By Leah Levane
large numbers of Iranian and Lebanese people are being killed, Israelis are running into shelters and, by the way, the world economy could be turned into ash and for what? To show the consequence of the pulverisation of Gaza with near impunity now means the end of the “international rules based order” and that might will always be right?
Marina Hyde writes scathingly about the warmongers amongst us who take Trump’s whinge about Starmer that ““This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with” as a personal affront.
That Starmer did not go gung-ho into an obviously illegal war is neither here not there. Nor is his buckling within twenty-four hours to a position of supporting the US “defensively” …
Joel Swanson is worried and rightly so at the fallout from the open declaration that Israeli strategic priorities have shaped the US’s response on Iran.
Just a fifth of American supported the bombings when they started. So it is important, he argues to give a clear accounting of why of how we got where we are.
“What is uncomfortable”, says Swanson, “is how easily legitimate questions about Israel’s role in stoking this war can slide into conspiracy theories – with social media awash with talk of “puppet masters”, “dual loyalties” and the like.
A useful compilation of new anti-migrant government measures and reactions against them, prepared by Mike Phipps of Labour Hub.
These include a decision that all new refugees can only stay temporalily, to be reviewed every six months; a clampdown on study visas; and a higher standard of English.
By Leah Levane
The Home Affairs Select Committee Report regarding the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans is a blatant example of double standards shown in the UK. These double standards applied to Muslims contribute to enabling the application of double standards to the war crimes of Israel (and the USA) compared with those of Iran and of its leaders.
By Leah Levane
We have opposed the Islamic Republic and supported the brave Iranian protesters who have filled Iran’s streets demanding freedom for many decades and more recently in January 2026. But bombs do not bring democracy. Bombs silence people.
By Leah Levane
In 2015 Shabana Mahmood wanted safe routes for refugees to get to Europe. “We cannot abandon them to their fate, lIn 2015eft as prey for smugglers whilst risking death on the seas.” Did she have to leave compassion behind to become Home Secretary?
By Leah Levane
“Scheming aliens undermining our values” is a narrative built across a century and more, originally by antisemites. It has been drilled into our heads as if it were an incontrovertible truth. It creates an environment in which every minority becomes less safe – not just Muslims, recent immigrants, refugees, Black and Brown people, but also Jews and everyone else who has suffered at the hands of the far right. Learn it or repeat it: that is, and has always been, our choice.
By Leah Levane
A recent poll of young Jewish Israelis reveals high levels of support for Netanyahu, a terrifying prospect and there will be elections this year. It seems that the endless propaganda has worked; that they are the chosen people, that everyone who disagrees is Amalek and so as these young people are also becoming more religious they can justify the occupation and killings. They may be more right wing than their parents but only marginally more so. Truly terrifying.
By Leah Levane
None of the choices Netanyahu has made were inevitable products of trauma from October 7th but were the decisions of a man who has always treated politics as existential when it comes to himself. To say that the war on Iran is also a war on accountability for October 7, is not to deny Israeli trauma or danger. It is to refuse the demand that Netanyahu’s motives be treated as holy.