The Prime Minister told Benjamin Netanyahu it was “a moment for calm heads to prevail” in Israel’s response to Iran’s missile and drone attack. As Charles Moore pointed out in today's Telegraph, the PM's call for restraint, rather than condemnation of Iran, was mirrored by many in the international community. That was "astonishing", said Mr Moore, and I concur. Of course, no one wants escalation, but Israel is being put in a position that it, in effect, cannot defend itself. I wonder how other western democracies would react had something like the horrors perpetrated on 7 October happened in their countries. Israel, a lone democracy in the region, and friend of the West, is fighting for its existence and we should do all we can to help. The fact that several countries did participate in Israel's defence after the missiles were launched was reassuring. Meanwhile, the PM's smoking ban was debated in the Chamber, but I was slipped for a second day to attend a visit by the Defence Committee to RAF High Wycombe. We had a most fascinating and informative day, starting at the newly established Space Command. The then PM Boris Johnson ordered the Defence Space Strategy in early 2022. It was given a 10 year budget of £1.4 billion. For comparison, the budget of the US equivalent was $17.4 billion. The day began at 1000 and up to 1145 we were briefed on what Space Command had achieved since it was established just over two years ago. There is no doubt that, so far as defence is concerned, space is the next frontier and all countries are pushing hard to dominate it. At 1145, we were taken to Bomber Harris's wartime office, which has been restored, with the original desk and maps. The curator there gave an interesting talk for 15 minutes and reminded us of the appalling casualty rate among the bomber crews. From 1200 to 1300, we enjoyed a working lunch. listening to an RAF team who run HR. The committee was not short on questions, some of them uncomfortable. The main concern was how to recruit more personnel and to stop those serving from leaving. The RAF is not alone in this regard. Then it was into the Vampire Building bunker, which is designed to survive a nuclear strike. Top secret and deep underground, I cannot say too much about what we heard. I can say, though, that we had an update on our air capability and then operations. It is from this bunker that RAF operations are run from. Very illuminating. At 1500, our visit came to and end and we ascending into the fresh air to say our farewells. All my colleagues headed to the train, while I drove back to London in my car. In the House, MPs backed a plan to ban anyone born after 2009 from buying cigarettes, effectively ensuring it will become law. Many of my colleagues either abstained, or voted against. I would have abstained. I do not believe in banning things like smoking. What's next, I wonder? The only winner in this ban will be the black market. It will also inevitably put unnecessary pressure on the police. And, good news, a Muslim pupil lost a High Court challenge against a ban on prayer rituals at a high-achieving north London school previously dubbed Britain’s strictest. This is a victory for common sense and other headteachers. Abroad, a judge in Donald Trump's hush money trial warned the former president about "intimidating" potential jurors in the case. And Denmark's historic old stock exchange building in the centre of Copenhagen was engulfed by fire.