Air of expectation and apprehension

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

With the Labour Weekend behind us, there is an air of both expectation and apprehension about the coming week for many, with the excitement of a Rugby World Cup final tempered by concerns over the growing Middle East crisis.

Looking at the Gaza Strip and Israel first, there is no real hope for an end to the continuing disaster. Israel seems absolutely determined to go ahead with an invasion of Gaza, with the intent of removing Hamas from power.

Visits to the country by US President Joe Biden and the leaders of the United Kingdom and Germany have done nothing to relieve the situation and even more heavy loss of life looks impossible to be prevented.

In that sense, it is interesting to see criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu and his government by former Israeli president Ehud Barak and senior military and intelligence officers.

Barak described the October 7 attacks by Hamas that killed 1400 Israelis as “the most severe blow Israel has suffered since its establishment”, adding he did not believe the people trust Netanyahu to lead “when he is under the burden of such a devastating event that just happened under his term”.

Many of those who recognise Israel’s right to defend itself and were shocked by the brutality of the Hamas attack are equally alarmed and distressed by the civilian casualties from Israeli bombing, many of them women and children among a death toll in Gaza that is now over 4600.

Here in New Zealand, after a mediocre holiday weekend weather-wise, people are hoping that the “real summer” will arrive soon.

The long weekend, however, was welcomed by an army of gardeners who crowded garden centres to get the traditional spuds and tomatoes well on their way in time for Christmas.

And of course, a vast sector of the population is looking forward to next Sunday morning when the final of the Rugby World Cup will be played between traditional foes New Zealand and South Africa.

It has all the hallmarks of that great American Western, High Noon — instead of gunfighters walking on to a dusty street there will be 30 rugby players running out on to the field at the Stade De France.

One of these two countries will become winner of the greatest number of world cups, as both are tied on three now.

Also, winger Will Jordan has the chance to become the highest try-scorer in World Cup history. He is tied on eight now with legends Jonah Lomu (1999), Bryan Habana (2007)and Julian Savea (2015).

All will be known next Sunday, after which much attention in this country will move to the final shape of the new government. After that it’s Christmas.