Free Republic

The United States has joined Israel in accusing Sir Keir Starmer of “rewarding Hamas” after he declared the UK will recognise Palestine in September unless Benjamin Netanyahu’s government makes peace. The Prime Minister issued the ultimatum to his Israeli counterpart after an emergency meeting of his Cabinet. Tammy Bruce, spokesperson for the US State department, said Sir Keir’s remarks were a “slap in the face for the victims of October 7” which “rewards Hamas”. “It allows it to continue. It gives one group hope, and that’s Hamas. It is a rewarding of that kind of behaviour,” she said, adding: “There’s...

Whenever I think that some Western country or institution has reached a low point, shortly thereafter, sometimes the very next week, another Western government or institution proves me too optimistic. Last week, it was the news that the Yale University Press will not allow any picture of Muhammad to appear in its forthcoming book on the Muhammad cartoons controversy. Not only will Yale not print the cartoons that are the subject of the book, Yale will not print any picture of Muhammad, no matter how respectful, no matter that a believing Muslim drew it, and no matter how long ago...