When democratic governments are struggling, you might expect their rivals to be flourishing but that is hardly the case here or indeed in Britain. Even in France, where some of the Macron shine has been lost, there’s no other leader who stands out. The British situation is particularly bizarre as the LP there is being torn apart by allegations of anti-Semitism. The Labour leader’s views, which could even lead to a split in his party, are very similar to those of the lobby in Mauritius that brands Israel almost as a rogue state, installed by Western colonialists, an Orwellian concept of Palestinians good, Jews bad. The result is an inability to see there may be right and wrong on both sides.

From the 4th and 3rd centuries BC, there were Jews in Ancient Greece, especially in Thessaloniki after the city state was founded, but most still lived in Judea until the Romans invaded the area and created a problem that’s lasted 2,000 years. In history, Jews have been seen as dynamic elements within society but have often felt discriminated against or unwelcome – as Moslems are today. A pity neither side has any sympathy for each other’s dilemma. Many Jews fled Europe, particularly in the mid-20th century, and tried to leave for British Palestine (now Israel) but were refused entry. Several hundred ended up in detention in Mauritius. Most of those who survived moved to Palestine at the end of the Second World War. As there are protests about any relations with Israel, would they be any more welcome in Mauritius now?

During the War, there were many Palestinians who supported Hitler, and the Nazi massacre of the Jews has often been disputed by the extreme right. Ironically, the extreme left is equally unsympathetic to the plight of Jews. However, the Palestinian problem, heightened by the creation of Israel, has helped to make the region particularly unstable. It would be a mistake, however, to think that even the Arab world is all that sympathetic to the Palestinians as Israel is often accepted as a fait accompli and a more reliable, if unofficial, ally than some other states, particularly with the regional aspirations of Iran. By the way, Ancient Greece had problems with Persia, not dissimilar to the decades-old Saudi/ Iranian rivalry.

As geopolitics ignores ethics, the enemy of my enemy is typically considered my friend. Even in Mauritius, there are many anti-Westerners who quietly sympathise with Isis and other terrorist groups, perhaps because of the way the USA uses its powerful position, unlike Russia and China. Isis fighters are barbarians, in the modern sense rather than the root meaning of not speaking Greek. Jews and Jewish institutions are being attacked in many places by fanatics, on a smallish scale in Europe but they have had to flee many countries further east. Of course the problem won’t be solved while the current Israeli leader clings to power by supporting Zionist sentiment in his government, nor while Palestinians and their allies continue to broadcast propaganda challenging Israel’s right to exist.

In the small city states that existed in Classical Greece it was simpler as the inhabitants shared a common allegiance, however mixed their origins may once have been. A major reason for current conflicts is the way identity is defined by religion or ethnicity in the Soodhun manner, rather than the commonness of mortals. Is there a solution? Not as long as wisdom, thoughtfulness and prudence are ignored. Meanwhile, it’s not just mosquito larvae that breed in stagnant ponds. Unbalanced and stagnant attitudes, left unchecked, are breeding grounds for future violence...