The Assembly will hold a debate on the appalling situation in Gaza on Wednesday.
The motion rather blandly reads:
“This Assembly notes the concern raised in Wales by individuals, organisations and public protests relating to the military action taken in the Gaza strip.”
‘Notes the concern’ – which to be fair is I suspect all most of us can manage – to be vaguely concerned. We see the t.v. pictures and read the newspapers but how much do we really understand of the history behind this? And how many of us can even begin to comprehend the depth of feeling engendered that drives people to commit such atrocities on all sides?
It is therefore all too easy to make sweeping statements and let emotion take over – and dare I suggest all too easy for some politicians to try and gain brownie points from this.
Plaid MEP Jill Evans has suggested that Wales should offer hospital treatment to children injured in Gaza. On the face of it an admirable thought, but how practical is it?
Our health service is already creaking under the strain, and can it actually deal with a sudden influx of children needing one would suspect quite complicated treatment. – and indeed why only children? I am not suggesting we should sit back and do nothing, just that it is sometimes easy to make sweeping statements without thinking through the practicalities.
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The fact is that anything other than bland would not have been accepted and given time for a debate. You may think its funny to attack politicians seeking to highlight the terrible military activity in Gaza but your attacks would be better directed at the Assembly for constraining the debate. Personally I think the fact these views are being discussed at an assembly level is good.
Call yourself liberal!