egg

It's not all about the 20 Israeli's mate. The issue is a wee bit bigger than that. A proper solution is essential otherwise we'll be back here soon. Ceasefire needed, release of the captives on both sides, a sustained peace. That's just the beginning. We're about an hour into that. Let's not get ahead of ourselves, and suggesting that we don't need more than that is daft.

Love it!! Hopefully he sort Cats as well.

He's sorting Chicago, that'll do!

I think there's been as much strong arming of Israel as of Hamas here, and there needed to be. Left to their own devices, they'd have carried on filling their boots. Donny deserves some credit, of course, but not the excessive ego massaging he craves and is getting.

Quite. The people doing the conceding, and those mediating, did the heavy lifting. Sure, Donny's threats / coercion / whatever, behind the scenes paved the way, but let's not elevate what he's directly done here.

Until Israel stops smashing up Gaza, nothing has been achieved. There then needs to be a release of the Israeli and Palestinian captives. Then something, albeit just a start, will have been achieved. Promises, agreements, gestures is this situation are little more than noise. As for Trump, let's see this end, proper peace break out and be sustained, and understand Trump's part in it. Until then, I'll save my clapping for the fool.

Yep. Nothings been achieved yet - the IDF have hit with airstrikes since the ceasefire was ratified, and separately are still attacking the west bank. If Israel won't stop, they can't stay stopped.

Your focus is exclusively on the Israelis. Yes, they (and the others) should never have been taken, but, there's goodness knows how many Palestinians, kids included, held without charge. All of those people should be released simultaneously.

The US are the only game in town on international "diplomacy", but, does getting things done via threats and intimidation merit credit? That said, I'd be delighted if we can achieve a ceasefire and the hostages & captives released, although we ain't there yet.

The credit is largely due to the negotiators and those compromising on the Israeli and Palestinian side. I'll reserve any significant credit for Trump until it's clear what he's actually said or done to bring people into line, although he's clearly put a foot up arses.

Ditto. I switched it on 20 mins or so in and was surprised it wasn't packed with unknowns. Pleasantly surprised by the line up and formation, and I love the Winkleman. Will stick with it.

The last 2 years is on them. This isn't just a last 2 years issue though.

It wasn't Hamas who blew up the Gaza airport or sealed it's borders. Or built divides, checkpoints and turnstiles all over the West Bank. Or supplied/controlled Palestinian water and electricity.

Indeed. Stamp Duty is a major earner, and should continue to be. I think the levels are daft though and need looking at.

And put people where? Leave them roaming the streets? And absurd to suggest we stop supporting Ukraine.

Ah, gotcha 👍

It is. But. The Israel/Palestinian issue is in reality a nationalistic land issue. Sure, it's origins are in religion, but Zionism is at least as big a factor as that, ditto the Palestinians wanting autonomy and a life without oppression. To call this a religious issue all but ignores what's happened post WW2, and the respective positions and objectives of both sides.

Indeed. "That mosque burning" I had interpreted as meaning the Peacehaven terror incident with the people inside, not the Kettering one.

I think you're confusing the Peacehaven incident with one in Kettering.

I don't think that Hamas anticipated the sheer scale of the Israeli reaction. They certainly did not expect to see Iran shown as so vulnerable, and unable to lay a glove on Israel. Whilst Israel have not made themselves any friends here, they've confirmed themselves as the dominant force in the middle east. My hope is that the talks lead to an immediate ceasefire, simultaneous release of hostages and Palestinian detainees, then a maintained ceasefire while they continue talks. It won't happen, but a man lives on hope.

Sadly the Israeli regime do. Reality is more relevant than a fear that can never bear fruit.

Let me know when they decimate a territory, it's infrastructure, and kill 20k+ kids, and we'll have a conversation about it mate. But yep, they're vile. The Israeli government too. It's possible to condemn both sides. Give it a whirl.

Ha! Probably a tad more basic...water, sewage, houses, schools, infrastructure, you know, the stuff that civilised countries don't smash up.

I think there's an interpretation issue. Hamas won't want for the rebuild of Gaza before the release of the thousands of detained Palestinians. Their other requirements are reasonable.

It's hard to see where his career goes from here. Whether he'd be willing to drop back to the championship, or even league 1, I'd be surprised. Even then, his commitment to a process which plainly doesn't work, and his comments about his players, are hardly going to appeal to many chairman.