Israel’s assault on Gaza is exposing the holes in everything liberal politicians claim to believe | Nesrine Malik

Liberal politicians who refuse to call for a ceasefire in Gaza or halt support for Israel ’s assault are no longer making sense.

Garbled language and contradictory statements are becoming common among establishment figures.

David Cameron said he was “worried” that Israel may have broken international law, but that this did not change the UK 's stance on exporting weapons to Israel .

Gaza has become the expression of a legitimacy crisis for an Anglo -American political class who preside over already fragile systems.

The political response to Gaza may seem obstinate and imperious, yet what lies behind it is not strength, but weakness.

Underneath lurk managed discontents about costs of living and diminished social mobility.