In our latest Podcast of Ideas discussion, Ella Whelan is joined by regulars Claire Fox, Alastair Donald and Geoff Kidder, plus guest Mark Birbeck from the campaign group Our Fight. They discuss events in the House of Commons this week as an SNP-led debate on the Israel-Hamas conflict descended into farce, leading for calls for the speaker of the house, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, to resign.
They also take a step back to look at the wider picture. What is to be done to counter the rise of anti-Semitism? What are the implications for democracy if parliamentary procedures are subverted in the name of protecting MPs? What might happen next in the war itself? Can Israel rely on support in the West for much longer?
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It may be naive but I don't think it's being a keyboard warrior or a 'keyboard strategist' to call out Israel's military campaign as excessive. The armchair militarists are worse. Cheering on Israel to 'finish the job' no matter the cost in civilian lives. I think it's naive not to see a broader strategic objective pursued by this particular Israeli government to crush any hope of Palestinian statehood. Indeed, in Netanyahu's own words he has boasted of setting back the prospect of a Palestinian state for decades. So, it's clearly not just about the hostages or even Hamas. Another member of Netanyahu's governement has said the hostages are not the most important thing. And that's not to mention what has been happening in the West Bank. There is naivety about Hamas for sure but there is also naivety about Israel.