The terrible war in Gaza is taking place as I write with yet another cease fire ending with ceaseless fire. My question to myself is what is it not to take a position against Israel despite the clear case for one. Although the case is clear and there is a strong popular voice to support Palestinians politically the Israel remains inviolate. Still I feel uncomfortable with the voices that call for the demonisation of Israel. I’m not even Jewish but I feel that in taking this position of not condemning I am opening myself to agression. I remain uncomfortable with the ease with which Jewishness and Israel are confounded and fearful of the repercusssions. It is rather similar to the position my mother took before her death vis a vis the war in Iraq which she couldn’t bring herself to repudiate. Confusion and discomfort with the popularism of the call to abandon Israel. I keep this to myself by and large.