A step in the right direction

The Starmer government’s decision to recognise the State of Palestine may be no more than a diplomatic gesture of support but it nevertheless clearly recognises, at long last, the legitimate rights of the Palestinian Arabs to self-determination and independence. The United Kingdom, together with a number of its Western allies, have now joined the overwhelming majority of countries around the world that have long recognised the Palestinians right to establish a state of their own on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The United States and Israel can now only count on the support of a handful of venal puppets in the international arena.
The surge of support in the corridors of power throughout the Western world reflects a new realism towards the Palestinians and the Zionist entity. At the same time it is a response, and an attempt to pacify, the overwhelming support for the Palestinian Arabs on the street that has led to the despatch of Italian and Spanish warships to protect the aid flotilla sailing to Gaza and fired calls to kick Israel out of the Eurovision song contest and the World Cup.
Zionist drones have repeatedly harassed the Global Sumud Flotilla to Gaza. Luckily nobody has been hurt, but all those onboard are now on high alert. These boats are on a mercy mission to break Israel's illegal siege and deliver much-needed aid to the Palestinians in Gaza who are facing Israel's genocide. The British government must also act now to protect the flotilla and those onboard, and take action to end its complicity in Israel's genocide.
Much more now needs to be done. The international community must sever all economic ties with Israel over its actions in Gaza and should question its membership of the United Nations. Israel must withdraw from all the occupied territories and recognition of a Palestinian state must be followed by recognition of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian Arab refugees whose homes are now in Israel.  They must be allowed to return or, if they so wish, be paid appropriate compensation in exchange. 

Burnham shows his cards

By all accounts Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, is on the verge of returning to front-line Labour politics. He says Downing Street has created a “climate of fear” within the Labour Party and tells the media that Labour MPs have privately urged him to challenge Starmer for the leadership. That, of course, is easier said than done.
The not so young pretender first of all needs to find a safe, vacant Labour seat to return to the House of Commons before he can move to oust Starmer – and though some seats may soon be up for grabs getting the nomination largely depends on the goodwill of the Labour bureaucracy. He then needs to win the seat in a by-election – no mean feat these days with Labour in the doldrums and Farage on a roll – to garner sufficient support needed within the Labour bloc in parliament before a challenge can even take place.
Burnham is, nevertheless, preparing his platform and already saying he’s willing to work with the Liberal-Democrats and Jeremy Corbyn to face off the Faragists. But there’s plenty of others waiting in the wings who want to fill Starmer’s shoes. If Burham doesn’t move quickly he’ll miss the boat.