Neighbours at war over the Middle East

A quiet street in south-east London is the last place you would expect to be caught up in the Middle East conflict.

But the suburb of Brockley is the unlikely arena where two Jewish neighbours are at war over Israel.

For over 15 years, the Bunzl and Confino families, who live opposite one another on Breakspears Road, got along well. On occasion, Biddy Bunzl and Jayne Confino, a local magistrate, had coffee. Ms Bunzl gave the Confinos' daughter, Hannah, art lessons.

But now the friendship has broken down.

Hannah, who made aliyah two years ago and worked for the IDF, visited her family home in June.

She put up a pro-Israel poster on her bedroom window. It was was only there for a short while - her mother removed it after her daughter went back to Tel Aviv.

But when the Confino family returned from their summer holiday, they found that Ms Bunzl, who describes herself as a "friend of Palestine" on Twitter, had filled her front garden with anti-Israel posters.

One demands an end to "Israeli state terror", another accuses Israel of oppression.

The bell on Ms Bunzl's front door is adorned with a "boycott Israeli apartheid" sticker.

The prominent display has distressed the Confinos. Mrs Confino said: "It's hurtful and not neighbourly. She's basically calling our daughter a terrorist.

"She's telling me to boycott Israel, but my daughter is living in Israel.

"When I sit in my lounge, I see the signs. Either I have to boycott my lounge or draw my curtains - I'm not prepared to do either."

Daniel Confino, who works in financial services, said the signs were "abusive and insulting.

"People keep walking by taking photos. There have been a lot of complaints from neighbours."

In a letter to Mr Confino, Ms Bunzl wrote that the signs were "situated well within my own property and are specifically directed at the Israeli regime. Signs are there to raise awareness about the ongoing war crimes carried out 'in our name'."

The couple raised the matter with police.

A Met spokesman said: "No offence has been committed; however officers from the Brockley Safer Neighbourhoods team have agreed to act as mediators to assist all parties involved."

But Mr Confino is not satisfied: "I am pressing for a prosecution if the placards are not removed."

Ms Bunzl's reaction is unknown - our repeated attempts to speak to her were ignored.