Is the world about to see the declaration of a new state?
Every few weeks, I have dinner with my half-brother Chris who is only a couple of years older than my son. He is incredibly bright and really interested in current affairs, so we always have fascinating discussions. Last night, he told me about the unsettling experience he had recently at the Royal Albert Hall when pro-Palestinian protesters repeatedly disrupted a Promenade concert played by an Israeli orchestra.
This led to a long discussion on the history and present state of the Arab/Israeli conflict in which Chris cross-examined on the respective views of the two sides. You can read my review of a book on the Middle East conflict here. Currently the Palestinians are working towards a vote in the United Nations that would recognise the fledgling state. You can read the latest position on the likely UN recognition of a Palestinian state here.