Alyn Smith

Columnist

Latest articles from Alyn Smith

COMMENT Why Saint Andrew is the key to our national story

WE’RE in the Dark Months, a time to gather indoors and celebrate friendship and help get us through to the warmer, lighter times. With Saint Andrew’s Day tomorrow, then Christmas and Hogmanay, then Burns Night on January 25 and Valentine’s Day on February 14, this is a time of year when we need dates to look forward to.

comment Alyn Smith: Supporting a ceasefire should not be difficult

A HUMANITARIAN ceasefire in Gaza is needed, now. I don’t think that is a controversial statement, yet it seems to be an impossible thing to say for some people I know to otherwise be thoughtful and compassionate. It is also time for the international community to redouble its efforts towards a viable two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, much as that seems an even more forlorn hope than usual. We are all, as human beings, appalled at the images that have come out of Israel and Palestine these last few weeks. I grew up in the Middle East and have frequently been back and forth over the course of my life. I am a friend to Israel and I am a friend to Palestine. I’m a gay man and I would far rather live in Tel Aviv than Ramallah in the West Bank, and Hamas throw people like me off high buildingswhere