Israeli apologist Mark Regev and like-minded souls are wringing their hands in despair and pleading that all they want is for Palestinians to break from Hamas and get behind more moderate leaders. At the same time, observers on all sides are noting that Hamas - close to a spent force after the deal with Fatah - has seen its support soar as a result of the Israeli offensive.

Yet still Netanyahu blunders on, creating a new family of enemies for every child that dies, pandering to populist opinion as voiced for instance by brainless Zionists, wrapped in their national flag, jubilantly chanting that there are no more schools in Gaza because there are no more Gaza children. His arrogance is founded in a belief that anyone who questions him can be labelled anti-semitic. As far as the UK is concerned, there is some basis for that belief. And in the US of course Israel is beyond criticism, thanks to the disproportionate leverage exercised by a monied Zionist lobby. But elsewhere around the world Israel is increasingly loathed, and indeed old-style anti-semitism is in evidence again - a direct consequence of Israel's disregard for innocent lives.

This present conflict has the potential ultimately to threaten the principles that underpin the UN. That would delight many in the US who have never liked having to conform to any sort of world consensus. But with the US already on course to lose top billing in the world order, such minded folk should be careful what they wish for.

"The Jews were the first victims of Hitler; the Palestinians were the second" - Peter Ustinov