Friends on both sides

Well, the protests have escalated while I was out of town. I know Father Gerald Burns, David Zwartz, Cat Noakes-Duncan and Adrian Leason (whose son, Mana, is pictured at a protest). They are all good people. And all have strong views on the situation in Gaza. But I certainly think its a little weird that Zwartz is moaning about kids being plastered in fake blood saying that to have kids in protests like that is wrong because they don't "know of the politics of war". Does he think it is wrong for Israel to plaster at least 260 kids with real blood in the past few days, just as much as he thinks it is wrong for Hamas to fire rockets?

At least the kids with the fake blood are pictured alive. About as alive as these girls who are pictured writing notes on Israeli missiles that read "Nazrala whit love, From Israel and Daniele". Do you think that is fine, Mr Zwartz or perhaps these kids know of the politics of war so that makes it okay?

Israel's disgusting attacks

So, there's a truce in the war in Gaza. Israel sets up a three-hour truce so that humanitarian workers can get aid to civilians.

Then fires at and kills the aid workers. How can the UN continue in these circumstances when its own aid workers are being killed and injured, even when they are in direct coordination with the Israeli liaison people, who are supposed to ensure their safety.I don't blame the UN for suspending relief until it can be assured humanitarian workers come out alive during a ceasefire.

Although Hamas started this scrap, I guess its one step forward for Israel - from drinking Pepsi while watching Gaza burn, to killing aid workers when their fingers are not supposed to be on triggers.

Why a Catholic Priest would splatter paint over a Israeli memorial plaque

Porirua Catholic Priest Father Gerard Burns, in a protest this week, splattered paint mixed with his own blood over the memorial of assassinated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzkan Rabin, when protesting against the Israel Defence Force operation in Gaza. It even made news in the Jerusalem Post.

Although Rabin did win the Nobel Peace Prize when he signed the Oslo Peace accord with Yassir Arafat, it was the Israelis who opposed this accord and so perhaps Burns saw this memorial as a symbol of the Israel state.

Burns is pro- Palestinian, and is an advocate for Palestinian Christians. He does understand international relations - he has recently completed a Masters degree in the discipline. So more than most, he would consider the Israeli attacks an injustice. But he has received a bit of stick for the protest. Meanwhile not too many are as appalled at Green MP Keith Locke for supporting Hamas. Hamas believes that Israel has no right to existand declares itself as committed to destroying Israel.

The fact is this: if Hamas stopped firing rockets, Israel will stop bombing. But if Israel stopped bombing, Hamas would still be firing rockets. You wouldn't hear Keith Locke say that but Gerard Burns would agree with that fact. Both would say that Israel, not Hamas, broke the ceasefire... because it did. Twice.

also.. latest Robert Fisk Why do they hate the West so much, we will ask.