Chas Newkey-Burden's Blog, page 20

My year in books: part one

I read an awful lot. So I thought I’d keep a list of every book I have read in 2012. I’ll post this in three parts, and I’ll list the books in the approximate order in which I read them. I’d love to hear which books you read this year. Let me know in the [...]

Hamas spells it out

In recent years some people have claimed that Hamas is happy to live in peace, provided Israel returns to its pre-1967 borders. Yesterday, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal spoke at a ‘victory’ rally in Gaza. He emerged from a model of a Hamas rocket, and stood on a stage which represented the whole land of historic [...]

‘Is British journalism antisemitic’?

On the front page of this week’s Jewish Chronicle, tabloid legend Kelvin MacKenzie asks: ‘Is British journalism basically antisemitic?’ Kelvin, a former editor of The Sun who has holidayed in Israel several times and defended her on the BBC’s Question Time, says he is ‘puzzled’ by the hostile coverage Israel receives in the UK press. [...]

Save me from the saviours!

This is my latest column for the Jewish Chronicle ‘Chas, we can save you!’ When I received messages on my blog making this thrilling promise, I assumed they were spam from a finance company offering to consolidate my loans into one ‘easy’ payment. Instead, it turned out, they were from a Christian in Nigeria who, [...]

Gosh, it’s Josh

This beautiful video, for the Rich Bueno song Centre of the Sun, was edited and produced by my good friend – and OyVaGoy reader – Josh Gershuny. The multi-talented Josh is running next year’s London Marathon to raise funds for Magen David Adom UK. You can find out more about this charity, and Josh’s effort, [...]

Is it just me…

…or is there something really hot about Tzipi Livni? She can form a coalition with me anytime…

Holidays are coming…

I could start with the things I love about the festive season. But it’s more fun, surely, to talk about the things I hate? Top of the list are those appallingly manufactured experiences known as office Christmas parties. Now that I’m freelance, these are less of an chore. I more or less enjoy being invited [...]

A question about Gaza

In 2005, Israel unilaterally disengaged from Gaza, removing its settlements and soldiers from the territory. Since then, Hamas has taken control of the Strip, prompting regular fighting between Gaza terrorists and the Israeli army in which thousands of Israelis and Gaza Palestinians have been either killed or maimed. In 2006, Hamas kidnapped Gilad Shalit and [...]

IDF goes NaNach

Last year I wrote about my admiration of the NaNach Hasidim. That post included a video of the NaNachs boosting the spirits of the IDF during the 2006 war with Hezbollah. Although it appeared in a sad story, I smiled today when I saw this photo of an Israeli soldier wearing a NaNach beanie. Check [...]

Meanwhile in Israel…

Earlier today, a six year old Palestinian boy called Salah travelled with his mother from Gaza to an Israeli hospital near Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, terrorists in Gaza fired a rocket towards the city. The Iron Dome defence system intercepted the rocket, but a vehicle outside the hospital was damaged by shrapnel. Salah is a patient [...]