By Mano Ratwatte –
Mano Ratwatte
Background
A lot has been written about Trump’s decision to relocate the US Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel-Aviv. I am not sure why a lot of people are up in arms now when the US first recognized and declared that Jerusalem was the Capital City of Israel by passing a Congressional act in 1995. The Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 is a public law of the USA passed by the 104th Congress on October 23, 1995. This has since been the position of the United States. This act was passed for the purposes of initiating and funding the relocation of the US Embassy in Israel no later than May 31, 1999. The act also called for Jerusalem to remain an undivided city and for it to be recognized as the capital of the State of Israel.(Source : Wikipedia entry verbatim)
Trumpism
There is no need to bash Trump because he pushed for it to actually happen because that act or public law already existed in US law. Trump did NOT do anything against US law and was fulfilling a campaign promise. Trump somewhat significantly owes his victory to the rightwing white evangelical born again type Christians. This is a key element in their extreme ideology. Therefore all he did was deliver on a campaign promise to his base. They use some Biblical arguments to justify this because they believe in something called the “End Times” based on their religion and apparently that has to occur in Israel or the Holy Land.
Difference
The difference is, that Presidents Clinton(President from 1992 to 2000), George W Bush(2000 to 2008) and Barack Hussein Obama(2008 to 2016) chose NOT to carry out this controversial plan because of other considerations. They had smart knowledgeable advisors and they were very prudent and they were not egged on by religious forces within the US.
Should have abstained?
Perhaps Sri Lanka erred by not abstaining? Will it now be punished by the US? Trump is a vindictive narcissistic man who takes everything personally and has hysterical twitter rages almost daily. After his UN Ambassador, the former Governor of South Carolina(an Accountancy graduate with zero foreign policy or diplomatic experience before she was made Ambassador) said “we will be taking names” I am sure a lot of people in the US power circles in Colombo who seem to want to interfere with even the writing of a constitution in Sri Lanka, would be irritated by Sri Lanka’s vote too and perhaps the leaders have been reprimanded already(who knows?).
The vote itself was symbolic to assuage the feelings of the Arab masses a lot of whom are in dictatorships or oppressive nations and lack resources or opportunities to be upwardly mobile because of many economic and resource reasons.
Sovereignty
On one side, what the UN tried to do was tell a sovereign nation: the USA in this case, that it should model or adjust its internal policies to the will of the UN(sounds familiar when the UN overextends their writ? only difference is this time it is not like how they boss a tiny weak Island nation that had a long civil war trying to assert its sovereignty but the most powerful nation on earth).
On the other hand, it was imprudent for Trump to do it now, because the final question of a 2 state solution and share capital has not ever been settled. But the so called outrage in the Arab world was short lived as expected. Saudi Arabia in the throes of reform led by Mohammed Bin Salman(MBS), is signaling a willingness to work with their oldest western ally and protector the USA and Israel; their ideological enemy is the Persian Iran and they (and Israel) would love to get US involved in a war with Shia Iran.
Egypt and Jordan
One must realize that Israel has a right to exist despite Iranian threats to the contrary. It is important people in Sri Lanka know some facts: The two prudent smart former Arab belligerents : one of which is the most powerful Arab military; namely Egypt, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan both have fully fledged diplomatic ties with Israel. They also have thriving trade between them. Egypt has an Embassy in Tel-Aviv and a Consulate in Eilat. They too allowed the anger on the streets to manage an impression and let the youth vent their frustration. As feared, the protests dissipated quite quickly.
No matter how much the low information angry man in Sri Lanka shouts, note Egypt(military dictatorship) is the second largest recipient of US Aid and military equipment after Israel. This is to maintain the balance of power in the region.
Israel has committed many acts of violence against innocent Palestinians but nothing get accomplished by shouting “Death to Jews” and “Death to Israel” on the streets of feudal kingdoms or non-democratic Arab nations.
A more pragmatic approach will be what the Saudis secretly advocate now as well under MBS: a gradual thawing of relations with Israel and cooperation in fields of technology, science and education with one of the world’s leading hi-tech nations.
India
Please note, before someone bashes this author here, that India is in the same non-aligned ideological camp as Sri Lanka, has full diplomatic and booming military and trade relations(especially in the field of Agricultural and advanced military technology and Computers etc., with Israel(a democracy). India has had an Embassy in Tel-Aviv since 1992. Please note India is a secular democracy that is host to the third largest Muslim(not Arab, 183 million Muslims) population in the world(only Indonesia and Pakistan have more Muslims than India).
Remember India also voted for the resolution while it has thriving relations with Israel and USA both. No one demands that India breaks off those ties. Wish pragmatic Lankan leaders heeded what Late Chancellor Willy Brandt of West Germany meant when he said “Real politik”. Israel is here to stay as a thriving democracy. Won’t Sri Lanka benefit as well if it follows big brother India rather than remaining overtly hostile to Israel?
Co-Exist
It is a fervent hope that a Palestine can one day also be a thriving democracy side by side like their Jewish Cousins and all the hate and violence from all sides disappear for good. If Saudi Arabia reforms and takes the lead perhaps there can be real change by the obdurate Israelis as well. Israel is surrounded mostly by hostile Arab nations who just want to use the Palestinian problem to their own advantage and not really keen on seeing a two-state solution.
And then if all the Sri Lankans who write to CT support a Palestinian state, logically should it not at least also support Autonomy or a Quebec like Solution in Sri Lanka as well? What is the difference in the demands of Tamil speakers and Palestinians?
Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka / December 26, 2017
Oh for God’s sake, the Israelis are an occupying force under international law. they’ve annexed portions of every neighboring country, through military force. Numerous security Council resolutions recognize the Palestinian territory as under occupation by a foreign, invading force. There is absolutely no parallel with Sri Lanka and the situation of the Tamils who are a minority within a legitimate state with internationally recognized borders. There is no parallel between the Palestinians and the Quebecois either.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / December 26, 2017
Dear Dayan, you are a biased commentator. What is true for Palestinians is true for Tamils in Srilanka and for other instances in the world. Since you have invoked God, do you believe that God’s will can be reversed by Human decision. How was the borders of Srilanka drawn to be recognised internationally. Tamil kingdom was forcibly joined with rest of Srilanka by British in 1833 without consent of Tamils. Do you call this justice and do you say that Tamils cannot voice their protest against it. UN is a powerless entity, and when a puny Srilanka can violate the request of UN how do you expect a powerful Israel to abide by it. Do you think Myanmar cares too hoots about UN condemnation of treatment of Rohingyas. You are only worried about territorial borders in international law but not about other factors as rights and homelands of minorities for a life of dignity and safety. Please read Christmas message given by Ex-Bishop Rev Chickera an honourable man unlike unscrupulous opportunist like you. Srilanka government since independence have been violating these UN principles with impunity as regards Tamils. Please remember oppressed minority has the right to self determination including independence. Tamils have a well defined territory which your racists are trying to destroy by planned settlement of Sinhalese and ethnic cleansing of Tamils. Bangladesh, Bosnia and South Sudan were created from countries with recognised borders on this principle.
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nimal fernando / December 26, 2017
To hell with Jerusalem. …….The whole shebang is bigger than just Jerusalem.
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To hell with Trump and America. ………..they do not define the truth ……..never have ………… Imposing one’s will at the end of a barrel of a gun is not defining truth.
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A Jew can come to Israel from any part of the world ……..and a Palestinian family will be kicked out of their house/property which they have been occupying for generations and the new immigrant will be “settled.”
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If there is real justice for the Palestinians …………. half of the problems in the world will disappear overnight. ………………. Well, that’s the undeniable truth ………..
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Will the Palestinians get justice? ……… Who knows?
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Now, who wanna talk about the Tamils? ……… Not me.
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nimal fernando / December 27, 2017
What Israel has is, by far, the best global propaganda-apparatus. …………. they are head and shoulders above the rest …………… guess the global Tamil propaganda-apparatus comes a distant third or fourth; quite credible for Lankans, who are not world-beaters in most other areas ……….This is not against/for the Tamils ……………. just stating the facts ……..
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Israel propaganda-apparatus is so good and fear-inducing, any leader of a Western nation – or many other nations – will not go against them …………… in any talk of the usual Israeli aggression ………… the defence of Israel is inbuilt and is a part and parcel of any discussion …….
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This is how the game is played ……………. not to split hairs, but even the write of this piece has fallen victim to this ………….as Muhandiram has pointed-out below ……………. the write deflects the blame away from Israel ……….. “claims that the Arabs went to war 3 times to “destroy Israel”.
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The write has the right to express his views in an open forum …………. that’s the way things should be ……….. but others who oppose his views are not idiots/morons ………. I find most of the opposing comments to be quite accurate and sensible.
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Discarding Israeli/American propaganda which one of you have the courage to say this about Hamas……….
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“Hamas is regularly described as ‘Iranian-backed Hamas, which is dedicated to the destruction of Israel.’ One will be hard put to find something like ‘democratically elected Hamas, which has long been calling for a two-state settlement in accord with the international consensus’—blocked for over 30 years by the US and Israel. All true, but not a useful contribution to the Party Line, hence dispensable.”
― Noam Chomsky, Gaza in Crisis: Reflections on Israel’s War Against the Palestinians
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nimal fernando / December 28, 2017
There are two components to this discussion/argument.
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Might is right ………….and ………. justice/right/wrong …………
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If the point is, “might is right” ………..then it’s difficult for any ultra-realist to refute and he/she must keep silent as there is no moral component to discuss/argue ……………because throughout history, 99.99% of the time, this is how human-tribes have come to claim land ………..
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This argument is not about that ……………but about the attempt to justify it …………. by various means ……………..
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Shenal / December 26, 2017
Dr. Gnana,
No one forcibly joined any Tamil kingdom with a Sinhala kingdom back in 1833. If so, what were the Tamils did back then? Were they in a deep hibernating sleep back in 1833 and suddenly woke up in 1947 to find there kingdom is marred with low cast Sinhala country by British? There should be an end to this kind of lying. It is obviously clear that not even British acknowledged the existence of this so called Tamil kingdom. Even in 1815 accession agreement there is no mention about the so called Tamil kingdom of North and East.
There are no law what so ever to give independence for minorities based on how oppressed they are. There is no formal method to gauge the oppressability of the people. Moreover, if it is untolerable to live with Sinhalese; Tamils can easily migrate to Tamilnadu which is just 32 km away. I don’t know why they don’t do it.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / December 28, 2017
Shenali, in 1833 Tamils were under subjugation by British and had no say in what they did, and had to accept it in silence. This is not lying and your denial is a lie. In 1815, the agreement is called Kandyan convention which you are conveniently not revealing. If it was for the whole country why should it be called Kandyan only. That is why there was no mention made of other areas as they were firmly under British and Kandyans had no sovereignty over them. Moreover Kandyan chiefs signed the agreement in Tamil denoting that language of administration was Tamil and not Sinhala. If minorities cannot be granted independence based on oppression how did Bangladesh, Bosnia, South Sudan and Eritrea gain their independence. It is India that is standing in the way for Tamil independence and if it decides otherwise, none of your cardboard veerayas can prevent.
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Shenal / December 28, 2017
Dr. Gnanan,
Please don’t come up with feeble excuses. Even the Sinhalese were subjugated by the British in 1815, but they could organize a rebellion wihtin a short period of time and could nearly drive the British out of the island. Why couldn’t the Tamils back in 1833 atleast object to the British act? Were the Tamils that incompetent?
The original agreement is freely available in the internet both in Sinhala and English. You can take a look at it. I don’t need to hide it. Moreover, I don’t think that you are this naive to believe that just because the 1815 convention was called “Kandyan” that it only affect the Kandyan kingdom. Kandyan kingdom back then was known as the sovereign to the entire island. That is why British tried their best to conquer it.
Every country you have mentioned has gained there independence by the interference of a third party. The intention was not to free the oppressed but to weaken the initial state which it had broken off. In the case of Bangladesh it is Pakistan, in the case of Bosnia it is Serbia and in the case of South Sudan it is Sudan proper.
From the four countries you have mentioned, only Bangladesh is prohspering currently. All the other countries are still suffering from internal strifes and rebellions. That is because there are artificial creations produced by major players in the international scene just for their benefits. This will also be the fate of Tamil eelam if it was ever created.
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vanangamudi / December 28, 2017
Shenali
“the Sinhalese were subjugated by the British in 1815..” This comment itself speaks the shallowness of your knowledge of that history in which you otherwise claim undue expertise. Good lady, I have often read your comments in these threads trying to present a fanciful and questionable side of Sinhala history. Much of this clothed in polemics and falsity.
With all due respect, go find yourself a subject in which you may gain some acceptance and, hopefully, knowledge. Perhaps, for starters BBS under that pseudo-patriot Gandassara? Both will make a great pair – no pun intended.
Vanangamudi
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K.Soysa / December 26, 2017
Dr. Jayatilleke, For goodness consider the ancient history of Israel, going back six thousand years as against Sri Lanka which is perhaps half that. The Davidic Kingdom, under King David extended from the Mediterranean Sea in the West, Ezion-Geber/Elath in the SouthEast of Bosrah in the East and to the North of Damascus in the North. This is irrefutable. and historical. The Israelites, also known as Jews or the Israelis were taken captive by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar during the time of king Zedekiah of Israel. Some of the Israelis were spared and left behind but the majority were taken captive. They lived in Babylon for many years but dispersed all over the world, including Burma, India, Pakistan, Ethiopia etc in the East and South and North Europe like Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Poland etc etc. After the State of Israel was established in 1947, these dispersed Jews returned to the “Land that God gave to their fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
You see, this whole issue can be very clearly understood IF and WHEN one reads the Books of I and II Chronicles, I and II Kings and Jeremiah in the Bible. We can take whatever political position we choose, whoever we may wish to support but God’s Word, His promise to Israel and through the Israelis the whole world is written on stone. It is written, “My word that I have spoken will not return till it has accomplished what I have said”. Look at all the agony that the Jews have gone through in history, the last being under the Nazis in Germany yet they pop up.
We must come to terms that it is not Donald Trump: it is Jehovah God the Creator of the Universe.
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Rajan Hoole / December 26, 2017
Talking about original inhabitants is a dangerous game. Almost every modern country has had many changes in its composition in the past few centuries. Even the Biblical record suggests that the Caananites, ‘hewers of wood and drawers of water’, were a major part of the population of Israel and perhaps the majority. As for Europe, see Hannah Arendt’s ‘Origins of Totalitarianism’ on how Slav Prussia became ‘Aryan’ and how many countries got rid of their Jews. They were a large minority in Poland.
Modern Israel is quite accurately described as a European colony gone wild.
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Mano Ratwatte / December 27, 2017
You make good points Dr. Hoole. Reality is “the jewish problem” in Europe is why the Europeans gave the so called Biblical land in the Middle East. But reality is Bible is only one book amongst many books of many religions claiming a lot of things and asserting their writ without logic or rational thought. You are right to say Israel has gone wild but reality is it is there to stay as an advanced science based democracy. It too has rightwing zionists and moderate people. Remember Rabin(I went to his museaum in Tel-Aviv and came away amazed at his transformation from a military hawk and decorated soldier to peace maker). You should go to Israel and also visit this museum . They are honest in their dealings about how racism played a part in discrimination against Black Jews etc. I found the Russian speaking Jews a bit unfriendly but the brown skinned local jewish people presumably from native land there were very friendly. Also go to Yad Vashem please. Remember Israel shares Jerusalem with all faiths and does not ban other faiths; will Muslims do the same if they get East Jerusalem back?(they annexed it from Jordan who LOST in 1967; why did the Arabs attack Israel?). Israel is a rare modern technologically advanced nation amidst backwardness. At least Persian Iran is more advanced and self dependent. But we cannot have a disastrous war just because rightwing Christians in USA and Right wing zionists in Israel and Saudi Arabia want it.
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Rajan Hoole / December 27, 2017
Mano,
‘Many histories’ is an academic dodge for avoiding the fact that there is objective history, towards which we move by judging and refining the writings of those who wrote with the intention of being truthful, self-reflective and self-critical. There is a diversity of histories in this category, from the Buddhist world nearer home (the Mahavamsa for example) and the historians of the Islamic world – Al Biruni who wrote about India and Ibn Khaldun on the decline of the Islamic civilisation. In this context I have in mind the books of the Prophets of Ancient Israel.
Their persistent message was that any society that ceases to honour the widow and the stranger (alien) is doomed and foretold the destruction of their own society that had become crass, unjust and insensitive. They would have said much the same of Modern Israel.
Your representation of the Islamic World as backward is very untrue. Its habits of tolerance and hospitality survived almost to our own day. How do you explain the fact that on the eve of the First World War about 25 per cent of the Islamic World (or many parts of it) remained Christian, and there was a large Jewish population? In 1950 many in the Faculty of Cairo University were Jewish or Christian. How was this world which showed much promise destroyed? (Contd.)
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Shenal / December 28, 2017
Mr. Hoole,
I bet what Mano meant by backwardness of the Islamic world is the Scientific backwardness. Islamic world is trapped in the middle ages while the rest of the world have progressed out of it a long time ago due to the influence of the Scientific reasoning.
I believe that your estimate of the Christians in the Islamic world is from the Ottoman empire. However, it is worth knowing that many of the Christian countries under the Ottoman rule was vassal countries. Ottomans value the Christians and didn’t bother to convert them by the sword every instance just like their counter parts in Arabia.
And in Egypt it is worthwhile to note that Egypt was under the British rule and it is quite feasible to Jews and Christians to thrive under their rule. However, what is important is that what happened to these Christians and Jews after 1950s.
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Rajan Hoole / December 27, 2017
Contd.
It is the coming of Israel that brought chaos to this world and in doing so gave birth to Islamic extremist terrorism – a creature of the Carter Administration that has taken on a life of its own, but only partially so; even its excesses are turned into opportunities. Whatever second thoughts, and remorse, Rabin may have had, institutionally he and his Israel served and will continue to serve the cause of Western domination. And in doing so will trample over the dignity of other peoples in the region.
Abdel Nasser and several leaders like him (as Saddam Hussain once sought to be) were secular nationalists after the example of Kemal Ataturk of Turkey. Their aim was to revive the lost dignity of their people. Western imperialism with Israel, its creature, humiliated and destroyed them. We will continue to live with the evil consequences that will find no reprieve until the restoration of Arab dignity, which is inconsistent with Israel as constituted at present.
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Lakson / December 26, 2017
Soyza,
I think you read your scripture from one angle only… Please learn to read both angle… Can you please explain Why God Almighty cursed Jews…? And Jesus (peace be upon him) cursed Jews?
1Samuel 15:28
Mathew 21:43
John 8:44-45
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Ralli Ameen / December 26, 2017
k.soysa come to term with truth, this is atomic age or rather space age. There is only one creator without a beginning or end. Nothing that belongs to the material world including human beings can be a creator or god. That goes to your Jesus too. Jews believe only in Moses as their messiah and the five books of Moses known as written Torah by Jews and known as old testaments by Christians. The new testaments burrowed from old testaments now known as Bible. There is no book having exclusively the teachings of Jesus. Jesus was killed at a young age. If Jesus had lived up to an old age then we would have his exclusive teachings, so there was no bible of his own. After Jesus his disciples made the new testaments based on Jew’s old testaments. The truth is Jew’s genealogy as old inhabitants of Israel was built on mythology they burrowed from Babylonia during their captivity there. They were highway robbers from Yemen, their original land. Since they were hindrance to trade routes the Babylonian King caught them and deported to Babylonia as slave and prisoners. After Persian invasion they were set free and those who migrated to Israel built their Kingdom based mythology burrowed from Babylonia. So Mr. Soysa you are licking them because of their mythology in your religion but do they lick you? Jesus and your religion is fake for them. More than 80% Jews in Europe are Caucasians not Semitic and majority of those migrated to Israel were European Kazak Jews. It is a rogue state.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / December 29, 2017
Ralli Ameen, first of all there is no scientific proof of the presence of a God leave alone the creator. Therefore for all practical terms there is no such entity. Have you heard a person called Buddha who challenged the concept of God and successfully developed several millions of followers. Though there may not be a God, there is a controlling power of the universe. Atom and Biological cell have the nucleus as controlling power. Similarly brain controls the body, Captain controls a team, Prime minister controls a cabinet and so on. The immediate controlling power of earth is the sun without which there will be no life on earth. But Sun is a star and there are millions of stars, which will have a controller. Therefore in mathematical jargon, the controlling power at infinity is the God. But that God has no power either to create or control the Earth. Several people have claimed that they have seen or heard God, but medically those are mere hallucination. However if at a later date there would be scientific proof of a God, then that God has to be Shiva the first known God and the credit should go to Hindus the pioneers in religion when others were groping in the dark. Certainly no entity that suddenly appeared in the scene only 1600 years ago can qualify to be termed the God, but only as one created by Shiva. Quite correctly Hinduism is called “Sannatha Dharma” or eternal religion, which is the oldest in the world.
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Sinhala_Man / December 29, 2017
Gnana,
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Your comment started so well – very scientific! Then you predictably claim that Hinduism, with her 50,000 gods (the figure I’m sure is wrong, but does that matter much?) is the “eternal religion”.
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Strange it is that you didn’t launch in to a Part Two, which claims that Tamil is the “Mother of All Languages”.
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I often laugh when I see some of your more loony excesses. Why not try to make your claims more credible?
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oldcodger / December 26, 2017
Mr. K. Soysa,
None of your apparently sincere Biblical quotes can obscure the FACT that much of the Israeli population was born outside Israel.
The Arab Palestinians were AND their ancestors were ALL born in Palestine. It is clear that Israel is a European colony (as Rajan Phillips says here) masquerading as “Israel”. Israel stopped existing 2000 years ago. Jehovah’s will? Who IS this Jehovah? Is it the guy running JW.org?
Mr Soysa, you may be utterly scared of thinking independently. But please do not expect others to take Biblical arguments seriously.
You recently advised commenters not to insult God , threatening them with hellfire . But you should realize that this works both ways. What if you are wrong and you have been wasting all your time defending a non-existent Jehovah?
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Mano Ratwatte / December 26, 2017
Thanks. Sad reality is Arabs went to war three times to destroy Israel. First when it was a fledgling state. The space is not enough to talk about how racist European Christians wanted to get rid of their Azkhenazi Jews and actively encouraged the setting up of Modern Israel. With all its flaws it is a Democracy. It will not give up Golan Heights because it gives them the priceless resource: Water. It serves western interests to keep Arab nations weak and divided. And Saudi Arabia wants a war with Iran. Iran at least is a semblance of a democracy. But Egypt is the key. Egypt sued for peace after the 1973 war as you well know. I cannot talk about all the issues but was sharing my personal views. Stop hating Israel or Jews but that doesn’t mean giving up supporting Palestine. Thanks for spelling out the differences. What if the Arab League says “If you give Palestine and share Jerusalem, we will all recognize your right to exist”? Sadly both Gaza and West Bank too were captured in wars that the Arab nations lost. Thanks again for your responses.
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Mano Ratwatte / December 26, 2017
Israel gave back Sinai and Sadat new it was futile to keep fighting Israel.It gave autonomy to Gaza and West Bank but Jordan is not demanding the West bank back. Why? Jordan has diplomatic relations with Israel. It did illegally annexe other lands but don’t the victors always do that to expand their land mass? Israel in its modern state was a way for racist Christian Europeans to “get rid of the jewish problem” of their own with anti semitism that existed for centuries and the absurd hatred between Christians/Catholics and Jewish people. But that was not my point. I CLEARLY SUPPORT a Free Palestine; PLO is willing to recognize Israel and does so; But it is Hamas with Iranian Persian Shia support that does not. So where does one go from there?
Golan Heights is critical for Israel’s survival because of Water. Israel benefits from a weak Syria and that is part of the plot. But reality is if Syria gets it back and chokes the water supply, Israel will lose its lifeblood.
It was said that Ehud Barak personally helped Sri Lanka when the war in Sri Lanka was at a desperate place during CBK’s time. Can you find out about that? They flew in Kfirs that helped turn the tide of that war right? I heard rumours about it but never confirmed. But I do know Israeli Gunboats and Kfirs helped(not to say it was free and SL paid a steep price)
Thanks again for a non-abusive response. A lot of people here just love insults and ad hominem attacks. BTW, your late Dad’s journal was a superb one and I know how much esteem my parents had for his wisdom
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Shajeeth / December 26, 2017
Totally agree with Dr. Dayan.
http://www.adl.org/education/resources/backgrounders/creation-of-the-state-of-israel
Hoping this link would support
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Believer / December 27, 2017
DJ, There is a lot of truth outside international law which got formulated according to the petitions presented, and not according to a God of Justice and his creation laws.
The land called Israel, occupied by Rome, was renamed Palestina by Roman Emperor Hadrian in 135 AD, after Jewish Temple of worship was burnt. Jews were expelled but some remained all along. Arabs conquered later and built mosques until Israel got hack its original name in 1948 and captured its capital Jerusalem in 1967. We cant erase history. We can only twist interpret according to personal opinions/beliefs.
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Niro / December 26, 2017
Media Partner – SouthFront – December 12, 2017
On November 28, SouthFront released a video analysis entitled “Would Anyone Profit From a New War in the Middle East?”. The video said that despite tensions in the region the possibility of a new war in in the near future was relatively low because no regional player was interested in it.
The only side, which could be interested in the conflict, was the United States. Such a war will contribute to interests of the US military industrial complex and lead to a growth of oil prices. High oil prices will impact positively the US shale oil production sector.
William Damoury Dec 8, 2017
America is loosing the energy war, Russia is in prime position to control the energy all over the globe. This move by Trump may be to allow US claw back into energy dominance. Instability and conflict in the middle east will restrict energy output if a war breaks out. The Americans will then fill that gap with high prices for the duration of the conflict.
Pat Kittle Dec 9, 2017
“Why did Trump recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel?”
Because billionaire war criminals of the Israel lobby control the US, OBVIOUSLY!
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / December 26, 2017
I quite agree with you. USA, Russia or China are not interested in a war. Only war monger at present is Turkey which is headed by an Islamic fanatic, who wants to be the darling and uncrowned king of Islamic world. Even Iran, another maverick nation is remaining silent, probably after the experience of a humiliating defeat by Iraq which was backed by USA. You will hear only empty rhetoric and no ground action. Due to this Israel will have an easy passage of fulfilling their dream on Jerusalem which is the result prophesied by Bible. Guatemala has decided to shift its embassy to Jerusalem following USA, and slowly others will follow. All this UN vote will come to nothing, and those supported will have to face the wrath of USA.
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Siri / December 26, 2017
My dear friend with his stupidity, Trump would make America last instead of America first. No second word, for sure, his days are numbered. In the security council vote out of 15, he got only one. In the general assembly he lost with two third majority votes. His move has made the world to unite against America and Israel in this issue. It’s high time for all to solve this issue, let the Palestinian to live their lives instead inflicting hardship and brutality on them.
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Percy / December 26, 2017
The writer seems to be trying to legitimise the illegitimate occupation of Palestine. If that is the object of Mano Ratwatte’s contribution it should be deplored. The western powers created a fait accompli by installing Israel in the middle of the Middle East and decades later the rest of the world is treating it as “part of the furniture in the house” It is futile within that scenario to try to convince USA and its allies on the immorality of it all as they are the perpetrators of this massive international crime against humanity. However SRI Lanka cannot afford to get too much ahead of itself as some Arab countries like Saudi care a tuppence for the Palestinians.
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Percy / December 26, 2017
The writer seems to be trying to legitimise the illegitimate occupation of Palestine. If that is the object of Mano Ratwatte’s contribution it should be deplored. The western powers created a fait accompli by installing Israel in the middle of the Middle East and decades later the rest of the world is treating it as “part of the furniture in the house” It is futile within that scenario to try to convince USA and its allies on the immorality of it all as they are the perpetrators of this massive international crime against humanity. However SRI Lanka cannot afford to get too much ahead of itself as some Arab countries like Saudiwould not care a tuppence for the Palestinians.
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Mano Ratwatte / December 26, 2017
NOT AT ALL Sir NOT AT ALL. The two state solution is a must. Sadly, Israel is not giving up East Jerusalem it illegally annexed from Jordan after the 1967 war. It will also not give up Golan Heights because of Water. Arabs went to war 3 times to fulfill their interests and lost; that is not the fault of Palestinians.
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K.Soysa / December 26, 2017
Mr. Lakson,
God Almighty NEVER cursed the Jews. He said, “I will bless those who bless them (The Jews) and curse those who curse them”. He went on to say that through the Jews God will bless ALL peoples. Consider that and see what the Jews have given to the world.
I Sam 15: 28 says, “So Samuel said to him (King Saul) the Lord has torn the kingdom (of Israel) from you today and given it to another (David). Saul disobeyed God by calling on mediums, conducting meaningless wars etc. Please re-read this verse. Do not make such misleading statements.
Matt. 21:43. Again, there is no “CURSE” in this passage. In this, the Lord Jesus says that the kingdom of God will be taken from you (the Jews) mainly the Sanhedrin, and given to a nation bearing the fruit of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is NOT of this world. The Sanhedrin did not want to believe in Jesus because of the “good life” that these priests enjoyed. Jesus preached a more HUMBLE life-style and the Sanhedrin decided to destroy Jesus. The message of the Cross of Christ will be heard and accepted by the Gentiles (that is, all peoples other than the Jews first) and the Jews later. Please read the Bible from the start to the finish. Then the truth will be known, because Jesus said, “I am the truth, the way and the life”.
John 8: 44-45. For goodness sake, where is the curse here??!! The Lord Jesus rightly says to the unbelieving Jews, that they are led by Satan!! That is why they are unable to understand and believe in Christ!! “You will KNOW the truth and the truth will set you free”.
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K.Soysa / December 26, 2017
Excellent point Mano. Benjamin Netanyahu is prepared to sit and discuss the two-state solution IF the Palestinians and all the millions who are against Israel declares that Israel has the right to exist as a nation and retracts their repeated statements that “the little satan” must be wiped off the map of the world, THAT will commence the process. Abbas and the Iranians will not do this.
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Al-faqurlah / December 26, 2017
What illegitimate occupation of Palestine that you are talking of. Is the occupation of Mesopotamia by Arabs, occupation of Coptic Egypt by Arabs, occupation of Indus valley by Pakistan or occupation of Constantinople by Turks legitimate. How can you say that Jews getting their lands back by some divine intervention be termed occupation. If you analyse carefully, it is the Arabs who are occupying the Biblical lands. While there are archaeological proof of the existence of Jews for over 3000 years, there is nothing for Arabs to show. Even there is controversy about the date on which Al-Aqsa mosque was constructed and this can be easily decided with modern technology to counter Islamic propaganda.
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Singhalese pundit / December 26, 2017
You are blind idiots to Tell us America is not incitng war in the world ..
All weapons factories in the US depend on wars. Wars are business products..
Some idiots in this news papers write as childish. Bloody some Hindu broahims do it to divide and rule.
Their cast system is a curse for world civilisations
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Lakson / December 26, 2017
Totally agree brother… All the countries who manufacturing weapons are western countries and all the countries who buys them are third world developing countries…
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Spring Koha / December 26, 2017
Both Lakson and Singhalese Pundit should do more homework.
One of the weapons of choice of the award-winning Sri Lankan Armed Forces (surely one of the greatest in the world at this time?) is the AK47 invented my Mr Mikhail Kalashnikov (a Russian, I would say) and now manufactured all over the world, including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Ask one of our Ranaviru’s to show you his ‘trusted friend’ and see if you can say where it’s made.
One brave Ranaviru told me that he could shoot from Weliveriya Police Station and hit a ‘demonstrator’ standing on the steps of St Anthony’s Church Weliveriya.
I say, Bloody Fools to those in our Third World countries for using the killing weapons manufactured by foreigners to fight our own wars, Imagine what it would have been like if we used our own bows and arrows, or catapults. Less deaths, less collateral damage.
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Rishard / December 26, 2017
Perhaps Sri Lanka erred by not abstaining?
Wouldn’t it be better being deprived of those US aids with calling a wrong is wrong, rather than acting like a puppet for the peanuts?
What is the difference in the demands of Tamils and Palestinians? What is the similarity between Israelis and Sinhalese?
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Ralli Ameen / December 26, 2017
This Mano Ratwatte in not an impartial writer but a biased writer. He thinks this rogue state created by western powers in 1947, during which period Jews constituted a mere 3-4% but today after driving out the legitimate people of the land as refugees, still expanding by driving out the Palestinians from their lands has the right to live. So what about the 95% Palestinians population living their for over 1500 years. For this biased writer myth is greater than truth. Tamils living in north of Sri Lanka or South India continuously for more than 2000 years is provable truth. Is Jews living continuously in Palestine for over 2000 years provable. Even during Islamic period only a handful of Jews were there. Their history to day is based on myth. .
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Mano Ratwatte / December 26, 2017
Can you point where I claim it is the Jewish right? Judaism is older than Islam. Palestinians and Jews from that area including Mizrahi Jews are thsame. Azkenazi Jews are from Europe(“the white Jews”). Two nations must exist. Wishing to wipe out people like Adolf Hitler did is foolish. NO WAR please. If US and Israel at Saudi Arabian behest start a war with Iran it will be a disaster for the world. Palestinians have been there for very very long time. Where do I contest that? Stop trying to wish Israel away. Arabs tried three times to destroy it. Whether Jerusalem is the capital for Jews, Christians and Muslims alike is another story. Israel allows all religions to go there. I am Buddhist and /I went to Bethelem and met Christian Palestinians in the occupied zone. Very nice people; sad to see them divided. But reality must hit you Sri LAnkans that trying to wipe out an advanced nation like Israel is stupid and racist. This does not absolve the racist Zionists amongst Jews. A lot of American Jews are liberal and support the 2 state solution. PLO does too. REmember PLO signed a peach agreement and Rabin paid the supreme price at the hands of a Jewish fanatic like a lot of moderate tamils did at the hands of the LTTE. Masada is Like Sigiriya. Zealots lived there. All 3 religions claim it to be their’s but at least Jews and Christians do not mind sharing it.
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Al-faqurlah / December 26, 2017
Ralli Ameen, you are a bigoted sycophantic Islamic fanatic. You are stating that Jews who constituted a small number, but today they are claiming Palestine after driving out the legitimate people of the land. Do you not see a similarity in eastern province in Srilanka, where Muslims who were 0%, went there as refugees and after years of uncontrolled births and murder and ethnic cleansing of Tamils, say that eastern province belong to them. What about the rights of Tamils who had been living there for over 2000 years as evidenced by stone inscription unearthed. First correct the injustice that Muslims are doing to Tamils before talking about Palestinians. Your statement that Jewish history is a myth is false. Recently they have unearthed the kingdom of David extending over West Bank even into Jordan. Both Jews and Arabs are immigrants from north Africa. Arabs were a nomadic tribe and did not have any civilisation. If you say that Palestinians were there for more than 2000 years substantiate it by archaeological excavations. The fact that there are no such scientific proof, you arguments will not hold. Jerusalem is the birth place of Judaism and Jesus Christ was a Jew, which is undeniable. It is a fact that Arabs got together with Romans and drove the Jews out as refugees. Creation of Israel was not out of nowhere, but based on history and Biblical prophesy. If Arab states did not try to destroy Israel, none of this humiliation of Arabs would have happened. Original people of middle east are Sumerians and if at a later date the powers return Mesopotamia to Sumerians displacing the occupying Arabs, will you call it unfair. Turkey will be taught a lesson if it ties to take Jerusalem.
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nalmen / December 26, 2017
my recollection is that arabs came to Israel only in the 7th century a.d.
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Mano Ratwatte / December 26, 2017
Sri Lanka exports nearly $2Billion dollars worth of good to USA. What if the crazy man in the White-House decides to impose Tariffs on Sri Lankan exports? See the data below. I say yes to a free and independent Palestine but also it can co-exist with Israel. I do not want to see war with Iran or anyone else. But the war mongers want war and Saudi Arabia has a proxy war with Iran at the moment. A war with Iran is stupid and has global consequences. That was not in the purview of the views I expressed.
https://wits.worldbank.org/CountrySnapshot/en/LKA/textview
Sri Lanka exports to United States worth US$ 2,810 million, with a partner share of 26.65 percent.
Sri Lanka exports to United Kingdom worth US$ 1,045 million, with a partner share of 9.91 percent.
Sri Lanka exports to India worth US$ 753 million, with a partner share of 7.14 percent.
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Sinhala_Man / December 26, 2017
Dear Mano Ratwatte,
Thanks for updating us on the current thinking in the USA that led to the UN debating the issue. The fourteen comments that I now see illustrate just how difficult it is to discuss this particular topic intelligently.
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Percy voices his concern that this is going to legitimise the planting of a new state in the Middle-East in 1947; no, I think that Mano was merely describing what has become a fait accompli. It was unfair by the Palestinians, much of whose ethnic make up probably goes back to the Jews who lived there 2,000 years ago. These were people who lived on in that area, and took on the religion that dominated the area – Islam.
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More amusing may be that the second comment states that the first comment had evoked the name of God, on the basis of the first comment had got introduced by the words “Oh for God’s sake . . .” which is used in English without thinking of God at all.
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And then it goes on about Biblical prophesies etc. A couple of days ago, K. Soysa thought that I was ridiculing what he was saying when I said we shouldn’t take all that Biblical stuff seriously. He speaks of the 6,000 year history of Egypt – going back to the Genesis account of the Garden of Eden. To bring that in to conformity with the “scientific age of the Earth” being 5.5 billion years many say all this is allegorical, so we could say that Jewish history goes back that long. I know that this is ridiculous, but I’m not trying to ridicule.
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As Rajan Hoole wisely points out, “Talking about original inhabitants is a dangerous game.” He doesn’t get Biblical, although his father and one of his grandfathers were Anglican priests. All these religions have to be moved out of the argument if we are to be fair by the inhabitants now living in those places. But we are dealing here with fundamentalist adherents of Judaism, Islam and sentimental Christianity.
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K.Pillai / December 26, 2017
Mano Ratwatte
Were you serious in suggesting that SL should have abstained?
Myanmar did not even attend the meeting. Do you think SL should have also absented instead of abstaining?
Mano reminds us that Israel is real and here to stay. Agreed but Palestine is also real and here to stay.
Mano ~ “………Wish pragmatic Lankan politicians heeded to what the late Willy Brandt of West Germany meant when he said “Real Politik”…………..”.
Tell that to Trump. Why the hell did he bring this crisis?
Had MS/RW abstained, the JO would have made it an election issue and rub it in that some six years ago MR voted to admit Palestine as a full member of UNESCO in spite of US blackmail. Mano, do you see the ‘pragmatic’ politicians playing “Real Politik”?
There is one thing common between Tamil issue and Palestine. Successive GoSL obdurately refused to address grievances of Lankan minorities, hoping it will go away. The rapacious West also did the same thing to Palestine.
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Mano Ratwatte / December 27, 2017
USA, K Pillai is likely to pick and punish smaller nations rather than take on China or India on this vote. Remember Sri Lanka exports more than $2Billion(USD) worth of stuff to USA and it is the biggest export market for Sri Lankan items like apparel and also even specialized things like surgical gloves, activated charcoal etc. I just was asking the question because Trump and his Whitehouse are know-nothing mad men in a way. And they are doing this to provoke issues. Some of the rightwing christian war mongers and militarists would love to start a war with Iran. Saudi Arabia will love it too because Saudis consider Shia Persia their “ideological rival” in Islam. It is clear some Sunnis are fanatical compared to Shias. But Iran and Hamas are fanatical in not wanting even a peace agreement with Israel. So what to do men? What if Trump’s regime imposes tariffs on Lankan exports to them? I support a free and democratic Palestine. I was giving facts because a lot of people started making this like “oh Trump made Jerusalem the capital of Israel”. Those are low information people. That is why I gave you the background. Have a blessed 2018
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Muhandiram / December 26, 2017
The all important question is whether International Laws that govern the conduct of countries should be observed by all countries, big or small, rich or poor, strong or weak or not. If the answer is yes, then the UNSC Resolution Vetoed by Uncle Sam and the UNGA Resolution rejecting Trump’s move on Jerusalem are in order. Only those who want a chaotic world dominated by the mighty and powerful will try to justify not only the Illegal Occupation of Palestine and the Brutal Suppression and Oppression of the Palestinians by the zionist Israeli state continuing for seven decades but also successive US Administrations who provide massive Financial and Military support along with Political and Diplomatic cover to the Apartheid state of Issrael.
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Thameem / December 26, 2017
Let’s call a spade a spade! Israel is a rogue state which has violated all the UN resolution against them. A state which has the highest genocide in the history of Mankind. The state which protects Israel is USA. This a known truth. There is no balance of power. USA was a model democracy but today it has lost its image has a true democracy by its own action by going into war in Iraq, destroying that nation to the stone age, bombing Syria, helping and supporting Saudi to bomb Yemen., helping and supporting the over throw of a democratic government in Egypt. The world has been silent. Is this Democracy ? The same is with Israel.
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Al-faqurlah / December 27, 2017
Let us call a spade a spade. Pakistan is a rogue state formed by carving out Hindu land. It has caused the worst genocide in history by killing and expelling Hindus and Sikhs. It was protected and assisted with weapons since 1947 by USA. Pakistan is continuing ethnic cleansing of Hindus and Christians still. Iraqis are guilty of murder and ethnic cleansing of Sumerians and taking their land. The same with other Islamic states..
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Thameem / December 28, 2017
Stupidity has a limit ! Pakistan was separated from India on the premise of British policy then “Divide and Rule”. Go ask the British, why cry here. British gave Pakistan on a silver platter. Has Pakistan violated any UN Resolution? They supported the US to wipe out the Talibans created by the Americans themselves. On the contrary, go take a count of how many resolutions the Israel’s have violated. How many innocent civilian targets were attacked on the premise of collateral damage? 180 countries against 9 on UN vote on Jerusalem should mean something for you to ponder !
If Hitler killed Million Jews, let the Germany give a part of Germany to Israel.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / December 29, 2017
Thameem you are the stupid person. You are asking has Pakistan violated any UN resolution. Pakistan violated sovereignty of Kashmir by invading it. Do not distort facts. Kashmir was a Hindu Kingdom where the King allowed Muslims to live under him. There was no problem then. At the time of independence, British asked the princely states to decide their future. While most of them opted to join India, Kashmir ruled by Hindu with a Muslim majority and Hyderabad ruled by a Muslim with a Hindu majority opted to remain independent. Had Pakistan not committed this dastardly act of increasing their territory, now Kashmir would be as independent state. Because Pakistan invaded Kashmir, the King signed the accession to India and invited Indian troops to protect the territory. Therefore Indian presence is legitimate while Pakistani presence is illegitimate. Also now China has forcibly annexed 15% of Kashmir and Pakistan has accepted this. If Pakistan can accept Chinese presence why cannot it accept Indian presence who are the guardians of Hindu lands in the area. Also remember the mountain that separates Central Asia from South Asia is called Hidukush not Muslimkush denoting that people who lived south of it were Hindus. It is prudent for Pakistan to be satisfied with what it has and if it tries any tricks it will the rest also.
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Thameem / January 3, 2018
This is in response to Dr. Sankarlingham……. Do you know “Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones” . India is one of the main reasons for problems in Sri Lanka. They could have solved our ethnic problem. But they resort to silence citing Tamil Nadu issue. Pakistan and China are the countries came out and supported Sri Lanka. India played dirty politics in Nepal, Afganhistan, Sri Lanka and Kashmir too. What about the Sikhs ? What about the Gujarat massacre? I can go on and list it for you. Not worthy because “Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones”
Cheers!
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Thassim / December 26, 2017
Has it occured to a lot of you that there is no Democracy in Arab lands? Some are modern nations created artificially by the White man with Sykes-Picot. Others were carved out with no respect for Ethnicity or Language by the Colonial masters. Can you list 5 Democracies in the Arab world? Saudi Arabia was an artificial entity created in the 20th Century by the USA. USA has secret bases there and stockpiles of weapons. What happened to Arab Spring? US scuttled it in Egypt. Ruined Libya and Syria is a nation where the Shia Alawite dictator controlled Sunni majority. Saddam was Sunni in a Shia majority nation. Go explain that before bashing Israel. Israel is a democracy albeit a flawed one. It has even arrested and convicted Presidents and top leaders. Right now there is an investigation into Conservative Bibi Netanyahu as well.
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K.Soysa / December 26, 2017
Ten more nations are likely to move their embassies to Jerusalem. These are Honduras, Slovakia, Romania, Paraguay, Togo and the Czech Republic. Russia and India may also follow.
This is not something we may be jubilant about but something we must consider very carefully: Why and how is this possible? Who or whose hand is behind these enormous and significant events that are “watershed” developments in history.
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A.D.J. Perera / December 26, 2017
Thank you Mano Ratwatte for speaking without fear in this incendiary question of Israelis and Palestinians. Whatever solution is arrived it must be on the basis of recognising Israel as a State. Boundaries are man made and often made by those wielding power. The original home of the Israelis is, of course, Israel. Centuries ago they were evicted from their holy home by the Egyptian Pharoahs, who were in power then. Since then Israelis – call them Jews, Zionists or whatever – have been clamouring for their original home. The successors of the Pharoas – the present Egyptian Government – conducts a workable relationship with the Israeli Govt. And so does Saudi Arabia – the trustees of the Holy Mosque in Makkah – so dear to all Moslems in the world.
Sadly, a few hundred thousands Palestinians were evicted in 1947 after the collapse of the Ottomon Empire in the aftermath of WW1.
If the other Arabs cared so much for them they could have solved the problem within a few years after 1947 – by some Moslem States – highly under-populated. Why didn’t they – if they cared so much for their “suffering Arab brothers?” The Arabs made trillions sending the price of oil inhumanely to dizzy heights virtually destroying many third world societies. From 1973 to the mid-2000s they made enough
money that could have easily financed the evicted Palestinians with a comfortable home for them They didn’t? Why? The fact is the Arabs themselves dislike the Palestinians, their attitudes and do not want these close to them. Ask anyone who lived in the Middle East of what Saudis, UAEs, Egyptians and other Arabs think of the Palestinians.
On the other hand, see what good the Israelis have done to the world. In science, in medicine, in making the dessert bloom, in converting sea-water to drinking water and many more. I agree with others GoSL should move closer to the Israelis – in our own interest while not abandoning the Policy of continuing to help the Palestinians a political solution.
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Sinhala_Man / December 30, 2017
A.D.J. Perera,
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Thanks for reminding us of 1973. That’s what put paid to the Sirima government. Rocked first by the 1971 JVP insurgency, then by all the economic hardships.
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Remember how we could not carry even two kilos of rice in a bus – nobody had a car or even a motor bike. We choose to forget that it meant almost no pollution. In the quadrangle of my Old School by the Sea, they planted manioc. By 1977, we were producing most of our food , as a result. But then, that card, on production of which they gave us one loaf of bread (after we’d stood in a queue for half an hour) was the obverse of the coin.
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Even village boys wouldn’t believe that there then was such austerity. All the hard work had been done – then came the “Open Economy” of J.R.J. in 1977.
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Then (1973), nobody could go abroad. Now every poor family has a slave in the Middle-East; every AVERAGE Sinhala family has someone in Italy, or Australia – or is trying to get PR to get to those places. I once tried to expand the two letters to Permanent Residency, and was told that those words wouldn’t be understood, but everybody understands today what PR means.
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The Diasporas – both Tamil AND Sinhala. And still we fight about who came first to thei land which nobody wants to live in. The original Garden of Eden we used to be called.
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Never mind what’s happening in Israel; can’t we Sri Lankans shed our differences?
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Muhandiram / December 27, 2017
Mano Ratwatte claims that the Arabs went to war 3 times to “destroy Israel”. How correct is this?
The first war was in 1948 shortly after Israel declared the UDI in May 1948.by which time the zionists have carried out several military operations – 31 between Dec. 1947 and May 1948 – and occupied large areas which were marked for the Arab state by the UN Partition Plan. The Arab armies did NOT enter any area earmarked for the Jews but ONLY those areas which were earmarked for the Arabs. True they did a poor job in trying to defend the Arab part of the UN Plan but how preposterous it is to call a purely defensive action as an attempt to “destroy Israel”.
As for the second war in 1967, here again there was NO attempt by any Arab country to even attack Israel. leave alone “destroy Israel”. Here it is from just two top Israelis.
In the spring of 1972, General Matetiyahu Peled, Chief of Logistical Command during the war and one of 12 members of Israel’s General Staff, addressed a political literary club in Tel Aviv. He said:
“The thesis according to which the danger of genocide hung over us in June 1967, and according to which Israel was fighting for her very physical survival, was nothing but a bluff which was born and bred after the war.”
On 4 April 1972, the Israeli newspaper Maariv contained the following statement by General Haim Bar-Lev, Rabin’s predecessor as chief of staff.
“We were not threatened with genocide on the eve of the Six Day War, and we had never thought of such a possibility.”
In the 3rd war of 1973, all the Egyptian Army did was to cross the Suez Canal and move into the Sinai Peninsula while the Syrian Army moved into the Golan Heights. By what stretch of imagination can this be called an attempt to “destroy Israel”?.
Mr. Mano Ratwatte, please get your facts correct before you go public.
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Rumad / December 27, 2017
Mano R will doubtless notice this thread is carefully monitored by one with an established hatred for Israel – one, curiously, named after a celebrated Israeli War Hero/General. He collects much data against Israel – some real while much more propagandist. He still smarts under the indignity the Israelis inflicted on him – that resulted in the man getting packing orders rather hastily. But the Lankan people and State will continue to view Israel more as a friend than otherwise. What more, even that clueless “Leader” who once headed the PLO friendly body switched sides and is now a close friend of Israel, the low IQ brothers and all. Pow aney!!!
Rumad
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Al-faqurlah / December 27, 2017
Muhandiram, what you say is correct, but do you not see that what ultimately resulted has connection to Biblical prophesy. What God had destined, no man can change.
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Percy / December 27, 2017
Muhandiram has misinterpreted history. In the 1967 war Nasser together with his allies amasses his forces including thousands of Soviet built tanks to intimidate and overpower Israel. The Arabs were basically poor soldiers and no match for the well trained Israel forces led by Moshe Dayan. Israelnot only delivered a devastating preemptive strike but took control of strategic areas belonging to the Arabs like the Sinai and Golan heights.It was a badly advised and poorly estimated provocation that Israel took the best advantage of.So one could say that the misery that exists in Palestine is at least partly due to the incompetence and false bravado of the Arabs who precipitated military action without a proper strategy.
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Muhandiram / December 27, 2017
Percy, I did NOT do any interpretation of history. I merely quoted two top Israelis about the 1967 War. On the other hand, you are coming out with your opinions without any supporting evidence.
If the evidence I already provided is not sufficient, let me quote some more top Israelis. Please read carefully and pay attention.
In an interview published in Le Monde on 28 February 1968, Israeli Chief of Staff Rabin said this:
“I do not believe that Nasser wanted war. The two divisions which he sent into Sinai on 14 May would not have been enough to unleash an offensive against Israel. He knew it and we knew it.”
On 14 April 1971, a report in the Israeli newspaper Al-Hamishmar contained the following statement by Mordechai Bentov, a member of the wartime national government.
“The entire story of the danger of extermination was invented in every detail and exaggerated to justify the annexation of new Arab territory.”
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Percy / December 28, 2017
Thank you Muhandiram
What you are providing as evidence is the OPINION of Rabin who said”I do not believe”. That is his belief and not necessarily what Nasser had in mind. When you amass troops on a border with your perceived enemy it is not to wish a Merry Christmas! It was obviously done with a military intent which provoked Israel to take the preemptive strike. I do not know the background to Bentov’s alleged comment however, and cannot comment without knowing the context.
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Muhandiram / December 28, 2017
Percy, Rabin is NOT an ordinary Israeli. He was the Chief of Staff and, you can’t take him seriously! What an insult to the Military Chief of Staff of the most powerful Army in the Middle East.
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Percy / December 28, 2017
Look Muhandiram Rabin can be the Lord almighty himself but his belief is his opinion and not necessarily what Nasser had in mind. Do you get it? Or are you too dense in your head to see the difference?
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Shenal / December 28, 2017
Muhandiram,
Prior to the six day war there was continuous harassment by the Syrian who had placed themselves on the Strategic Golan heights of the Israeli farmers who was working in the plains. No one battered an eye over these incidents because it was the “Evil Jews” that were being tormented.
Similarly, the en massing of Egyptians armies had spooked the Israelis to believe that there country were on the verge of being over run by two Arab countries. There worst fear was not the Egyptians but the Syrians. Syrians were placed at a strategic position to over run the entire Israel in hours.
This precarious situation forced the Israelis to preempt and occupy both the Sinai and Golan heights. Israel will never give up Golan until they are quite sure that Syrians will never invade there country.
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Thassim / December 27, 2017
An international chess tournament is starting in Saudi Arabia amid controversy after Israeli players were denied visas.
A Saudi official said visas could not be granted because the kingdom had no diplomatic ties with Israel.
The Israeli Chess Federation said it would seek financial compensation.
The hosting of this first major chess tournament is being seen as part of Saudi Arabia’s process of opening itself more to the outside world.
But a double world champion has said she will boycott the tournament because she does not want to wear an abaya, the full-length, loose-fitting robes women are required to wear in public in Saudi Arabia.
Anna Muzychuk, 27, who plays for Ukraine, said that “despite the record prize fund, I am not going to play in Riyadh” even if that meant losing her two world championship titles.
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rp / December 27, 2017
Ratwatte has the wrong parallel. As DJ clearly pointed out even the case of Quebecois in Canada is not a parallel.
Writers should be careful when they use the pen/computer keyboard.
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Jim softy / December 27, 2017
Mano Ratwatte: buddhists can understand the mayhem you people go through. during the buddha’s time it is said there 62 religious doctrines existed. Even to date Hnduism is a collection of so many religions. Muslims slaughtered Hindus in millions. Yet, they exist side by side. India has Hinduism aka many brahminic religions, christianity, buddhism, Sikhism and ISlam. Jainism like religions are part of Hinduism too.
On the other hand, christianity and Islam were branched from Judaism at different times in the time scale. they are said to be relatives. Yet, they can not live in the same country. why?. They all want to subjugate the other. Just think about that. It is the same thing with countries (I am talking about western countries) built on the Judeo-christian ideology and more arrogant or aggressive arab – Islamic countries. See how they want to kill each other and shoe their domination. Just think about it and comment on that. Otherwise, what happens to the religeon if the consulate or the capital is located any where in the country.
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Menna Aththa / December 27, 2017
How very typical! This view coming from a person carrying the name Ratwatte needs to be read after paying attention to where it is coming from. The Sri Lankan Radalayas (as evident from their first names like Barnes, Clifford, Alfred Clement, Agnes,Theodore, Hubert, Marcia, Lionel, Clifford and many other borrowed western names and who have been inbreeding within the clan group Ratwatte, Mahawalatenne, Dullewe, Dunuwila, Divitotawela, Panabokke, Nugawela, Bulankulame, Katugaha) have been relying on Jewish colonial goodwill during colonial times to gain (our own) land and and disawe posts from those criminals. Bandaranayakes have intermarried with them (Phillips). Therefore they take the side of the Jews on any issue. The parts of the clan residing in the US, Canada and the UK are even more indebted to continue this shameful servility to the Jews, and by extension to Israel. However, the vast majority of Sri Lankans will discard this view like the morning spit. Whether Israel is here to stay not, Sri Lanka has done the right thing by voting against this ;mlechcha; act of sex pervert Trump and we will continue to do so ignoring the view of the inbred!
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Percy / December 28, 2017
MENNA aththa is talking plain bullshit here.”Jewish colonial goodwill”.?what absolute rubbish without any factual foundation.Jewish political influence in SL was NIL
Other than the early coffee plantations developed by the Worms brothers and which continue to this day as tea plantations, there is hardly any economic influence either.We all know that Pieter Keuneman Anil Moonesinge and Lyn Ludowyck all married women of Jewish heritage but those are personal matters.This piece by MENNA Aththa is a disgusting blast of vitriol based on some imaginary premise. He is well advised to have consultation with a psychiatrist to get over his paranoia. An open shut case of “Jews under the bed and in the wardrobe”!!
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Percy / December 28, 2017
JERUSALEM the real National anthem of Great Britain
Here’s the chorus
Bring me my bow of burning gold
Bring me my arrows of desire
Bring me my spear.O clouds unfold
Bring me my chariots of Fire
Like it or not it is a stirring call of patriotism!
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Sinhala_Man / December 28, 2017
Dear Percy,
You’re right about “Jerusalem” symbolising an ideal state for England to aspire to.
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But William Blake was never mainstream English, and what he was consciously comparing were the sordid social conditions in England with the ideal.
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And Blake (born 1757, died 1827 – I hope that’s right – not checked), was consciously against racism. Remember that “Song of Innocence” where the little black boy imagines a life in heaven where he will be reconciled with the white boy. Amazing sentiments for the 1790s – but he was not much listened to.
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However, I agree with your point that “Jerusalem” has all sorts of connotations.
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Today’s Christians who read little outside the Bible are just not conscious of how much social evil can be traced to the Church itself. Blake was wiser – see that simple and short poem of Experience: “The Garden of Love” – or “London” which introduces “Jerusalem”.
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Blake was generous and unselfish; Evangelical Christians delude themselves in to believing in a literal heaven in which they will actually live after death.
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For Blake it was a state of mind – see accounts of the death of this wonderful man.
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Thanks, Percy, for reminding us of him.
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Historian / December 28, 2017
Interesting to see ‘Percy’ coming out of the woodwork to attack Menna Aththa’s reference to colonialism as a Jewish enterprise disguised as a search for the ‘promised land’ to escape persecution in Europe to. The buried history shows that Henry the Navigator who built ships, and every ‘explorer’ who left Portuguese, Spanish and British coast was led by Jews who usually ‘converted to Christianity just before the start of the voyage (and remained cryptoJews). This is true of Columbus, Torres, Flinders, James Cook, Arthur Philip and all the others. They massacred countless billions around the world during these escapades, starting in the Americas. I can go through the list of so-called Portuguese, Dutch and British military men, administrators and Viceroys who were 99% Jews and 1% poor, non-Jewish Scottish and Irish fortune seekers. All the invaders who came in these ships and captured our land were also Jews (as shown by the reference to them as ‘Burghers’. the Dutch name to Jews meaning ‘city dweller’. Then they created the second world war and declared themselves ‘victims’ rather than the real aggressors. So we have the modern revised history of the world. I just wanted to show that people like Percy are important foot soldiers of the global mafia who work to maintain these false propaganda. Sri Lanka was 100% right in protesting at the UN with the other 127 countries.
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F. N. Stein / December 28, 2017
Dear Historian,
Interesting comments from an obvious scholar also possessed with much pent up anti-Jewish prejudice. The Jews, like any other, have surely made some historical mistakes. But to apportion blame to them all the ills of mankind will be a form of peculiar mental sickness no less. The suggestion “declaring themselves victims rather than real aggressors” in the WW2 period surely is the cake-taker. Losing an alleged 6 million innocents in the process is quite a gamble, don’t you think. Elie Weisel and friends will love to have tea with you to discuss your version of recent world history.
In fairness to the Jews, please give them their well-deserved place in history for their incredible contribution to advance, to the benefit of all mankind – religion, medicine, science, mathematics, music, the arts and every positive field of human endeavour. If people of the world (about 200 countries) enjoy the excellent quality of life today much credit for this must go to Jews from many parts of the world.
As human beings, let us show a sense of gratitude which the great Greek philosophers called the greatest of all virtues.
F. N. Stein
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Rajan Hoole / December 29, 2017
Dear Stein,
The fate of millions of Jews under Nazi rule is no doubt an enormous tragedy, but it does not in any way condone the deprivation, murder and, so far, seven decades of suffering imposed on millions of Palestinians condemned to a living hell; in their name.
As with Jews who contributed enormously to the advance of mankind over several millennia, we must also credit the Germans, despite the Nazis. Indeed, if not for Hitler, we would today think of Mendelssohn and Einstein as Germans.
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F. N. Stein / December 30, 2017
Prof. Rajan Hoole,
I agree with you that credit must also go to the congenitally innovative Germans for some of the greatest achievements in science and technology – despite the aberration of Hitler and the Nazis in the 1930/1940’s. To my list please add the breakthrough by the Israeli Jews in Water Technology. They bring hope to mankind by producing fruits and vegetables in the barren desert wastes. Their ability to convert sea water into potable-drinkable water will save much of mankind from dire shortage of water in a world increasingly challenged by climate change.
Let us hope sooner than later the Abrahamic Jews and Moslems will succeed in working out a future where the people following the 3 great religions in the Middle East can co-exist in love, peace, reconciliation and harmony.
F.N. Stein
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oldcodger / December 28, 2017
Hi Menna Aththa/ Historian,
So how are things at your asylum? Oh, BTW, give my regards to those Jewish bats in your belfry.
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Percy / December 29, 2017
How apt Historian! Before you go to bed just take a peek to ensure that there are no Jews hiding there. Also just do a last minute check inside your wardrobe,to ensure that your wife is not having some fun with a Jew in there. Having satisfied yourself that everything is O K try to get a good night’s sleep before checking yourself into the nearest Mental Hospital in the morning. One final word, please don’t smoke those funny cigarettes they make you delusional.
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CondemnedLisaPriceless / December 29, 2017
Only “Rat+watte” like this will quote from Wikipedia and get such a volatile statehood issue such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict confused with our own. No suprise at all. If I reach out to a “watte” here, the slum dwellers might have a better answer and grip on world affairs than what this writer has poorly analyzed by quoting Wikipedia. How the hell can you compare that the Palestinian claim for statehood is similar to what Tamil federalism or Qubec’s right to cesede? Dayan is correct. I am bemused as to how a person like you claiming to be an academic can get this wrong? MR, are you drinking the same Koolaid from AIPAC? Another useless point you makes is why people are upset over the US embassy being moved? We don’t give a rats rear where the US wants to move her embassy to, so long the US stops forcing an d stop threatning the rest of the world to recognize Jerusalam as Israel’s capital because this is a unilateral US-decision that amounts to agression of war. This kind of provocative actions do not lead to peace but lead to divisive tactics that clearly violate international law. We know that such laws mean nothing to these rogue states such as US and Isreal because they flout them anyways and get away with murder or even genocide against Palestinians. Also, when did US public policy dictate US foreign policy? MR, you need to do more research beyond the superficial garbage you find on Wikipedia, Google and CNN. You need to go to the real source as to why Senator Bob Dole who was the chief architect and sponsor of the “Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995” brought the bill because Sen. Dole needed the Evangelical nut heads to support him and the Zionist lobby to fund him to run for the US presidency in 1996.
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Historian / December 29, 2017
Percy, old codger, spring koha, Nimal Fernando etc, I don’t deal in personal abuse even though scum like you fully deserve it. It is pathetic that in your bankruptcy for answers to the facts I listed, you resort to trivialising the facts as madness. You are a disgusting low life. If you can, prove Columbus was not a Jew and the so-called royal families of Europe are not Jews with hanging noses. Don’t try to distract the world by calling those who point these things out ‘mad’. Original land owners around Galagedara know this too!
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Percy / December 29, 2017
Historian.it is nice to know that you don’t deal in personal abuse.Terms you used like”scum like you” and “disgusting low life” then must be words of endearment!! You are in urgent need of counselling.please make an appointment with your psychiatrist.
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Native Vedda / December 29, 2017
Historian
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What the hell are you talking about?
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“If you can, prove Columbus was not a Jew and the so-called royal families of Europe are not Jews with hanging noses.”
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Hysteria afflicted Historian please clarify your above typing.
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Percy / December 29, 2017
Historian
Where can I see a “Jew with a hanging nose”? Where is it hanging from.? Do we have to stand upside down to see a hanging nose? I must say that you are brilliant and should be shortlisted for the Nobel Prize for Idiocy.
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nimal fernando / December 29, 2017
History,
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Now, what have I done?
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I’m half Jewish ……. and run in to self-hating Jews all the time. ………. hope you’re not my Jewish half-brother that went missing some time ago! …… he had a few problems coming to terms with his Jewishness……..especially the nose.
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Anyway, in the spirit of the festive season ……….. Happy Hanukkah to you and yours ………….. call home when you can ……Ma misses ya ……….
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Z …… It’s that time of the month ……………. The Moon’s A Harsh Mistress :))
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