The visit of Menachem Begin to Britain in Dec.'77 is truly fascinating. Previously barred & then discouraged from visiting Britain, when Begin became Israeli PM, the Callaghan Gov. scrambled to decide how to deal with his visit. All sorts of madness in the files, not least this comedic 'transcript.'

Just seen Palestine36 at the cinema & there's a momentary nod to current Palestinian symbols during a scene at a wealthy Arab dinner party where the camera lingers for a moment on a large chunk of watermelon. But fascinatingly, during the British Mandate the watermelon was often a Zionist symbol!

I'm speaking tomorrow in Cambridge. Come if you want to hear of Smotrich's Palestinian family www.ames.cam.ac.uk/settlers-mig...

When studying Palestine under the British I always say I can operate in three languages for my research: English, Hebrew, & Civil Service-ese English. I pity future historians looking at today who will need Hebrew, Arabic, & American Dunce-ese English to try and fathom the blundering of US in Pal.

Two years ago this month I started stained glass as stress relief between thesis writing. My 1st piece was a mess. But this Mon. I completed the latter pieces which will be a surprise gift for two friends not on here. Sometimes progress is only visible in hindsight.

Life repeats first as tragedy, then as farce, then apparently as a bad rendition of the British Mandate (which, to be fair, combined tragedy and farce quite spectacularly). www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

Me for the Spectator on why recognition of Palestinian statehood is a step in the right direction, and how promises and symbolism alone are not enough.

I see we're back to Brits trying to force Palestinians to accept ways of running their country which are deeply unfair, probably won't work, and pay no attention to what they actually want. It's just like the 1930s and 40s all over again...

Today in reassuring library signs...

Fascinated to find that, despite strict rules about building in Jerusalem, & attempts to inculcate certain ideas about 'local' materials, the carvings at the Rockefeller Museum, representing historical rule of Palestine by different civ.s, are made from Hopton Wood Stone from Derbyshire.

I tried (and failed) to design and paint this window of St Cecilia to look serene and have a soothing effect. Instead she judges me every time I'm in the office. I somehow made her the patron saint of resting bitch face...

Going through archival photos I stumbled across this picture I took of a charming Dome of the Rock model produced in the 1920s in the workshop of Tavit (David) Ohannessian just off of the Via Dolorosa. These were commercial products, which could be bought from Ohannessian's workshop.

As a history tutor at Christchurch in the 1920s, J.C. Masterman was told by a colleague that there were two principles to be observed at Oxford. Firstly, 'no gentleman works after dinner,' & secondly, 'no gentleman works after lunch.' I endeavour to bring these principles to my work in Cambridge.