Funding scandal

The word scandal is over used. But it is truly scandalous that in a community where charitable giving is so generous and commonplace, the sole Jewish charity for the victims of domestic abuse struggles to raise even the paltry sum of £50,000 to be able to fund a single full-time counsellor’s position.

Its volunteers do wonders to help the 600 women JWA sees each year.  But they should not be left to carry the burden of that work without professional help — and the women who contact JWA should not have to wait three months to see a counsellor.

There is a sense in some quarters that domestic abuse is a ‘women’s issue’. It is not; it is an issue for the entire community to face up to. That means ensuring that JWA has adequate funding to carry out its vital work.

Jerusalem clash

Be in no doubt about what has been happening at the Temple Mount. Mahmoud Abbas has been deliberately, provocatively and dangerously riding the tiger of protests against the Israeli response to terror.

He has been working with the Waqf officials who govern the area to ramp up anger over the installation of metal detectors. Haram al-Sharif (the Muslim term for the Temple Mount) has resonance across the Muslim world and Abbas is deliberately heightening feelings and pushing confrontation — because he wants Jerusalem to be the focus of clashes with Israel.

The PR is clever: the images sent worldwide are of Palestinians who want only to pray. But be clear: this all began with the murder of two Israeli policemen.