I fully understand that policy can only deal with moving the present into the future but, here, as in N.Ireland, the past stands tall behind the motivations of all sides.

It is worth being reminded, as a necessary corrective, of the behaviours of all parties in this situation. Certainly, the western media are full of reminders of how beastly Palestinians are and have been for generation upon generation.

You are correct to point out that this doesn't move us forward towards a solution. Sadly, all of the fulminations on websites and the acres of newsprint have absolutely no impact, all we can do is tell our tales of what was and what might be. But the ending is not in our hands, not the UK's nor even, for once, in the those of the US. It is in their's, Israel, the Palestinian's, the Lebanese and the Syrians. And their's alone.

And meanwhile, this has been a useful tale for those of us uselessly wringing our hands on the sidelines.

keep to the Fen Causeway