Some have started asking me why as a practicing Jew have I said nothing about the unthinkable dispicable atrocities committed by terrorists in Israel. Frankly I've struggled to process it, and felt the combined gutteral fear for relations in Israel, anxiety about possible antisemitic backlash here, and grief over the loss of life of beautiful children both Israeli and Palestinian were things I didn't want to be public about. Equally I am British, I don't study the situation in the middle east. In my usual work, some listen assuming I have a level of authority. Yet here I don't have an expertise - and I don't want authority assumed on such important issue when it's not merited. What I do know is that sadly peace, which is what we all desperately need, seems beyond reach. I despair as to where things will go. Israel has the right to and should defend itself. Yet my heart goes out too to those innocent civilians in Gaza who will bear a brunt for the actions of Hamas which they have no say in. There are no winners here. I don't currently plan to do any further tweets or reply to any comments on this. I just wanted to explain why.