I realise that Twitter spats don’t help anyone. I have found it hard to disengage - I have Jewish and Muslim family members & friends, whom I deeply love. I have lived in a Muslim country for ten years and have been to Gaza & The West Bank and I also have a historic family connection to Israel. I have personally had (and continue to receive) countless death threats on account of my Jewishness & faced decades of antisemitic abuse. The father of my children was shot, according to his would- be -assassin, because of his “proximity to the Jews” – ie. me. Meanwhile my children have faced Islamophobia in the UK (& antisemitism in Pakistan!).
Perhaps because of these experiences, I passionately believe that political tribalism is the enemy, not just of reasonable discourse but of peace. It’s why I’m so in awe of the bravery & integrity of those Israelis who despite having lost relatives in the last few days, have made some of the most powerful statements against the ongoing bombing of Gaza. I pray their voices are heard. Killing and maiming thousands more innocent children will not save terrorised hostages, nor will it bring peace and, like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan post 9-11, will likely only create more terrorism and a less safe world for all of us.
War crimes are happening in real time, yet our political leaders lack either the courage or the humanity to hold the Israeli government to account.
They should call for an end to the siege and the release of hostages — that is what compassion for all human life would look like.
France bans the Abaya for Muslim women in schools. Where are the 'feminists' now then? Nowhere, that's what. Go be naked but the rights of women also includes the ones who choose modesty too. Fake clowns.
BMA junior doctor, Dr Arjan Singh: 'Because of the chronic lack of doctors, we are seeing 500 excess deaths needlessly in the NHS every week - the solution is £19 an hour pay for junior doctors.'
https://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube
Because she was Prime Minister for 6 weeks, Liz Truss will be able to claim a £115,000 annual allowance for the rest of her life.
Meanwhile, 1 in 7 people in the UK are skipping meals to pay their bills.
BREAKING: The entire senior leadership of the Church of England (every bishop in the House of Lords) has joined to decry the Rwanda scheme as "an immoral policy that shames Britain" in letter to @TheTimes https://t.co/HUIciprbGu
The vile treatment of Ahmadis in Pakistan & beyond amounts to crimes against humanity. No family on Earth should deal w/ a mob attack when trying to bury a loved one. I will continue standing strongly in support of Ahmadis. Today, tomorrow, & in the future
Biggest mistake UK made (& continues to make) is seeing COVID like flu that will become seasonal & come back each winter rather than like SARS to push to eliminate. Aside from lives & NHS strain, economy & children are paying an unacceptably high cost for this approach.
I don’t usually tweet on ‘project fear’. But after 2 days covering COVID admissions - the admission rate is worse then April with ever increasing infection rates. This is properly scary. Pay attention and stop the spread now!!