How many dead Palestinians ....

That's right, they're step-brothers. Abraham was their father, and they've argued since then about who inherits the Holy Land.
I was once talking to a Kuwaiti about this (our eldest lives there) and he said that in the story about God ordering Abraham to sacrifice his son Genesis 22 :1 to 2 their Bible said it was Ishmael (Hagar's son) not Isaac (Sarah's son).
Ishmael was in fact Abraham's firstborn.

Hagar and Sarah?

I believe that both Arabs and Jews are Semitic, I guess that would make them the same ethnicity.

I've always thought that Arabs and Jews were of the same ethnicity.

Gosh lilygn I have been in Cornwall and unfortunately have not had time to trawl through everything - it was just a passing thought of mine - so sorry to irritate you!!

Well and who promoted her? Yes - a man of fine judgement !

I'm glad she's resigned. I agree with Douglas Murray who is reported on Twitter as writing in The Spectator that she's "over-promoted, incapable and incompetent".

My guess would be that she's been trying fur the last month and to no avail

'Ethnic cleansing'? For heaven's sake! Haven't you read all the posts and the links?

It will soon be election time in the USA. what can one expect. I truly despair.
I agree with the comments expressed by whitewave.

It feels very much like ethnic cleansing to me. One much stronger nation totally controls another nation, by way of freedom of movement, movement of goods etc. Ensuring the subject nation becomes poorer and poorer. Very gradually over the decades the pressure and screws are turned and the loss of life is relentless. The irony is that it is Israel. Once Palestine is dealt with, the West Bank will be next.

The Palestinians will of course resist, as they have done ever since their country was annexed by west.

Jess I can understand why she feels she has to resign, but would she not do more good staying on and trying to influence policy from the inside?

Yes of course ffin but that's a much harder task. Take an example from NI - the RUC was hated and reviled by the Catholics- and with good reason . As part of the peace process, action was taken to change it - it became the PSNI and Catholics could join. Attitudes towards it then changed - not perfect but much better. I don't think it could have happened the other way round

Varsi has resigned on principle. Good for her.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28656874

Looked another way, GT, attitudes can change actions. Yet I feel the long term prognosis for any kind of resolution is extremely fragile.

And yet if hope completely fades away, there won't be change.

For the moment, the killing has stopped. I'm thankful for that.

Obama has just approved $225m grant for further Iron Dome funding.

Actions change attitudes - but where are the meaningful actions to come from? Bill Clinton once got involved in this area but he seems to be off the international stage now - and also the US don't really have any credibility because of their support for Israel.

Thanks for that link ffinn I'd like to hope that this really does herald an end to the killing for now at least.
Galen it really is the 'politics of hate' that I find so depressing too. You are right, with these attitudes how can there ever be a lasting solution.

I agree, Galen. I also saw an interview with a distraught mother of a dead child. Her statement that they would have many more babies to grow up and kill Israelis was chilling and depressing.

But but but - trying to be optimistic and knowing it's a completely different situation, we spent years thinking there would never be peace in NI - and whilst it's not perfect, it's still quite amazing what was achieved - TB and MM did deliver that.

What I found really depressing was an interview last night with a obviously intelligent young man who was going to teach his children that Israel was the enemy.
With this attitude on both sides there will never be peace.

Yes, thanks, ffinn.

There will never be a lasting solution until either Israel is obliterated or until the countries surrounding it accept that Isreal is a nation state. Sorry to pour cold water on a glimmer of hope but, sadly, I don't see either of those things happening any time soon.

I do hope this is the start of something better. Thanks, ffinocchio.

Sorry ffin- I know it's better to have the ceasefire than not - it's just the thought of the longer term

Even if this holds, we've been here before so many, many times and after the cessation of each bout of hostilities, nothing changes, except the living conditions of the Gazans which are always worse than before. Of course it will be positive if the killing stops but the problems remain as entrenched as ever and I see no one on the international stage capable of brokering any lasting solution. And don't even mention TB.....it's just despairing isn't it?

www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/04/gaza-israel-hamas-ceasefire-agreement-egypt Perhaps there is a glimmer of hope...]]

I am reminded of Leonard Cohen's lyrics to "Anthem".