Sir Keir: On Israel and Russia.

Having come from a meeting with his counterparts: Joe Biden, US President, Olaf Scholz, German Chancellor, and Emmanual Macron, French President, Sir Keir Starmer was addressing the issues of Israel and Russia.

First off Sir Keir had a little venom for the regime of Benjamin Netanyahu. Repeating a statement he made at the UN, Sir Keir said the world would not stand idly by and tolerate "any more excuses from Israel on aid" for Gaza. Joe Biden too has threatened Israel that it must stop its blockade of northern Gaza. The embargo is to starve out remnants of Hamas still resisting the Israeli Defence Forces. The US has given Netanyahu 30 days to allow more trucks carrying aid into that area. Egypt and the UAE dropped food into Gaza via their airforces. 30 trucks went in also carrying much-needed food to starving Gazans. Scholz, Macron, Biden, and Starmer are shoulder-to-shoulder on this one (at least in public).

Starmer is a supporter of Israel and makes no bones about that. His wife is Jewish, his kids are probably being brought up in that faith. He attends Friday night dinners with his Jewish friends and family. When Israel enacted a siege on Gaza Mr. Starmer went on record as saying Israel had the right to do so in light of October 7. Starmer has Christians and a Muslim, in his cabinet. Starmer is an atheist, however, he welcomes faith as a good thing.

Sir Keir still reiterates that the UK government still supports Israel's so- called "right to defend itself". The UK has put a partial ban on arms shipments to Israel. The US has said that if Israel doesn't comply with the 30-day-period of allowing more aid into northern Gaza it will cut off arms. Whether these statements are just put out to show the West is being tough on Netanyahu or are they genuine is known only to these leaders.

Sir Keir also waxed lyrical about the alleged 10 - 12,000 North Korean troops being sent to help Russia. He said 40% of Russia's budget was being spent on its war with Ukraine. Russia had lost many soldiers and equipment in the conflict. If it proved to be true that Kim Jong-un was willing to sacrifice 10 - 12,000 of his troops in Russia's war it shows Russia is desperate.

Sir Keir emphasised that He and other Western leaders were iron-clad in their support for Zelenskyy. Going back to Israel, Sir Keir reiterated that the only solution to the problem of the war was a two-state solution. That is Israel and Palestine alongside each other in peace and security. When you come down to it, it is doable. However, it will take visionary leaders on both sides to have the guts to enact this. With the intransigence of both sides that is an idea for an ideal world.

The same can be said for the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Peace has been muted but nothing concrete has transpired. Ukraine continues to be propped up by the West as it may have fallen if not. Russia since its full- scale invasion in 2021 is becoming desperate. Yes, it occupies much land in the east of Ukraine, yet it cannot make any more progress. Hence it too is being propped up by Iran, North Korea, and maybe China. Western and Ukrainian fears are that any peace deal with Russia would leave 'Vlad the Invader' in control of the east of Ukraine and Crimea. Any peace deal between Hamas and Israel that would leave Hamas still in control of Gaza is a no-no for the Israelis. And on the Hamas side, they would not be happy if Netanyahu clung on to power.

Asked about domestic matters, like the coming budget of Chancellor Rachel Reeves Starmer would not commit or comment too much. For domestic matters, it seemed Sir Keir was remaining, tight-lipped with a wait-and-see demeanour.