Just finished reading ...

The First Israelis by Tom Segev. Considering this is about a period in history just over seventy years ago it really does seem light years away. Every page makes you realise how complex and often appalling some of the history of this period is. Jews and Arabs fought. Orthodox Jews rioted in protest against secular Jews. Left wing Jews fought right wing Jews.  Jewish immigrants arriving in the country were left in terrible conditions. There were tensions between the Sephardi and the Ashkenazi. There were battles over land, property, education systems and even religious observance (there is one whole section entitled The Battle for the Sabbath). Class, race and status were hotly debated in rival newspapers. Soldiers were poorly trained and prone to looting and committing atrocities. 

This is not consistent with state sponsored myths of one united people emerging from the crucible of war, persecution and the holocaust. It is real, messy history of difference and dissent. Very good, but not one for people who don’t like detail; it is a real work of historical research...

I had a shitty day; lot of bad karma around and I felt unwell. Work was a nightmare. I think it was because it was the fourth anniversary of the Brexit vote ...