It’s been at least five seconds since Piers Morgan managed to offend someone on Twitter.
So what better way to engage his followers in a “sensible debate” about the ever-worsening conflict between Israel and Gaza than to post the hashtag “#FreePalestineAndIsrael” and suggest the country finds itself a “Nelson Mandela”?
The former Daily Mirror editor appeared mildly surprised by the barrage of abuse he received, as Twitter users took the troll-bait dangled before them like controversial carrots, chewed it up and spat back with replies like “Zionist scum”, “idiot” and, a personal favourite (he did retweet it), “You just f**king get worse and worse don't you, you fat, ugly, ignorant c**t.”
Though we’re not quite sure what he expected the response to be. Given that, alongside helpfully declaring “I like Jews. I like Arabs”, he also posted things like “Same nonsense made Northern Ireland a murderous tinderbox for 30 years”.
It started off fairly bluntly: @piersmorgan #FreePalestineAndIsrael
So he “did a Rihanna” and clarified his post with a slightly more balanced musing: @piersmorgan Both Palestinians and Israelis need freeing from this current murderous insanity. Ceasefire now, then leaders need to lead.
Then he started getting hideously trolled, so he angled for “sensible debate”: @piersmorgan Usual vicious outpouring from both sides re my Palestine/Israel tweets. Everyone incensed, nobody wanting sensible debate.
Which might have been sensible, too, had he not then followed his tweet up with these: @piersmorgan Same nonsense made Northern Ireland a murderous tinderbox for 30 years. Then leaders led, and peace prevailed. It can be done.
And: @piersmorgan The ongoing oppression of Palestinians in Gaza is appalling. The relentless rocket attacks by Hamas on Israelis are also appalling.
Then: @piersmorgan The Israel/Palestine conflict needs new leaders with new ideas. Current crop seem to have no real will for peace. Just tit-for-tat war.
In addition to: @piersmorgan I like Arabs, I like Jews. I'm an Irish Catholic, so I don't really have skin in the game. Just a strong desire for an end to this insanity.
Then he made it even worse with his sarcastic sense of humor with: @piersmorgan Why would it be? I meant it > RT @shompah_: This tweet is yet to be deleted. "@piersmorgan: #FreePalestineAndIsrael"
Then came the Mandela retweets:
@katekoja tweeted: @piersmorgan I believe we need a Mandela from each side that is willing to forgive the past and work together today for a better tomorrow. Piers retweeted it and answered "yes" to it.
Piers then tweeted: @piersmorgan "If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner." - Nelson Mandela.
Finally, he insulted everyone once again by tweeting: @piersmorgan Once again (for those who thought I'd delete it): #FreePalestineAndIsrael.
