It was of a stolen bulldozer in Jerusalem. The thief had only kept control of it for a moment or two but had turned a bus over, crushed some cars and managed thereby to murder three people. The film included pictures of a baby whose mother had managed to pass him out of the car window before she was crushed to death.

A gentleman, who just happened to be walking down the Jaffa Road at the time, saw what was going on and, at risk of his own life, jumped up on to the bulldozer, emptied his pistol into the murderer's head and saved countless lives. I just wish he would pop into my local so I could stand him a pint.

It's a queer town, Jerusalem. There are thousands of people there who believe it is a virtue to murder innocent women and children, particularly Jews. In fact, they encourage their sons to do murder by promising them the delights of paradise if they die in the process. Thankfully, there also seem to be plenty of men, just like the Jaffa Road stroller, prepared to risk their lives to stop the murderers in their tracks.

"Greater love hath no man than this" it said on the war memorial at my old school, "that he lay down his life for his friends." Well, the Jaffa Road stroller was ready to lay down his life for complete strangers and I for one thank God for him.

What a pity we in England no longer behave like him. So unfashionable has it become to love our neighbour in any practical way that the Jaffa Road stroller would doubtless have been arrested and sent to prison if he had done his good deed here instead of there. We seem to have elevated cowardice to a national virtue and criminalised love.

Our national newspapers seem full of stories about youngsters pulling a knife or pistol in a crowded bar or street and doing murder while those around them stand gawping or run away. If only the youngster with the gun or knife knew those standing near would pile in and tear him limb from limb the moment he took it out of his pocket, he would likely leave it there or leave it at home.

Cherie Blair said she understood the Arab murderers in Jerusalem. I think I do, too. In the last two years, only two of them have done any harm and the rest have stayed at home – because they knew what would happen to them if they did not. I think I understand the young murderers in London and Manchester as well. They are active because they know we are not.