Lots more has been said today – but no one seems to be willing to press hard on Israel and hold them to account. David Milliband, the Shadow Foreign Scretary says: ‘The humanitarian suffering in Gaza is completely unjustified and self defeating for all those concerned with political progress in the Middle East.Vital supplies must be allowed into Gaza and the futile loss of civilian lives in this tragedy only increases that requirement.’ He says more here. I agree totally with what he says (you’d no doubt expect that as I am a Labour Party member) – but I have to say, David, it’s a real shame you did sodf all about this when you were the ACTUAL Foreign Secretary and could have done something about it.

The people ‘living’ (as regarding quality of life that is a loose term) in Gaza need food, medical supplies, water etc etc etc. The illegal Israeli blockade does not even allow concrete and other building materials through so that Palestinians can rebuild their homes. Instead, these people have to live amongst the rubble of what used to be their house.

If Israel will not allow humanitarian aid via road or sea from Turkey and other  close by states that it cannot trust – why can’t the European nations and the USA do something? I have a suggestion – why not have UK and us planes and helicopters fly aid and parachute it into Gaza … would Israel really accuse us of sending in military materials for Hamas and shoot down a Chinook helicopter?

WE have allowed these abuses to go on for too long. As humans we must stand up for justice of the oppressed. As Christians we need to be shouting louder about the everyday abuses that are allowed to exist here. no other country would be allowed to go unpunished for the abuses both inside and outside Israel that the Israelis have been allowed to commit … illegal building, illegal blockade, boarding a peaceful flotilla in inetrnational waters, ordering assassinations, cloning passports of its allies ….. the lack of respect and the arrognave shown to the rest of the world must stop.

Everyone hs a right to protect themselves – but regular disproportionate aggressions and violence is simply wrong.

The time for words is over …. surely it is time for Europe and the USA  to act!

Today was a more interesting Wednesday than normal. The day started with my normal routine Wednesday study time but today I stopped after lunch as I had to go to court to be a witness in a case that I am surprised got all the way to the county court, particularly as the incident allegedly happened in November 2007.

We met the barrister at around 1.30 and then waited to be called. After the barristers went in to the court room at 2.30 I was then left waiting for over an hour before I was called to give my evidence. At the end the judge kindly gave me permission to go but I asked if I could stay as I wished to see the outcome of the case. She kindly agreed and I can say that the person I was giving evidence on behalf of had the case against him dismissed. It was great to see, in my opinion, justice done in the court.

I don’t want to talk about the case as I don’t think that would be right but it was an amazingly interesting 4 or so hours that I spent in the courts. The number of conversations overheard was fascinating and the stress that many were under in family or small claim situations was clearly, and sadly, tangible. People were fairly emotional but despite this there was a strange air of calm about the place.

My main relfection from today is all around the idea of justice and how people can view the same incident differently. Today there were many people going into rooms to disagree with each other but, quite interestingly, willing to trust and abide by the judgment of one person after he or she had heard all the evidence from both sides. I think we take this for granted but I feel this is a massive plus of our society. Most of these people had very large grievances and yet – after being heard they were willing to allow someone else to make a decision that they would abide by.

Although some may ague that it is sad that most of these arguments could not be sorted out before hand, I think today has shown a real strength and credit of humanity and its trust of each other.

Yesterdays ASBO cartoon points to the Christian Aid website where you can send an email to encourage action to help the innocent civilians of Gaza. I sent an email to Gordon Brown and received this response to pass on to others. If you are shocked, angered, saddened by what is happening in Gaza

I’ve taken action on the crisis in Gaza. We all need to act to stop innocent civilians being killed. Please take action too so that we can show the government how strongly we feel about this issue. Click here to email Gordon Brown encouraging him to act.

Sometimes it takes a little country to make a stand for justice. If I were Venezuelian today I think I would be proud of my president who has expelled the Israeli envoy in protest at the Israeli offensive in Gaza reported here.

Mr Chavez is quoted to say:

“I call on the people of Israel to stand up against that government, to demand, to put a hand on their hearts and look at their children, and I call on the world to stop this madness.”

Who can disagree?

Lets pray that the world can stop this madness!

As I have been watching the news over the last week I have felt myself getting angrier and angrier. The disproportionate reaction of Israel to Hamas is obscene and it seems no one cares that innocent men, women and children are being slaughtered in the name of ‘war on terror’.

Any other nation at all and the UN would be complaining and the US and UK would be asking for action. It’s Israel so we sit back and allow it to happen. Violence in all forms is wrong; it is wrong that Hamas rockets have killed 4 Israelis, it is wrong that the Israeli reaction has killed 460 Palestinians and left another 2300 injured. In this case … who is the real terrorist? It is hard, however, to maintain an unbiased view with figures that illustrate such a massive loss of life. Israels reaction is surely in breach of international law.

ASBO Jesus sums up well with the cartoon