If somebody tells me what they think about one issue, I often have a fair idea of what they think about something else. A vote for Leave or Remain in Britain’s Brexit referendum is a strong predictor of views on other topics — such as immigration, the death penalty or Donald Trump.
But this predictive pattern breaks down when it comes to Ukraine and Gaza. Among commentators — and even governments — you can find groups that are pro-Israel and pro-Ukraine; pro-Ukraine and pro-Palestine; pro-Russia and pro-Israel; and pro-Russia and pro-Palestine.
Of course, terms like “pro-Palestine” or “pro-Russia” are very imprecise. They cover a wide variety of positions. But they remain a useful shorthand for real political divides.