So, we are sanctioning Israel - who should be one of our best allies, and the EU have put up a totally offensive statue of Trump, our other great ally.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

We rely heavily on intel from Israel and Trump, like it or not has bases here in the UK and IS an ally, no matter what the present UK government are trying to unravel. The USA is a super power. We dismiss our friends with impunity these days it seems.

Which is why Burnham is cosying up to the EU. Yes, the ones who have all had to be cajoled by Trump to up their defence budgets. Which they are very grudgingly doing and it’ll take years (2030 and beyond, to reach 5% of GDP).

Madness Burnham and Milliband, just so reckless. I cannot believe we are being so foolish.

You are correct, but let us put it in context. Are you happy to just allow Israel to do whatever they please in Gaza and in fact Iran, if they so desire, and given Netanyahu’s strong links with Trump, do you actually trust the Israeli government?

“The United Kingdom receives vast, specialized intelligence from Israel—particularly regarding Iran, cyber threats, and Middle Eastern counterterrorism—though it operates on a fundamentally different scale and nature than the UK’s primary institutional alliances like the Five Eyes.

Comparison with UK Allies

• The Five Eyes (US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand):
• Scale & Structure: This is the bedrock of British intelligence. It is a continuous, institutionalized, and automated global sharing network—mostly for signals intelligence (GCHQ and the US NSA) and deep human intelligence (HUMINT) cooperation.

• Comparison to Israel: The volume, global breadth, and legal/technical integration of intelligence shared with the US and Five Eyes far exceed what the UK receives from Israel. Israel is a crucial bilateral partner rather than a member of an integrated multilateral intelligence bloc like the Five Eyes.

• Israel (Mossad, Shin Bet, and Aman):
• Focus & Strength:

Israel's intelligence value to the UK is highly targeted and regional. Former CIA and security officials note that Israel possesses superior human networks and cyber-intelligence capabilities inside the Middle East (specifically concerning Iran, proxy groups, and regional threats) than Western agencies can easily replicate.

• Practical Impact: Israeli intelligence has historically provided high-value, actionable warning tips to British security services (such as alerting MI5 to potential Iranian-backed plots on British soil).

• Limitations: Unlike the deep, two-way structural sharing with Washington or European NATO partners, intelligence ties with Israel are transactional, bilateral, and periodically susceptible to political and diplomatic friction (such as disputes over West Bank settlements or Middle East policy).”

Sago

In the UK and Ireland we have a rising population of young fit fighting age man and they are not British/Irish.
Their numbers now outnumber our Military

We don’t know where they are from, who they are and in many cases where they are.

Every day more and more arrive.

I have no doubt that they will eventually organise themselves, we will then have an alien army we have fed, housed, clothed and educated.

When that day happens who will you put your trust in?
Or are you feeding the crocodile in the hope it eats you last.

At a quick glance, it might be that your info/data/intel is not factual;

“ Asylum seekers under 40 years of age do not outnumber the combined military personnel of the UK and Ireland.

Official government data shows that the total number of active and reserve military personnel across both nations significantly exceeds the total volume of asylum seekers, even before filtering the asylum seeker data down to just those under 40.” 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

Betony

Crikey, is that statue in the European Parliament in Strasbourg for real? (Just checking it isn't April 1st!). What a total waste of money by a country deeply in debt. I don't like Trump myself, but this ham fisted attempt at 'satirising' him is not only childish; it's in appalling taste. And they want us to rejoin? This ain't the way to encourage us, Messieurs.

It’s part of a very short exhibition, it’s cost Strasbourg nothing and it’s been brought to the exhibition, by a Danish MEP!

Underneath the photos I did put all of the associated info for context.

Personally I think the statue of the current POTUS is in exceptionally bad taste, as is the description plaque.

I appreciate that art is often satirical and/or controversial but there really is a time and a place.

As for sanctioning Israel, I am in two minds on this.

I think Israel have gone too far this time however, they regularly provide the U.K. with intelligence which considering the current world situation could prove damaging if withdrawn.

Crikey, is that statue in the European Parliament in Strasbourg for real? (Just checking it isn't April 1st!). What a total waste of money by a country deeply in debt. I don't like Trump myself, but this ham fisted attempt at 'satirising' him is not only childish; it's in appalling taste. And they want us to rejoin? This ain't the way to encourage us, Messieurs.

Didn't you say something about it being in the DNA of the Palestians FGT, the desire for trouble?

This just gets worse and worse. The lack of any humanity is awful.

paddyann54

FGT so you’re happy to watch innocent people bombed daily ,homes destroyed olive groves burned ,children shot in the head?
I know October 7th is getting the blame for this but the abhorrent treatment of Palestinians started with the Nakba and continued year after year after year ever since .
There is NO excuse for this and Netanyahu and his vile IDF must be stopped.
As for Trump

I utterly agree!

Sorry Banksy! Not Banky

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202610/medium-fg6y4m-img-2127.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202610/medium-a3jupj-img-2126.jpeg

Whitewavemark2

Art has always been used to criticise, praise or satarise politicians. If Trump cant cope with it. he needs to get over himself.

Sanctions are used to show disapproval of another governments actions, it is a democratic action.

👏👏👏👏👏

Btw, where was the outrage over some of Banky’s artwork, some aimed directly at our own government?

Personal feelings have little plzce in international relations. We have allies for the time-being, not friends for ever.

Art has always been used to criticise, praise or satarise politicians. If Trump cant cope with it. he needs to get over himself.

Sanctions are used to show disapproval of another governments actions, it is a democratic action.

paddyann54 fully agree

In the UK and Ireland we have a rising population of young fit fighting age man and they are not British/Irish.
Their numbers now outnumber our Military

We don’t know where they are from, who they are and in many cases where they are.

Every day more and more arrive.

I have no doubt that they will eventually organise themselves, we will then have an alien army we have fed, housed, clothed and educated.

When that day happens who will you put your trust in?
Or are you feeding the crocodile in the hope it eats you last.

FGT so you’re happy to watch innocent people bombed daily ,homes destroyed olive groves burned ,children shot in the head?
I know October 7th is getting the blame for this but the abhorrent treatment of Palestinians started with the Nakba and continued year after year after year ever since .
There is NO excuse for this and Netanyahu and his vile IDF must be stopped.
As for Trump

Those are my thoughts exactly, Fried Green Tomatoes. I was listening to News items this morning discussing the reduction of staff and services in the Consulate in Israel, Miliband's poor handling of his meting meeting with Iran and that offensive sculpture of Trump and wondering whatever happened to diplomacy.
Some politicians seem to allow their personal opinions to guide their actions without considering the use of diplomatic skills first to avoid or postpone direct confrontation.
Trump controls NATO and we may need to rely on him.
We have very little defence of our own, despite promises.

We rely heavily on intel from Israel and Trump, like it or not has bases here in the UK and IS an ally, no matter what the present UK government are trying to unravel. The USA is a super power. We dismiss our friends with impunity these days it seems.

Which is why Burnham is cosying up to the EU. Yes, the ones who have all had to be cajoled by Trump to up their defence budgets. Which they are very grudgingly doing and it’ll take years (2030 and beyond, to reach 5% of GDP).

Madness Burnham and Milliband, just so reckless. I cannot believe we are being so foolish.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202610/medium-3wxz72-img-2125.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202610/medium-ofvde-img-2124.jpeg

AI

“ A controversial, naked statue of Donald Trump coated in 23-karat gold leaf has been unveiled inside the European Parliament building in Strasbourg, France.
Titled "The Orange Plague" (and alternatively known as the "King of Injustice"), the 2.5-metre (8.5-foot) tall satirical installation is the work of well-known Danish sculptor Jens Galschiøt.

Key Details of the Statue

• The Imagery: The sculpture depicts a entirely nude Donald Trump holding a comically large golf club and a world-shaped ball in one hand, balanced by a set of scales in the other. He is shown perched on the shoulders of a much smaller, frail, and sinking man.
• The Message: Inscribed on a plaque at the base of the statue is a satirical pledge:"I am sitting on the back of a man. He is sinking under my burden. I will do anything to help him. Except stepping down from his back. – The King of Injustice."
• The Intent: Galschiøt framed the artwork as a "satirical outcry" against the volatility of American foreign and green policies. The artist explicitly noted that Trump represents an obstacle to global efforts to address the climate crisis and the rules-based international order.

Exhibition Context

The piece was installed at one of the parliament's busiest intersections connecting two central buildings. It was brought to the venue via an invitation from Per Clausen, a left-wing Danish Member of the European Parliament (MEP), who defended the display as a test of political thick-skinnedness on the world stage. According to reports from CNN and Euronews, the short-term exhibition is scheduled to remain in place through Thursday.”

I’m so sorry, but I cannot agree that either Israel or USA are currently our “best allies”.

Each to their own though.

Israel need to stop, right now, destroying an entire country.

Trump is a complete madman.

Trump is a great ally? In what way?

Do you agree with what Israel is doing on the west bank?