The term "the Holocaust" has become so attached to one particular event that I feel that trying to reclaim "holocaust" for other events is not only potentially disrespectful to those who died in the Holocaust but also a potential source of confusion. You have the reader having to process whether you are referring to the Nazi atrocity even if you are not. There is only one other historical event that could reasonably lay claim, I think, and that is the Armenian genocide, which, I believe, once had the word holocaust attached to it long before the Nazis came along, but that didn't really catch on. Canute demonstrated that you can't turn back the tide. I suppose there are still a valiant few who capriciously continue to think that gay means jolly.

Keith, I posted a link ages ago to demonstrate to you that Mr Jabari, a leading light in Hamas, was negotiating a truce and was attempting to bring about a longer-term ceasefire when he was murdered in a single act that showed how unfit the Israeli administration is to run a chippy, let alone a nation. Yes, we could all demonise Hamas as a bunch of subhuman, rabid Islamists, as you do, and which they are not, but even if they were that would not stop them from being pragmatic when there is something on the table. I've also reminded you that Gerry Adams and co. did not revoke their demand for a united Ireland even though they were pragmatic enough to see that peace would mean far better times for their people. Hamas will be exactly the same. But if you offer them nothing, as Israel does, they have nothing to lose. A real prospect of peace and a bit more prosperity will have them round the table. Cloud cuckoo land? Yeah, well we all said that about the IRA, didn't we?