By Ameer Ali –
Dr. Ameer Ali
Gaza, a thriving cosmopolitan trading town along Via Maris trade route between Egypt and Turkey until 1948 became Gaza Strip since then and remained the largest refugee camp for 2 million descendants of Nakba returnees until October 2023. Since then, Israel had killed not 48,000 which was popularly quoted by the media based on Hamas sources, but 300,000 to 400,000 according to a recent revelation (Ralph Nader, “Stop Repeating the Vast Undercount of Gazan Death: It is Ten Times Greater”, Counterpunch, 24 Feb. 2025). After Israel bombed and flattened every home, building and facility and turned that 365 km2 of land into a heap of rubble, it is now a piece of real estate to the landlord US President Donald Trump. His proposal to turn that Gaza into another Riviera after chasing out the Palestinian post-Israeli genocide returnees to neighbouring Arab countries, notably to Joran and Egypt, before handing it over to Israel to become its Hebrew Aza, has sent shockwaves throughout the Middle East. To sell his diabolic plan to the Arab world Trump at once invited the US puppet King Abdulla II of Jordan to the White House and that puppet in turn suggested that he would discuss the matter with another puppet El-Sisi of Egypt. Having realised the danger of domestic uprising the plan would provoke not only in Jordan and Egypt but throughout the Middle East, Egypt is busy preparing a counterplan to rebuild Gaza without removing its indigenous population. El-Sisi hopes to get the approval for his plan from the other Arab puppets. But the irony is just as in 1948 when it was too late and too little for Arab countries to intervene with any force to stop the Nakba, so also in 2025 after watching helplessly Gaza being pulverized, desolated and cleansed of its Palestinian inhabitants in the ongoing Nakba or al-Nakba al-Musthamirra Arab regimes are trying to device a counterplan to please Trump and Netanyahu while paying lip service to the Palestinian struggle for freedom and independence.
Details of the alternative plan are yet to be finalized, but it appears that reconstruction of Gaza would take three to five years ceteris paribus and would be a collective effort undertaken by the Arab countries possibly with assistance from EU and UN. The project is expected to be completed in three stages. In the first stage safe zones would be created to relocate the displaced temporarily and clear the rubble. The second stage would be the phase of reconstruction, and the final stage would reinitiate the political process towards a two-state solution. The administration of the entire project would be in the hands of a committee of technocrats representing different groups except Hamas.
In the meantime, Netanyahu while endorsing Trump’s idea that transferring Palestinians from Gaza is the “only viable plan” added a rider to it and said that emigration should be “voluntary”. Accordingly, his Defence Minister Israel Katz has established a ministerial body to coordinate and assist Palestinians who wish to leave voluntarily to third-party countries. Having declared UNWRA illegal in Gaza and made the operation of other aid agencies unworkable, Israel would starve the Palestinians to a point where they would be forced to choose migration as the only viable alternative. Voluntary migration would thus turn out to be forced migration in practice. But one thing is clear from the outset and that is to allow nearly 2 million Palestinians to flood into Jordan and Egypt or elsewhere in the Middle East would mean converting the Palestinian liberation struggle into a regional one, which none of those regimes would like. Not only that, if Israel is allowed to get Gaza cleared of Palestinians what is there to stop repeating its genocide mission in Occupied West Bank the home for another 3 million Palestinians? That mission has already started and nearly 40,000 Palestinians had been expelled already from Jenin. According to Netanyahu, Israeli tanks and troops would remain in the West Bank “as long as it takes”. This is a dangerous escalation. What are the Arab puppets going to do now?
The truth of the matter is that Arab countries have long given up their concern for Palestine. Therefore, whatever the shape of the counterplan the final objective would be to please Trump administration and normalise relations with Israel. If that is not true, then the key question is whether the Arab countries and Muslim nations worldwide would go beyond rejecting the Trump proposal and take the initiative to push for the restoration of the Palestinian homeland. Israel will never agree to a two-state solution. Nor will it agree to a one state solution with Palestinian citizens in Israel as Karmi Ghada (One State: The Only Democratic Future for Palestine-Israel, Pluto Press, 2023) and Ilan Pappe (A Very Short History of the Israel-Palestine Conflict, One World Book, 2024) had advanced. In that case do the Arab regimes with all their petrodollars have the military means to confront Israel to make Palestinian homeland a reality? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
The saga of Arab weakness started with the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. It is a long history to narrate in a few paragraphs. But to put it in a nutshell, after getting rid of the “Sick Man of Europe” the then two leading imperial powers Britain and France were determined not to allow again a Muslim power to rise and threaten Western supremacy. They created new countries out of the Ottoman territory colonised almost all of them except Saudi Arabia and injected the idea of territorial nationalism to replace the Muslim ideal of brotherhood. Nationalism spelt a death blow to Muslim religious unity or ummah. To keep the world of Islam further divided and weak Israel was planted at the heart of the Arab world and was armed to its teeth until it became a nuclear power.
At least they had a chance in late 1970s to wake up and utilize their petrodollars not to build palaces, playgrounds and hotels but to invest in scientific research and development to emerge as a counterweight to Israel. They missed that opportunity, and it is a sorry tale to go into the reasons for it. Palestinians as a result are paying the price for the historic slumber of Arabs. The only solution available now is to turn Palestinian struggle into a global phenomenon. As Ilan Pappe rightly put it, it is a confrontation between Global Palestine based in Global South and Global Israel based in Global North.
A fundamental truth that the Arab counter-planers must understand is that Palestinian thirst for freedom and independence cannot be quenched by reconstruction. What is there to prevent Israel from destroying again what would be rebuilt? The so-called Arab counterplan without first achieving a homeland for Palestinians is nothing but an exercise in futility.
Lester / February 26, 2025
“At least they had a chance in late 1970s to wake up and utilize their petrodollars not to build palaces, playgrounds and hotels but to invest in scientific research and development to emerge as a counterweight to Israel.”
As I explained here, you cannot change the character (in any positive way) of stupid people by simply throwing money at them. In fact, the old poor habits will just compound. This is well-documented in studies of lottery winners.
The solution for the Arabs is to support Iran. Iran is the most advanced Islamic nation in the world. So what will be the outcome here? Trump is in the process of bribing Arab leaders, while the US and Israel prepare to attack Iranian nuclear sites. Many more palaces, Lamborghinis, ski trips, and paid women for the Sultans and Sheikhs, while Iran burns.
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Native Vedda / February 28, 2025
Lester
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” …. you cannot change the character (in any positive way) of stupid people by simply throwing money at them.”
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Well put, you do understand how the Sri Lankies behave, even a promise of free rice from moon can persuade the stupid voters to support a particular party. Have you ever met people with such mentality anywhere else?
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Finally they ended up in a totally bankrupt country.
Hindians have to bail them out, …..
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Did you know Mahinda’s b***s carriers want NPP to appoint Gota as the Defense Secretary replacing the current one again in order to annihilate the Sri Lankan Mafiosi, forgetting the clan was instrumental in protecting and nurturing them.
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By the way Namal baby wants Anura to hand over the country back to his clan and party. Do you think Anura should do it?
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Lester / February 28, 2025
Native,
In my opinion, Mahinda had some solid ideas to develop the country, but he was surrounded by some very corrupt people, including those in his own family. After winning the war, he should have appointed more capable people to the civil service. Dayan was one of the few capable people. He won in Geneva.
Gota will be a good defense secretary. All terrorists will hide in the closet. You have to wonder about the security of the country when Gotha/Fonseka types etc. are gone. VP ran all over CBK like a lawn mower. Islamic guys are smarter than VP and they have a global jihadi movement supporting them. As soon as you have a Mangala gay type in charge of the government, he/she/it will scale back the armed forces by 60% or more and the terrorists will come out of the woodwork. You don’t believe me, then check Arumugam Bay. These guys are brainwashed and well-organized.
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old codger / March 1, 2025
Where is “Arumugam Bay ” ? Is it anywhere near the Wilpattu Hilton?
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davidthegood / February 26, 2025
AA, you say that Israel will never agree to a two state solution which is the truth, the meaning behind it being that Jesus is coming back to an undivided Jerusalem. Only those who have not realised that truth expect 2 states, which will never happen as no one has seen this Allah they think exists.
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Jit / February 26, 2025
This war will never end! Mark my words today: tell your kids and grand kids to check back in 20, 30, 50 years, and even beyond. This carnage will easily pass into the 22nd century!! Why? Because both Israelis and Palestinians are despicable terrorists, with equal magnitude of ruthlessness. There are no saints or angels in this conflict. Both sides don’t give a hoot for humanity but have an insatiable thirst for blood. I don’t care about the history because it is so unclear who owned which part of the land since when. All historical claims by both Jews and Arabs are highly contentious. It is so complicated that you cant draw a clear line to demarcate the inheritance. One can argue the influence of world powers behind which is undeniable, but ultimately, you can’t blame the neighbors when the husband and wife can’t resolve their own issues. So get set with tons of popcorns to keep watching because the real drama is yet to come….!!
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Rohan25 / February 27, 2025
Muslim unity and Islamic brotherhood! When was that ever practiced. Not even from the very inception of the religion. Even the so-called Islamic state never practiced this. There the Sunni Arabs were the top tier and the others; especially western and South Asian Muslims were the cannon fodder. It was the same with Al Queda, Arabs at the top of the pecking order. The Taliban practised Sunni Pathan supremacy and persecuted others, especially the Mongolian origin Shia Hazara. In old Pakistan light skinned Western Pakistan Punjabi/Pathan Urdu speaking supremacy was practiced against the majority dark skinned Bengali Muslims and Bangladesh was born. In Mughal India the Mughals did not like the local dark-skinned Indians even the converted dark skinned Indias, so they imported lots of light skinned Arabs, Turks, Persians, Afghans and Central Asian Muslims to their courts, to create a largely White/light skinned Western/Central Asian aristocracy and upper classed speaking Urdu/Persian in the northern, central western and even in parts of South India.
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Rohan25 / February 27, 2025
Islam is a religion not a race or ethnicity and is followed by many races, language groups, ethnicities and sects that have been fighting with each other from time immemorial in the name of race, religion (type of Islam) ethnicity and language. Arab hates Turk, both hate Iranians, and they all hate the Kurds and many others and oppress them, despite all being largely Sunni Muslim, leave the Shite into the mix, that is another story. See how the Arab Muslims tread the South Asian and African Muslims in the Gulf and in places like Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. No Islamic brotherhood but sheer racial prejudice. Just because 20 or 21 nations speak Arabic does not mean they all belong to the same race, ethnicity or culture. They only speak Arabic, just like English, French, Spanish. Portuguese or even Hindi speaking people but have very divergent racial and ethnic origins, from each other. It was the Islamic Caliphate that spread the religion and the Arabic language to many areas in Western Asia and North Africa to create the modern Arab world. Inter marriage with the local population also helped.
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Rohan25 / February 27, 2025
With many old languages, religions and civilizations dying out. Lots of these areas were following old religions, Christianity and even Judaism before. This is why an Arab from Sudan, or the Gulf looks very different to a so-called Arab from the Levant like Syria, Lebanon, Jordan or Palestine. The so called North African Arabs are largely Berber, with many sub–Sharan African mix. This is the reason a so-called Gulf Arab or even a North African Arab cannot easily identify themselves with the Palestinian. As even the forms of Islam and the Arabic dialect spoken is so different, unless they speak standard Arabic. Many North Africans speak Berber and not Arabic at home.
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Rohan25 / February 27, 2025
Only these fake Arab, South Indian Tamil origin Sri Lankan Muslims, who for perceived political and economic advantages have deliberately denied their actual Tamil ethnicity, origin and heritage and created a so called Muslim ethnicity out of a religious identity, justifying this by the miniscule amount of Arab ancestry that only small number of them partially have, are trying to desperately create this fake Pan Islamic brotherhood and identity to justify their fake ethnic identity that they have created. Islam and being a Muslim is not a religious identity but now a race and identity. Bullshit.
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LankaScot / February 27, 2025
Hello Rohan25,
I worked with a Moroccan Berber Woman in Qatar and in France. Her Mother Tongue was Berber and her second Language was French. She spoke less Arabic than me. She was not a Muslim, she dressed in Western clothes even in Qatar (modestly). She had Black hair, Blue eyes and a very fair complexion. When I first met her I thought she was Irish. I also worked with Moroccan men in Qatar, they were Muslim and very different to my Berber Colleague. The Sudani, Ethiopian and Somali men that I worked with had obvious Sub-Saharan Ancestry, but like the Qatari Arabs were mostly very tall.
The Palestinians that I knew mostly looked like Egyptians, however there were a few with Fair Hair and Blue/Green eyes.
If you ever get the chance, watch the film “Lawrence of Arabia” it gives an insight into the recent history (during WW1 1914-1918), Tribal Customs and the Duplicity of the British.
Best regards
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Rohan25 / February 27, 2025
Thanks LS, what you state is correct, as I have moved very close with many Arab nationalities. Many of these Berbers even have European blood in them as when the Moors who ruled the Iberian Peninsula and Sicily had heavily intermarried with the local European population and many white Europeans had also converted to Islam and lots of them also fled with the Moors, to North Africa, when Islamic rule collapsed in Spain, Portugal and later in Sicily. In Sicily still many dark-skinned Moorish looking Italians are called Marraccini meaning descended from an Arab or Moor. It it is not only the so called North African Arabs and Berbers who have lots of sub-Saharan African ancestry but even the many Palestinians and the Gulf Arabs the most. The Levant Arabs (Syrians, Jordanians, Lebanese, especially the Syrians and Lebanese have lots of European and Crusader ancestry in them in addition to ancient Phoenician). The Sudanese Arabs are basically Arabised Africans with some tribes having more Arab but the rest hardly. They are one of the tallest people I have ever met.
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Rohan25 / February 27, 2025
The Egyptians from Alexandria have lots of Mediterranean European ancestry, quite opposite to the Nubians from the south, who are very African and even had their own language. All these people are crying about Palestine and Islam, but these is no mention about Darfur in North Western Sudan, where there is a brutal war between so called Arab tribes and the Sudanese government and the African Muslim tribes of Darfur, who still largely maintain their African identity and are not Arabized where there are over 12 million people have been displaced and there is famine. Far worse and more brutal but no crying and lamenting about the plight of these African Muslim brothers, at the hands of so-called Arabized Muslim African Sudanese, from our local fake Arab Dravidian Tamil Muslim brothers and their choir of supporters. Why because it is brutality amongst Muslims and the victims are black Africans at the hands of Arab Muslims? Where is the so-called Islamic brotherhood? Very selective towards largely light skinned Arabs, whom they worship and falsely claim descent from, despite their Dravidian looking faces
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Rohan25 / February 27, 2025
Lastly many people wrongly attribute the obsession with light/white skin in the Indian subcontinent, especially in the northern parts of India and Pakistan, started with steppe migration and the so-called Indo Aryan ruling classes or their hybrids tending to be lighter skinned, therefore light skin being associated with these ruling invaders, starting from them later other central/western Asians and lastly the Europeans. Is correct to some extent but actually not true as many of these ruling families’ heroes in actual history and ancient Hindu mythology and gods were dark skinned, like Rama, Krishna, Siva. Powerful characters like Draupadi in the Mahabharata were also dark-skinned. Even the god Shiva, who wore dark ash, represented ideals that were more than skin deep. It was a norm that beauty, divinity, and strength could shine in any shade, making colorism a foreign concept in early India. In contrast to other parts around the world, in Vedic India, dark skin was not a shame, it was a blessing.
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Rohan25 / February 27, 2025
Even in art and paintings in different parts of India, such as those found in the Ajanta, Ellora, Bagh caves, etc, one can witness the depiction of primarily dark skin if not all shades of skin tone. With the Moghul rule the arrival or Turks, Arabs and Persians This inclusive attitude toward skin color began to shift with the arrival and invasion of Turks such as Mahmud of Ghazni, Persians, and Arabs in the 8th century. Though India had long seen foreign traders and visitors, the invasions brought a new cultural influence from Persia and the Arab world, where light-skinned beauty ideals were already prevalent. Persian literature, which idealized fair-skinned protagonists, became part of the courtly culture and influenced the Indian nobility.
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Rohan25 / February 27, 2025
Persian poets who entered not-so-fair India described fair skin as a marker of beauty and elegance. These depictions began to influence the ideals of Indian courts, and admiration for lighter skin slowly crept into Indian society. Over time, the preference for fair-skinned heroes and heroines in literature and art subtly introduced a new bias. The ruling class, which was often fairer-skinned, came to be associated with beauty, power, and desirability. The works of Rumi, Amir Khusrau, and other so-called-“great poets” offer a glimpse into the deeply entrenched colorism and racial hierarchies that were woven into the fabric of Persian and Islamic literature. These poets, celebrated for their “spirituality”, also perpetuated intolerance against darker-skinned peoples and attached negative connotations to particularly Indians.
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Rohan25 / February 27, 2025
The Mughal Empire, in the 16th century, brought with it the same Persianized version that established these biases. Mughal emperors like Akbar and Jahangir were fascinated with Persian aesthetics, which held fair skin in high regard. While the Mughals had a preference for fair-skinned individuals in their courts. The elite circles of the Mughal court began to associate lighter skin with nobility and sophistication, a sentiment that trickled down to the broader society. This association was reinforced through literature, paintings, and even matrimonial preferences within the noble classes. Gradually, dark-skinned figures in Islamic Indian paintings were replaced, leading to an overwhelming presence of white-skinned individuals. This trend is also observed in Hindu paintings, where dark-skinned figures became increasingly absent.
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Rohan25 / February 27, 2025
This shift occurred because Hindu elites in business with the Mughals began to patronize lighter-skinned representations, which might be because of the shame surrounding darker skin. Moreover by promoting fair-skinned courtiers, dancers, and even concubines as the epitome of beauty. This preference began to spread beyond the royal court, eventually affecting social hierarchies and marriage practices in wider Indian society. While Islamic rulers preferred lighter skin, Europeans took this notion of superiority to an entirely different level. Beginning with the Portuguese, who sought to convert Indians to Christianity, the “saint” Francis Xavier expressed his disdain for Indians due to their darker skin.
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Rohan25 / February 27, 2025
When the British colonized India in the 17th century, they brought a deeply entrenched belief in white supremacy. The British considered themselves not only racially but also intellectually and morally superior to the “dark-skinned natives” they ruled. The establishment of “White Towns” for British settlers and “Black Towns” for Indian natives was one such example. White skin became synonymous with privilege and status, while brown skin was associated with servitude and inferiority. Over time, along with the fabricated Aryan invasion theory and similar ideas, the British established a caste and racial hierarchy, dividing society along their narrative of higher castes being fair-skinned and lower castes being dark. “Fairness” became a ticket to power and social mobility, a trend that has profoundly impacted Indian society to this day. In some states, especially Tamil Nadu, the debate over who is more Indian continues.
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Rohan25 / February 27, 2025
This is also the reason many Indian Muslims, including these Sri Lankan Muslims who are of South Indian Tamil ancestry, want to dissociate and distance themselves from their actual Indian origin and claim all sorts of largely imagined blanket western Asian, central Asian or Afghan origin. In north India claiming Moghul, Turkic, Aghan or Central Asians origins, that other than the ruling elite Muslim classes and aristocracy, who are less than 5% of the Muslim population the rest hardly have and to adopt the family name Khan to show that they are descended from the ancient Moguls or Afghans. In South India and Sri Lanka to claim an excursive blanket Arab origin, that only a very small percentage partially have as the blanket origin for the entire community and worship and fight for anything related to Arabs at the expense of their own people and ethnicity.
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leelagemalli / February 27, 2025
“When I first met her I thought she was Irish. I also worked with Moroccan men in Qatar, they were Muslim and very different to my Berber Colleague. The Sudani, Ethiopian and Somali men that I worked with had obvious Sub-Saharan Ancestry, but like the Qatari Arabs were mostly very tall.”
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I also had contact with Berber and Arabs from Morocco and some other African students from the above mentioned countries. This was in Germany and Switzerland. They were crazy about football. This is not comparable to the Lankans with cricket.
Most of them started their undergraduate studies at university but could not continue in university until they completed their studies. Their psyche was completely controlled by islamic fundementalism.
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Looking back, North African students were hypocrites in their faith. They forced me to become a “MUSLIM” by saying that they were on the right path with their faith. Those who studied medicine had the audacity to claim that eating PORK was more harmful to health than anything else. Like our DTG (and his marriage with Bibel), they were controlled 24/7 by Islamic fundamentalism.
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Those who worshipped Allah at highway-resting stops across europe, went to discos and bars at night and behaved like the worst beasts. mOST of them lived with fears. It was just show. Religions have made them total hypocrites.
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ramona therese fernando / February 27, 2025
Nonsense, Christian Europeans have been far greater racists. WW1 and WW2 was done because Europeans did not like other Europeans. Look what they did to their Jews who were almost as white as them. They chased them all away on the threat of the gas chamber.
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Jews settled in Palestine. Some of the displaced Palestine population had no other place to go to but to Europe (other Arab countries swamped with the rest of them). So, in the end, Jewish population in Europe was replaced with Shariah Muslims.
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Now European far-right wants to chase them away (with JD Vance boosting up the far-right…..what a disgrace…..his wife obviously has Indian Aryanism up her head).
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The racism in a place like US is innate even with all the laws in place.
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LankaScot / February 27, 2025
Hello Leelagemalli,
I used to laugh at the young Saudi Muslim Women on their way to London queuing at the Toilets as soon as we were out of Saudi Airspace to change into Western Gear. Strangely I never saw this on Qatar Airways flying back to the UK; mind you it was 30 years later.
Pork goes off very quickly even in Scotland hence the Appetite for Ham and Bacon. The French and Belgians make very tasty Pâté with Pork and other Meats. In Corsica I even had Pâté de Merles (Blackbird Pâté). I wonder if that’s “Halal” meat?
Best regards
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old codger / February 27, 2025
LS,
Halal is a highly variable thing in my experience. The Bedouins I knew wold happily eat a locust that flew in. But the Shia coast dwellers wouldn’t eat shrimp.
BTW, here is a woman riding a motorbike alone through Saudi Arabia and not running into any head-choppers:
https://youtu.be/YE46aeoFK6E?si=b7CYeKACBRIN55_b
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LankaScot / February 28, 2025
Hello OC,
Just like the Beduoin that I met in the Desert, always willing to help you out, share some food and advice. This young Dutch Girl has the Heart of a Lion. Even a Trail Bike has problems in Saudi especially in the Rainy Season. I used to see Flat Sandy Areas with a couple of tires poking out from the sand, Sabkha is treacherous and has swallowed many vehicles, All the metal corrodes just leaving the Tires and bits of Plastic. My Father ate “Candied Locusts” in Libya, I was never that brave.
best regards
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leelagemalli / February 28, 2025
Hello LS,
I don’t usually eat pork. But my colleagues (germans, french and italians) can’t live without pork. So I eat it occasionally. In Sri Lanka, they are forced to think that pork is unhealthy. For me, all kinds of meat are unhealthy. I’m more into vegetables, fish and a little bit of poultry.
Yummy, yummy, I cook as a hobby. I can cook a lot of international dishes. In fact, I started learning it when I was 16 thanks to my late mother. This has helped me a lot throughout my life. I love gyros (Greek), tajines (Moroccan), falafel (Palestinian), samosas (Indian), vegetable + rice (Vietnamese), tapas (Mexican), kebabs (Turkish), meatballs (Frikadellen) (German), sushi (Japanese) and much more. Also, I like to make my own tiramisu and some other Italian desserts and dishes.
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leelagemalli / February 28, 2025
Dear Lanka scot/Old codger,
.
I think it’s all about their calculations and predictions which are based on falsehoods. Tilvin Silva aka the brains behind the NPP government is reported to have said that her party supporters in rich countries would donate $1 billion (1000 million) monthly upon their request (as if making money is so easy ?:::: ).
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Please watch the video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuSFRizg1XY
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LS, as true as this is, today almost all developed nations are suffering from the rising cost of living in their daily lives. In the post-Covid era with Russia-Europe, it is not like before, all major shipments to European countries are blocked. Hence, no one would donate 25 euros today. And the Sri Lankan migrants also do not have that much money to contribute anything at all. Most of the Sri Lankan migrants as I know very well are not professionals. So, not doing the math properly, the stupid jokers of the JVP have made up their dreams and are at a dead end today.
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old codger / February 28, 2025
LM,
True, many members of the Sri Lankan diaspora are stuck in menial jobs, though they get a chance to show off on their rare visits home. It’s a funny thing that those who protest about a 36% income tax here are willing to pay 45% somewhere else.
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whywhy / February 28, 2025
L S ,
More stuff for you to laugh at L S . Vietnamese eat Mice , in
Bangkok you can eat fried Cockroach snack , in Korea Dog
meat , some Singaporeans love Monkey head , Argentina or
Peru , crocs meat and I think I read somewhere in Mexico
you can eat Chameleon . You can have a good laugh and one
more thing Chinese and some Americans love Snakes . More
stuff to laugh off to your content , no halal haram or Kosher
issue .
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leelagemalli / February 28, 2025
Some latin Americans eat lizards. That’s the delicacy in that country. Thais eat frogs. In some parts of Sri Lanka, they eat tortoises, iguanas, and even monkeys. I knew that some people in Sri Lanka also eat monkeys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nv1JyY-aWQ
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whywhy / February 28, 2025
L M ,
Once there was report someone slaughtered a dog and
sold it out for mutton in Matale . The French eats Frog . People
from different cultures have different eating habits that
can make us laugh at them but how racist and hateful it is
to target Arabs for their culture simply because they still
stick to their cultural values wherever and whenever possible ?
People like L S , not in any short supply in this world but he may
not know or easily forgot that the iconic department store in
London , Harrods which stocks best of Ham and Bacon is owned
by Qatar Royal Family and Qatar has 25 % of shares in Sainsbury
that sells Haram Meats and Pork . Many Horse Races have Arab
shares in UK . Check out for Arab shares in the I M F and the W B .
L S must first look at his face in the mirror and remember his past .
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old codger / March 1, 2025
Whywhy,
You have misunderstood.
“Just like the Beduoin that I met in the Desert, always willing to help you out, share some food and advice. “
Does that read like a condemnation of Arabs? You should watch that video, which shows how helpful and generous the ordinary Saudis are.
My comments about Halal were about how it is interpreted by different Muslims. The Saudi bedouins will eat locusts, while the coastal ones don’t. In Sri Lanka, “baabath” is a Muslim delicacy, while a Saudi won’t touch it.
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whywhy / March 1, 2025
o c ,
I think the misunderstanding comes from your side .
” just like the Beduoin …………..” I haven’t touched on that
comment from you . My reply was to L S . But you might
find in my reply , elements against Islamophobia . Reply
to your comment is closed and I found an alternative .
Anyway , Thank you for your quick response whatever the
case is .
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LankaScot / March 1, 2025
Hello whywhy,
As salamu alaykum,
I lived in Qatar for nearly 12 years, I met many of the most Senior Military Officers of their Armed Forces. I even met the current Prime Minister a few years ago.
On my visits to the Border Posts I was often invited to share a meal with the Soldiers manning the posts. We would all sit on the floor around the Cloth on which the Chicken Majboos and Kuboos was served, helping ourselves. No Cutlery and make sure not to use your left hand. Tea was drunk out of Glasses (kept in a Bucket of Water). I was often invited by Senior Officers to attend the “Iftar” meal at the end of Ramadan in The Headquarters or Local Hotels. I speak passable Arabic, I can ride a Camel or a Horse and even drive a Land Cruiser in the Desert.
As for Harrods, Princess Diana was having an affair with the ex-Owner’s son Dodi Fayed. She was quite possibly pregnant when she died in the Car Crash. I knew her Bodyguard; my friend played Rugby with him.
What point are you trying to make?
Masa al Khair and Ma’a salama
Best regards
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LankaScot / March 1, 2025
Hello whywhy,
I ate “Lamb’s Brains Vol au Vents in Corsica (I hadn’t read the Menu), so why would I laugh at anyone’s dietary choices? Like OC, I think you have misunderstood the overall content of our Comments.
I have no religious preferences for food, however what people choose to eat is their business. Just try not to do any harm or cause suffering to the Animals if possible.
The point I was trying to make is that what people eat is in the main Cultural, so try not to be dismissive of their choices.
Best regards
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whywhy / March 2, 2025
L S ,
” What point are you trying to make ? ” Go back to all of your
comments and see it for yourself L S please . But I appreciate
your conciliatory replies and suggest we ignore anything that
was not intended to hurt anyone . Thanks . I think at some point
in our life , some of us have achieved unexpected and unimagined
and extraordinary things . I will only say I am one of them .
Marhaba .
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SJ / February 28, 2025
LS
Still wasting your breath on the silly bigot whom nobody seems to take notice.
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LankaScot / February 28, 2025
Hello SJ,
Which one? There are a few😉.
By the way one of my Grandfathers was a member of The Communist Party and went on the Jarrow March in the 1930s. He and quite a few of his friends left the Party for various reasons like the Stalin Hitler Pact etc. However quite a few left after the Khrushchev 20th Congress revelations and Hungary. Were there any repercussions in Sri Lanka at that time? I know you must have been very young then.
One of my Grandfather’s friends was Bob Cooney who fought in the Spanish Civil War. One of Bob’s Brothers was my Teacher at Primary School in Aberdeen https://grahamstevenson.me.uk/2008/09/19/bob-cooney/
Best regards
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SJ / March 1, 2025
The split in the LSSP was between Trotskyists and ‘Stalinists” (as they were called by the Trotskyists then. That was on the question of supporting the USSR in WWII. Trotskyists pledged neutrality.
The splits here were more ideological.
The LSSP split in 1963 over the question of the wisdom in joining the SLFP in government.
The CP around the same time over the parliamentary road to socialism. It was a follow up to the international debate that was brewing since around 1959.
Things were no different in India either, but in contrast to Sri Lanka Trotskyists were all along an insignificant force in India.
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Manel Fonseka / March 2, 2025
Hello, Mr Scot — My landlady’s boyfriend in London when I lived in Hampstead, also fought in the Sp Civil War. Miles Tomalin. Some of his poetry has been published in books on the war. He was a lovely man. At Christmas he used to bring all the tenants a bottle of wine each. His son, Nicholas, a well-known journalist, was killed, by the Izraelis when reportung from the Golan Heights. Probably, 1967.
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By the way, are you also related to Sir Hecctor MacDonald?
Pr
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Manel Fonseka / March 2, 2025
Oh dear, LankaScot, once again my post has landed in the wrong place. Under SJ’s following comment.
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Manel Fonseka / March 2, 2025
Manel Fonseka / March 2, 2025
Oh dear, LankaScot, once again my post has landed in the wrong place. Under SJ’s following comment.
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Manel Fonseka / March 2, 2025
LankaScot
Another PS to my previous post.
Correction to note on Nicholas Tomalin: he was killed on the S Heights in 1973, the Yon/m Kipur war. And by a Syrian missile.
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Champa / March 1, 2025
Dr. Ameer Ali
I totally disagree with the last paragraph of your article.
You say, “A fundamental truth that the Arab counter-planners must understand is that Palestinian thirst for freedom and independence cannot be quenched by reconstruction.The so-called Arab counterplan without first achieving a homeland for Palestinians is nothing but an exercise in futility. “
Your assertion on the “Arab counterplan (?)” is discouraging, disappointing and demoralizing!
I very well remember you accusing Arab leaders for not doing enough for Palestine, in particular Gaza. When they finally come up with a Gaza Reconstruction Plan, you dismiss it as a futile exercise. And, I don’t like you calling it an “Arab counter-plan” either. I wish the Arab leaders would call it a “Palestine Peace Plan” so that Muslim and other countries in the world can also be a part of it. There are more pro-Palestine countries in the world than pro-US and pro-Israel.
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This is my “unsolicited advice” to Arab and Muslim leaders who are endeavouring to formulate a strategic plan to achieve a long lasting peace in Palestine which will eventually lead to regional stability.
My proposal has three segments.
1. Economic rebuilding
2. Political solution
3. Security guarantee
1/3
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Champa / March 1, 2025
1. Economic rebuilding
Economic rebuilding is the priority in postwar Palestine. Under this segment;
a. A Palestine Rebuilding Fund will be introduced.
b. Physical infrastructure in all occupied Palestine territories; Gaza and the West Bank including East Jerusalem, will be restored.
c. Mountains of rubble and ruins in occupied Palestine territories will be recycled.
d. Social services will be re-established.
e. Food insecurity, water scarcity and energy vulnerability will be addressed.
f. More educational and recreational activities will be provided to the youth.
g. Agriculture, which is the pillar of Palestine’s economy, will be revived.
h. The literacy rate of the Palestine labour force is as high as 98%! The above-mentioned tasks will stimulate job creation and entrepreneurial opportunities for Palestiine youth and adults they so desperately lack right now.
i. Hamas is a generational Palestine resistance group fighting against Israeli settler colonists to protect their historical land. They are a part and parcel of Palestine, and, therefore, eliminating them from their native land will never work. Instead, they should be engaged in the Palestine Peace Plan to ensure that they will not take up arms again. If Hamas is part of the problem, they should be part of the solution, too. Commonsense.
j. Does Palestine need an election at this juncture? I don’t think so. I believe the jailed Palestinian activist, Marwan Barghouti could be the future leader of Palestine.
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Champa / March 1, 2025
2. Political solution
First and foremost, Palestine should receive the full membership of the United Nations to be recognized as a “State”.
At present, Palestine has a UN defined border and is recognized as a sovereign country by over 75% of UN member countries. It is the United States that stands against Palestine’s membership at the UN. Therefore, Arab leaders, especially Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince may use his excellent rapport with Donald Trump to obtain the latter’s support for Palestine’s request for full UN membership. Donald Trump is someone who does not waste time in making decisions. Therefore, economic rebuilding and diplomatic initiative for full UN membership for Palestine can be set off simultaneously.
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3. Security guarantee
Once Palestine becomes a State by receiving full membership of the United Nations, Palestine and Israel can enter into a Peace Accord, probably with the US and Arab countries as co-signers.
The existing ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel could lay the foundation for a future Peace Accord between Palestine and Israel. And, the both parties could agree to release all captives in their responsibility simultaneously, preferably under mediators’ watch, followed by a permanent ceasefire in Gaza the West Bank.
3/3
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LankaScot / March 1, 2025
Hello Champa,
Who is going to pay for all of this?
Best regards
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shankar / March 2, 2025
I cannot understand why the author is whingeing about arab nations reconstructing gaza,because the palestinians are arabs and rightfully their brethren should be helping them.The other alternative is for the US to give visas for the illegal settlers in the westbank and settle gazans in their homes.
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Champa / March 2, 2025
LankaScot
Economic rebuilding in Palestinian territories is a multi-faceted and complex process. Basically, Palestine’s friends, allies and UN agencies will fund the economic rebuilding by way of investments, loans and grants. It is noteworthy to mention here that war-torn Sri Lanka was rebuilt by China, China alone.
I don’t know for sure whether anyone agrees with me, but the vast mass of rubble and ruins in Gaza and the West Bank should not be put into waste but rather be utilized for a sea reclamation project.
An Emergency Arab Summit is scheduled to be held on March 4, 2025 in Cairo to discuss the Palestine reconstruction plan. I am sure the entire world, including myself, is eagerly awaiting its outcome.
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Champa / March 2, 2025
Once Palestine is decolonized, they should focus on promoting “cultural and heritage tourism” in a more organized way in Gaza, the West Bank, Bethlehem and East Jerusalem.
Today’s tourists, especially Millennials and Gen Zees are more interested in learning histories, archaeology and new cultures than any other time. They may even like to hear religious folklore in Palestine. As I said in another comment, Palestine is a Sacred Land where Sages descended from Heaven (who were there before God) and planted a tree. I am sure there should be pictorial evidence to that effect somewhere in Palestine. I myself am eager to explore Palestine.
Nobody will believe me, but Heaven does exist. According to Tripitaka, Lord Buddha has visited Heaven. The closest place to Heaven is Russia. Palestine (Jerusalem) is in the middle. (I saw it on an ancient map.) Sri Lanka is at the bottom. These three countries are a must visit for any tourist.
Given the wide attention, empathy and respect garnered by Palestinians during the Israel war in Gaza, in peacetime, it could even attract 5-10 million tourists a year. I hope Egypt’s Reconstruction Plan has a place for conserving Palestine’s archaeological, architectural and cultural heritage.
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Manel Fonseka / March 2, 2025
Champa, re “Once Palestine is decolonized, they should focus on promoting “cultural and heritage tourism”
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It would be great to see Palestinians benefit from “Holy Land Pilgrimages” which Israel is currently “selling”, either in partnership with Jordan or on its own. And never one to miss a chance, Israel began titling its tourist adds: “Join the Celebration of the Ceasefire”. One such ad in the local Sunday Times pages today says:
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“Join the Celebration of the Ceasefire”
HOLY LAND Pilgrimage — ISRAEL & JORDAN
Madaba / Bethlehem / Cana / Nazareth / Jaffa / Hezekiah’s Tunnel / Nazareth Vilage / Israel Museum
9th April SOLD OUT
Next departures 20th Dec ’25 / 9th April ’26
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whywhy / March 2, 2025
Champa ,
The same way an Independent Israel was made by the world , An
Independent Palestine must be made for it to be protected
from the same World Aggression . Enough world resources has been
destroyed in Palestine and any rebuilding should happen under a
guarantee that it will not be touched again and only such a guarantee
can encourage new investments of rebuilding . Just like poverty has
become industry , war and aggression has become an industry too
making the Arabs waste their petrodollars in rebuilding what is
destroyed while they were watching . The world must make Palestine
an independent state to stop all these nonsenses . What is the big fuss
here about it ?
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Champa / March 2, 2025
Israel is playing the hostage game again. The Phase I of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel ended on Saturday. Instead of moving to Phase II, Israel insists on extending Phase I which is not what was agreed upon initially. There are two more phases in the ceasefire agreement and I hope mediators will ensure that both parties adhere to the clauses of the agreement.
I never thought “Donald Trump’s era” would bring peace to the world.
This week, Kurdish militants have declared ceasefire after 40 years of conflict with Turkey.
The Russia-Ukraine war is also coming to an end. (I am waiting for an article to share my two-cents.)
The Ukraine President’s meeting with Donald Trump was a disaster. The former has blown it spectacularly. Clearly, he doesn’t want peace. The reason is, peace does not bring money. But, Zelensky “biting the American hand that fed his country for a full three years” was too much for even someone like me who is not a fan of Donald Trump. People say, this is the first time Zelensky left the White House without a Million Dollar cheque. I have no respect for anyone who declines to end war with an honourable peace.
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