In the UK today, you could be forgiven for thinking there are two worlds. There’s the one that sees tens of thousands of people take to the streets voicing their support for the Palestinians. And there’s the one that sees politicians almost unanimously voicing their support for Israel.
It’s as if the two can’t meet, that there is not a halfway. From the pro-Palestinian lobby, it’s to be expected. Such is the grievance of some with Israel that the Hamas attacks, despite their barbarity, are going to make little difference. But from the political class, which prides itself on making connections across society, which likes to believe it is close to the zeitgeist, and which includes some argument in favour of the Palestinian cause, this is strange.
So odd in fact as to be virtually unique. It is rare for MPs and peers across the spectrum to speak with one voice. It usually happens when Britain goes to war, when no matter what they might suppose about the overall merits of the conflict they are mindful of having sons and daughters from their constituencies who may be serving in the armed forces. They’re concerned, too, about riling the press and being seen as unpatriotic.
Otherwise, this degree of polarisation does not normally occur. It did take place with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But in that instance, there were no pro-Russian demonstrations; there is no large Russian population in Britain.
With the Israel-Gaza war, there are substantial Jewish and Arab communities, yet no one at Westminster is speaking up for the Palestinians, not in public at any rate.
The reasons for the lack of balance are various. Most of the mainstream coverage has focused extensively on the savagery displayed by Hamas. More than two weeks on, that still features heavily on news bulletins and in newspapers, as Israel releases bodycam images from killed Hamas perpetrators. It’s been a constant drip feed, day after day.
Then there is the desire to prevent an escalation, to stop Iran entering the war, to try and confine the fighting to Gaza and dissuade Hezbollah from opening a second front in the north, from Lebanon.
That is the US government’s policy and as so often in these episodes, the UK falls neatly in behind.
Washington has sent giant warships to the Eastern Mediterranean, partly to assist with humanitarian efforts but also to act as a deterrent. The financially strapped British contribution has been two much smaller craft. Quite how the latter will instil fear in Tehran or anywhere remains to be seen but as the Ministry of Defence must see it, they are better than nothing.
In Britain as well, as elsewhere, there is another factor at work. The economy is exhausted. Covid-19 followed by Ukraine and global inflation have weighed heavily on the national psyche and purse. The thought of a prolonged regional war (or worse) wreaking untold human and financial suffering is the last thing anyone wants.
That in a nutshell is the Conservative party approach, to condemn Hamas (and let us not forget British civilians were killed or captured in the raids). With that, too, has come an opportunity for BBC-bashing, which the right always seizes upon. The corporation’s refusal to describe Hamas as terrorists was used by the BBC-hating right-wing media and Tories.
More of a surprise has been Labour’s stance. After all, it was not that long ago – in 2018 – when the party’s annual conference was awash with Palestinian flags.
This year’s gathering, which began the weekend of the Hamas onslaught, was notable for there not being a single Palestinian flag or pro-Palestine banner inside the main hall. There were some people demonstrating for Palestine outside the ring of security encircling the delegates and one or two MPs were seen to side with them, only to be swiftly criticised by the party leadership.
The Labour response can be explained in similar terms to the Tories, but with an added twist.
There was shock at Hamas’s brutality, there is a desire for the war not to spread and bring in Iran. In addition, where Labour is concerned, there is an almost pathological desire in the hierarchy to put distance between this iteration of their party and Jeremy Corbyn’s.
What accompanied the sea of Palestinian flags and the chanting of slogans in support of Gaza and the West Bank at the conferences in the Corbyn era were accusations of institutional anti-Semitism. For an organisation that liked to portray itself as most definitely not racist, as being supportive of anyone, regardless of ethnicity or faith, this was embarrassing and mortifying.
Since he took charge, Labour leader Keir Starmer has made it his mission to stamp out any anti-Semitic views, to show that Labour is not remotely that way inclined. That has meant not declaring support for the Palestinians. If Mr Corbyn had been in charge, it is safe to say that Labour’s position would have been very different.
Which is not to say there are no stirrings.
The longer it continues, Israel’s bombing of Gaza, and with it the inevitable inflicting of casualties on civilians and the resulting humanitarian crisis, is testing resolve. The deadly strike on Al Ahli Arab Hospital looked like it could be a turning point but the government, in the shape of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak himself, was quick to point the blame away from Israel.
At present, Israel is just about enjoying sympathy across the UK political divide. It’s straining, though. The comparison with the US after 9/11 is repeatedly made, that in the short-term the US was on the end of a wave of widespread international condolence, only to lose it in Iraq and Afghanistan and at Guantanamo.
Israel would do well to pay heed and avoid making the same mistake or else it will find that commiseration, from the left and even from the right, can switch to anger.
