Britannia, oil and Jews

Since World War I, pragmatism has ruled British Mid-East policy

The relationship between the UK and the Jewish people has been a series of peaks and troughs, with the latter sadly pre-eminent. Nearly every peak, though welcome, was inspired by selfish interests.

In 1066, when England had become an outpost of France, the Jews were brought in not to rescue them from persecution, but as accountants and financiers to run the country. In 1656 Cromwellmay have been partially motivated by religious zeal, but his acceptance of the Jewish exiles back into the country had everything to do with the expectation of a ready-made spying network against his continental enemies.