Ever since this happened I have held the firm belief that Russia was behind planning the attack. Russia, in dire need of diversion from their complete failure as a state and as a military power, go to their allies in Iran and ask them to equip the usual gang of fundamentalist extremists with a bunch of rockets and explosives and just sic them on Israel. Like, wag the dog.

The effect it had on media reporting on Ukraine before and after is stark, even though the Russian invasion is a far greater and more urgent existential threat to the west than the latest round in an endless cycle of conflict that’s been raging for the better part of a century…