An isolated state - Israel losing friends it badly needs

JUST as the international community, almost with a single voice, angrily condemned the murder of nine peace protestors – or Hamas sleepers as Israel would like us to believe – Israel shrugged off the condemnation with indignation and considerable arrogance.

All around the world Israeli spokesmen and supporters held the line, insisting that they are entitled to do more or less anything they wish, legal or criminal, to prevent Gaza being used as a base for attacks on their country. As they have shown, as late as yesterday, this includes killing innocent Palestinians, mostly women and children. Because Israel used weapons banned by international convention to do this, it has been suggested that they should be charged with war crimes.

As late as yesterday afternoon this policy continued with air raids on Gaza. It is believed that at least three people were killed in the attacks.