Blaming Palestinian flags for division misses the real problem |
THE Christmas holidays provide an opportunity to do things that you wouldn’t do on a regular basis, and for me that was having a read of The Daily Telegraph online where an article by George Chesterton caught my eye.
The headline read: “Northern Ireland-style sectarianism is coming to Britain. We should all be terrified.”
The article argues that Britain is sliding towards dangerous sectarianism, driven by identity-based politics, visible symbols of allegiance, and political failure to defend shared civic values.
It highlights pro-Palestine activism, independent MPs campaigning almost exclusively on Gaza, and weekly anti-Israel marches, which the author claims have made some urban areas feel unsafe for Jews.
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Patricia MacBride: Blaming Palestinian flags for division avoids the real issue
Palestinian flags are presented as increasingly divisive, marking neighbourhoods by identity and provoking counter-displays of St George and Union flags.
Birmingham is used as a case study, where security barriers and political rhetoric are seen as signs of deepening communal tension.
The author criticises the Labour government for avoiding confrontation with political........