Good perspective, Joe. I've tried to be more careful in recent years how I put things. I've been to a number of European countries, including northern Cyprus, and found without fail that the denizens thereof in all of 'em are just like "us." Same aspirations, same need for a peaceful life, same foibles, same irritating little ways (parking cars all over the pavements, dumping rubbish undetected, trying to kill me on pedestrian crossings) but always friendly, helpful and welcoming in every way, proud of their culture and heritage and rarely out to rip me off (the UK is the worst place I know for that). We had friends who lived on the Dhekelia military base in Cyprus who took us all over the island on three separate visits, and we stayed in Kyrenia, in the unrecognised northern republic, full of lovely people. There were thousands of strutting Turkish soldiers and a huge, threatening Turkish military base in Kyrenia, but the most menacing military guys I saw were on the Greek side near the Green Line checkpoints. Some real gits there.

So I'm not over the moon about "the Israelis" having a lot to answer for. Living in a country where most people were kept pig-ignorant of the issues then goaded into voting in a referendum, and seeing what happened in the last US election, I have a feeling that most ordinary Israelis just want to get on with their lives and quite likely take little interest in the politics of the country on anything like a deep level. So I'd rather refer to the Israeli regime, who, in my view, have a hell of a lot to answer for, along with many another faction in the region. I'm pretty sure that is your sentiment too, banjoman. But best not to give the hawks around here any ammunition.