Now we know that the Palestinians are in trouble. I have just had an unlikely begging email asking for an immediate $3,500 to rescue someone who is - yes, you guessed it - lost in Nigeria after having been robbed in its capital, Lagos.

Asking for help - allegedly - is none other than the thoroughly admirable Lucy, wife of Palestinian intellectual Sari Nusseibeh. In the real world Lucy divides her time between Oxford and Ramallah, working on dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians and helping Palestinian teenagers.

Quite how Lucy Nusseibeh's name was picked to front a Nigerial email scam is a mystery. All I can say is, from knowledge, Lucy doesn't need the money - even if the Palestinian Authority does.