Keir Starmer must understand that Benjamin Netanyahu is behaving like a threatening rogue state leader or Britain could find itself drawn into another bloody war in the Middle East, says Kevin Maguire.
That Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is behaving like a menacing rogue state leader is a truth Keir Starmer is hesitant to utter, but one he must be careful to avoid drawing Britain into another bloody war in the Middle East.
Derailing nuclear talks that had a reasonable chance of success by attacking Iran was a calculated move by an Israeli prime minister who daily shows contempt for the British prime minister by ignoring calls to end the unacceptable killing and suffering of Palestinians in Gaza. Iran is not Britain’s conflict, and being drawn into the fire if calls for restraint are ignored by both sides would risk repeating the mistakes of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Using UK aircraft and air power to protect UK personnel and bases may be seen as a sensible precaution. Taking on Israel is not justifiable when a traditional ally is run by the most reactionary right-wing group in its history. Netanyahu has been keen to strike Iran for years, and Donald Trump is the first US president to give him the option.
Stopping Iran’s nuclear weapons development to join Britain, Israel, the US, France, Russia, China, India, Pakistan and North Korea as the world’s tenth country with a doomsday device is desirable, though it is also hypocritical to those who maintain or build up their own WMD stockpiles. How the international community can stop proliferation after Trump unilaterally tore up the deal that constrained Tehran in his first presidency is a huge challenge.
But Netanyahu, who failed to protect Israelis from the horrific Hamas onslaught, is putting his people at risk. He is not interested in a solution to the Palestinians, given Israeli war crimes in Gaza and settler violence in the occupied West Bank – an onslaught of extremists from the river to the sea in his own office.
Hezbollah in Lebanon has been decapitated at the cost of many civilian casualties. Regime change in oppressed, illiberal, despotic Iran, whoever comes next, will likely be a benefit to that country and the world.
But Netanyahu is out of control, and Starmer knows this truth and must follow it, even while holding his tongue.
Young transplant patient truly inspires
A flamboyant and brilliant speaker, young transplant patient Charlie Freeland is truly inspiring after spending much of his childhood battling kidney disease. I watched MPs and peers hang on his every word as the 15-year-old described, without pity, the suffering he had endured.
Wes Streeting, the UK health minister, also said that following Charlie's eloquent speech at a parliamentary hearing hosted by Lord Dave Watts was a ticket to hospital. Charlie is recovering, “I've had my childhood back” after the transplant, he said, and he supports home dialysis, which Streeting is keen to develop.
It saves patients long distances and precious NHS resources, costing between £16,000 and £23,000 per patient per year, compared with £20,000 to £23,000 for hospital treatment and up to £33,000 if transport is included. Streeting has only one kidney after losing the other to cancer, so he is keenly aware of why the NHS is a lifeline.
Increasing the home dialysis rate from 17.4% will help more Charlies and demonstrate that the extra money is well spent. Coincidentally, a close friend of mine with kidney problems has recently started home treatment and is able to work or watch TV.
Sourse: www.mirror.co.uk
