellow students at times as if there is a collective madness that has come over people. So please keep up the good work.

Adam B.

Alan,

In 1991, the RAF (accidentally) bombed a market place in Iraq. Scores of civilians were literally blown into small pieces of flesh. (Iraq was not firing thousands of missiles onto Kent and Sussex, unlike the thousands of attacks Israel endures, daily). Would you argue that the British only understand violence, and indeed need violence to be meted out on us, in order for us to change? How utterly simplistic. In fact, your view that the Jews have historically needed violence in order to "change" is truly despicable.

One other comment - do you support the ethnic cleansing of Serbs from Kosovo, a phenomenon which is happening right now, which al-Beeb does not report? After all, in your view, that whole mess has been sorted.

M Roberts

Phillips seems to me to be over-reacting to people pointing out that sometimes Israel does not act in its own best interest. She seems to assume that any one who disagrees with any action of any Israeli is anti-semitic.This is surely as irrational as is anti-semitism.

Ann

"the Israeli colonization of the Occupied Palestinian Territories"

Complete myth. There is no separate state that is the "Occupied Palestinian Territories". Indeed, there never was one. The whole land is the Jewish homeland. The Jews agreed to partition it, but the Arabs - twice, in 1948, and 1967 - refused to accept even that and tried to annihilate Israel and all its Jews. So the 1949 armistice line is dead and buried - it died in 1967 when the Arabs decided to kill it. There is not, therefore, any such line that prevents Jews from living in their own country (as existed until 1967). And the line that did exist then, the green line, was only ever a ceasefire line, never an international border. Any talk of 'colonisation' is therefore ignorant nonsense. But don't worry, we know where you come from.

Ann

"She seems to assume that any one who disagrees with any action of any Israeli is anti-semitic"

This is the standard figleaf of antisemites. Nobody has ever said that mere disagreement with Israel is antisemitism, so please don't talk such utter rot. What we are saying that the non-stop, vicious, biased, lying, totally one-sided vilification of Israel by Al Beeb and by many posters here and the Guardian and the Independent - vilification that is out of all proportion to Israel's acts in self-defence AND unmatched by anything remotely as vile directed against any other country, including Sudan, Syria, Iran, China etc, countries that have engaged in oppression and genocide for many years - IS antisemitism.

Ann

Patricia, since you live in an unreal world of antisemitism and complete ignorance of the facts, I'd keep quiet if I were you. Your posts are not funny, just ignorant and vile.

ndm

In response to my reference to "the Israeli colonization of the Occupied Palestinian Territories," Ann writes:

"Complete myth. There is no separate state that is the 'Occupied Palestinian Territories'. Indeed, there never was one. The whole land is the Jewish homeland."

This really is "ignorant nonsense." I'm sorry to tell you, Ann, but you are not arguing in good faith when you repeat lies and fantasies like these. The Palestinian Territories are universally acknowledged as occupied by an occupying power named Israel. There are a few hardcore Zionist irredentists who continue to deny the occupation but we treat them with the same contempt we have for Palestinian irredentists.

In a 2001 document titled "Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention," the International Committee of the Red Cross declared:

"the ICRC has always affirmed the de jure applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention to the territories occupied since 1967 by the State of Israel, including East Jerusalem. This Convention, ratified by Israel in 1951, remains fully applicable and relevant in the current context of violence. As an Occupying Power, Israel is also bound by other customary rules relating to occupation, expressed in the Regulations annexed to the Hague Convention respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land of 18 October 1907."
http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/5FLDPJ

In a 2004 advisory opinion on the legality of the Israeli "Wall," the International Court of Justice - peer organization to the UN Security Council - decided:

"The territories situated between the Green Line (see paragraph 72 above) and the former eastern boundary of Palestine under the Mandate were occupied by Israel in 1967 during the armed conflict between Israel and Jordan. Under customary international law, these were therefore occupied territories in which Israel had the status of occupying Power. Subsequent events in these territories, as described in paragraphs 75 to 77 above, have done nothing to alter this situation. All these territories (including East Jerusalem) remain occupied territories and Israel has continued to have the status of occupying Power."
http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/131/1671.pdf

The State of Israel is the legally recognized occupying power of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This information is well known and should Surprise no one. If you claim there is no occupation then either you don't know and are merely ignorant or you do know and are telling a lie. I will let you choose, Ann - but these are your only choices.

AF

Again, well thought and said. It amazes me that anyone would NOT understand you. I'm still surprised at your insight and how close you are to my perspective on current issues. You go girl. You are spot on....

a Texan who lived in London and knows a bit of what you speak!
AF

Augustus

I second Dr MM's sentiments entirely. Your views are most welcome and I am sure that all right thinking westerners, be they Jewish or gentiles, admire them. You are a beacon of hope over despair. The answer as to whether the Israel/Palestine question will be satisfactorily solved in any of our lifetimes is probably - no, but your contributions to common sense, amongst the wealth of false propaganda which Israel increasingly has to suffer, keeps the flame of righteousness from being extinguished. I too find, that on matters relating to Israel, I always agree with you. There are quite a few dynamic and gutsy small nations, but Israel tops them all.

Rich

Melanie Phillips scares me. So do many of the commenters here. I'm just hoping that doesn't make me an anti-semite. I mean, I don't hate her - how could I? She's doing enough hating for at least 1,500 of the rest of us...

Ahad Ha'amoratzim

ndm, would that be the same ICRC that allows its ambulances to be used to ferry gunmen and explosives to attack IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians? And the same ICRC that for decades refused to admit Israel as a member because Israel refused to adopt either the symbol of Christianity or the symbol of Islam to mark its ambulances? The same ICRC that helped Hitler whitewash the concentration camp at Thieresenstadt and refuses to lift a finger to help Israeli soldiers held captive by terrorists?

phil

Cohen thanks for yor kind thoughts :) but Ann doesnt really bother me as I know she is a pasionate believer in the state of Israel and the Jewish people -it is only her choice of language that I do,nt concur with as i think she gets disrespect for that and her views too -if I had to choose between her and patricia,croat ,alexwhatever etc ,its no contest ,I certainly would give her my vote but I suppose I will get a b....king for being patronising but cest la vie :)

Adam B.

Ahad, I would add the same ICRC that still refuses to let Magen David Adom use a star of David in international crises - instead, forced to use a red diamond shape, because an overtly Jewish symbol is deemed offensive (but the red crescent's OK). The Red Cross was also present at Auschwitz by the way, and had full knowledge of the Holocaust, but said and did nothing. What a beacon of humanity!

Adam B.

NDM, from whom are these territories occupied?

Dave

What's incredible is that Mel just doesn't see the damage she does to the Israeli cause.
For anyone trying to find out more about the issue this is a natural place to start. Or at least a place one will eventually end up. And yet the blind faith in everything Israel does, the instant recourse to label everything questioning Israel as anti-semitic are so limiting and so crass they simply drive more moderate people away.
For most people modern life is complex and painted in shades of grey.
I envy Mel's black and white world view, but ironically it will never help any of the causes she so vehmently esposes.
(This of course makes me anti-semitic)
But it's important to post here, to take part in the debate because Mel really doesn't represent modern Britain.

Adam B.

Dave, provide one example of Melanie calling someone anti-Semitic because they criticized a policy. Just one.

phil

Dave -saying your piece here does not make you anti-Semitic .and I hope your own judgement is that you are not -you are absolutely entitled to question both Israel and the thoughts of Jewish people in good faith and I believe you will get proper responses from most of us here, you then will evaluate what you hear
-As for Melanie I obviously cannot speak for her but I can imagine why she is so strong in what she says -I believe it is because of these times when we are taking such abuse from people who should know better and Israel is the subject of incessant lies which has turned a country who were seen by many as heroes into villains .Someone needs to speak up for us and Melanie has not only the ability but the courage to do so -I don't always agree with what she says but nevertheless I have enormous admiration for what she is trying to do ,and lastly I have not seen Melanie accusing anyone of being anti Semitic for merely disagreeing with either Israeli or Jewish policies or thoughts -Continue to say what you think and pose questions ,that is what we do here -shalom Dave

Harry Osbourne

As an individual (and non Jew), I am in full agreement with the sentiments that Melanie Phillips expresses. I digress only in that I substitute Britain for Israel in her statement that:
'..It is Israel, and the century-old existential onslaught against the Jewish people in its ancient homeland, which stands at the very centre of the titanic fight by truth against lies, fact against propaganda, freedom against totalitarianism, liberty against slavery, justice against injustice and reason against irrationality in which the entire free world is currently engaged..'.

phil

ndm you may not like anne,s style but she does say it how it is and I will say my piece in more simple language than you seem to enjoy even though i am not taking my own advice which is to ignore you .
-I will ask you what you would do if you were subject to suicide attacks on your family just because your neighbours disputed your hedge ,and then hit you in your more sensitive parts whilst you were not looking.(and please do not tell me how many the Israelis have killed when responding to attacks on their civilians) would you claim the Geneva convention or ask the ICRC for a ruling --I suspect you might try to defend yourself ,if that is allowed under your terms of engagement

. Do you consider that territory won in a war started by the other side is occupied or gained (a definition please .not what you consider right or wrong)-just to make it plain I do not think land "won" should not be returned -see Israel /Egypt.

I am not an international lawyer and I suspect nor are you -so why are you so adamant that you are correct when so many tell you that you are wrong ? You might want to Tell me what you would do if like some of my family you lived close to qualquilya where the bombers try to come from ,would you ask for the wall to be pulled down because it is a nuisance ,in the interest of fairness you might prefer to die -I will be interested to hear -they are there in Israel as you might call it not occupied Territories

If it were not so obvious that your opinions put politely are so one sided I might give more attention to what you have been saying ,but they are so filled with hate that I can almost feel it -You need to consider the other point of view and answer my questions before you will get much credence here -I don't suppose you will but if you do please answer in simple terms that those with uncomplicated minds can understand

Judith

Brilliant! Melanie exemplifies one w/ the dignity to stand by her principles even if they are unfashionable w/ the BBC crowd. Even the biblical prophets were often lonely as the mainstream rejected the truth & wisdom of their words. Melanie don't dilute your pro-Israel message just to stay popular w/ the masses who lose their critical faculty & reasoning in mob think. The dignity of your lone truthful, zionist, moral, Jewish voice first, & the majesty of world approval will follow. Wish we could clone an army of Melanie Phillips...unafraid & in-your-face honesty.