OPINION: Moral indignation at Israel doesn’t apply to other states

We are seeing Israel baiting at its worst

By Robert Halfon, MP for Harlow

Over the past three years, Assad’s regime has caused 160,000 deaths in Syria and the displacement of two million refugees.

Apart from the vote against intervention last September, MPs’ reaction has been muted. Organisations that are the first to be out on the streets whenever there is a conflict involving Israel have been absent.

When Israel responds to Hamas missiles, there is a mass reaction against it. In the past few days, we’ve seen a pro-Hamas demonstration in London and a Parliamentary statement with Israel’s critics lining up to take pot shots.

Although Israel’s friends gave their support, the Commons saw Israel baiting at its worst. Liberal and Labour members urged an EU boycott of Israel, with very few acknowledging it was under constant missile attack.

Few focused on Hamas’ role as a terrorist organisation or the involvement of Iran.

Moral indignation, always so prevalent when Israel seeks to defend itself, dissipates when it comes to Syria, Iran or Iraq.

The political criticism of Israel is even more astonishing given the lengths the Government has gone to make peace, including acceptance of the ceasefire proposed by Egypt and rejected by Hamas.

After the 2005 unilateral Gaza withdrawal, 11,000 rockets have been fired, while Hamas and Islamic Jihad’s missiles have become longer in their range and more deadly.

The free world has lost its moral compass. Iraq – and soon Afgh­anistan – are left to be easy prey to Islamists, while Syria has become a killing field.

Instead of supporting democratic nations such as Israel and Kurdistan, the response veers between appeasement.

It’s hard to believe the US is considering working with Iran against the threat of ISIS in Iraq.