By Latheef Farook –
Latheef Farook
Spain calls on European countries to sever diplomatic relations with Israel and impose an arms embargo and economic sanctions.
Isn’t it time for Sri Lanka, once in the forefront of supporting the Palestinian struggle for freedom, to expel Israel from the island in view of its on going aerial bombardment, flattening of cities and villages and genocide on Palestinians in Gaza.
At the time of writing this article on 29 Sunday 2023 more than 7500 Palestinians were killed. This include 3000 children and more than 1500 women and around 18,000 injured – few months old babies were seen soaked in blood and ash.
According to reports 690,000 Palestinians were displaced. This includes 500,000 girls and women and 25 journalists killed. More than 50 percent of the buildings were flattened and half of the hospitals were destroyed. Fifty nine UNRWA staff were killed while Palestinians were deprived of water, food, medicine, fuel and electricity for almost three weeks forcing them to starve to death.There were also more than 50,000 pregnant women.
Meanwhile Spain’s acting Minister of Social Rights, Ione Belarra, called on European countries to sever diplomatic relations with Israel and impose an arms embargo and economic sanctions. Belarra said it is still possible to stop the “genocide” and also called for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and all other political leaders, who bombed civilians in the Gaza Strip, to be brought before the International Criminal Court.
A senior official at the US State Department resigned citing the Biden administration’s approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict. He said it will lead to more and deeper suffering for both the Israeli and the Palestinian people – and is not in the long term American interest.
However Israel and its US- European partners justify Israel’s war crimes in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, repeatedly stated that Hamas must be erased off the face of the planet! The question is why slaughter civilians and flatten their properties.
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres told a Security Council meeting that he condemned unequivocally the horrifying October 7 acts of terror by Hamas in Israel. Nothing can justify the deliberate killing, injuring and kidnapping of civilians – or the launching of rockets against civilian targets. It is also important to recognize the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum, he said.
Condemning Israeli violence he said the Palestinian people have been subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation. They have seen their land steadily devoured by settlements and plagued by violence; their economy stifled; their people displaced and their homes demolished. Their hopes for a political solution to their plight have been vanishing.
Guterres added that “we must demand that all parties uphold and respect their obligations under international humanitarian law; take constant care in the conduct of military operations to spare civilians; and respect and protect hospitals and respect the inviolability of UN facilities which today are sheltering more than 600,000 Palestinians. The relentless bombardment of Gaza by Israeli forces, the level of civilian casualties, and the wholesale destruction of neighborhoods continue to mount and are deeply alarming,” he added.
Israel has so far violated 32 UN resolutions. However there was no actions as it has been protected by US and Europe. Political leaders in US, Canada-Britain and Europe blindly support Israel saying Israel has the right to defend itself – perhaps by bombing Gaza, flattening buildings and exterminating civilians. Never a word of condemnation of Israel’s on going genocide, bombing and destruction. They also continue to block moves to end this carnage.
These countries also supply Israel with latest weapons to continue its carnage in Gaza. US President Joe Biden, Britain’s prime minister of Indian Origin Rishi Sunak and French President Macron even visited Israel to pledge their support showing their outright contempt for suffering Palestinians.
This demonstrates the brutal overall Jewish control on politicians and political establishments in the west.US, UK, France, Germany: all complicit in the war crimes committed by Israel.
Most people worldwide do not know the background to this conflict. For example Palestinians, descendants of numerous prophets, are sons and daughters of Palestine lived in Palestine for centuries.
Palestine which was under Turkey’s Ottoman Empire was brought under British control after World War 1. British imperial power together with Zionist Jews decided to kick out Palestinians and set up a separate Jewish state in Palestine which was one of the most peaceful places in the planet to destabilize Muslim Middle East.
Violence came with the arrival of Jews brought in from Europe and Russia to settle in Palestine. British Mandatory Authority trained Jewish terror groups such as Hagana and Irgun,led by Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Shamir both of whom later became prime ministers, which committed genocide of Palestinians to drive them out from their homes and lands.Frightened Palestinians ended up in Gaza,West Bank and all over the world as refugees. Zionist Jews, godfathers of terrorism, closed down mosques and burnt alive praying Muslims .
It was these refugees in Gaza and West Bank who now fight for their rights to freedom and dignity. However Israel and its US European partners wanted to kick out Palestinians and create Greater Israel to control the entire Middle East.
Even before Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, Israeli think tanks have prepared plans to ethnic cleanse the entire Palestinian population in Gaza to Sinai desert and take over entire Gaza to be colonized with Israel as they had done with rest of the Palestinian. They had even worked out the cost of the scheme. There has been worldwide protest against Israeli barbarity in Gaza.
Demonstrating the pathetic situation in the Arab world few Arab dictators, installed in power and protected by US, Britain and France, woke up to call for a ceasefire almost three weeks after the carnage which killed more than 7500 Palestinians and made Gaza a place not fit to live.Israeli atrocities also continues in West Bank where more than 1500 Palestinians were arrested and detained.
People worldwide, especially in the Arab World and the West, are boiling with anger at their governments shameful cooperation with Israel for its war crime against innocent Palestinians.
Under the circumstances is it too much to expect Sri Lanka to expel the Israeli mission as it was done every time it entered the island through back doors. Israel has always been interested in its own interests. After all it was this very same Israel which simultaneously trained Sri Lankan government forces and LTTE at different locations close to each other during the Sri Lankan conflict and described Sri Lankans as a people who resembled monkeys.
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM / October 29, 2023
It is the Hamas who provoked the Israelis. Majority of the Palestinians are employed in Israel. As such, it was not fair for the Hamas to kill 1400 innocent Israelis in the first place suddenly. This is not Dharma. Instead of killing a large number of Israelis, Hamas could have negotiated with Israel with the assistance of Egypt. When the Islamic countries are reluctant to accept the Palestinian refugees into their land, I don’t think there is any reason why Sri Lanka should expel Israelis. Even India did not vote for ceasefire at the UN. It remained neutral.
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R Kaz / October 30, 2023
India until Modi became PM was a strong supporter of the Palestinian people. Sadly since 2014, the BJP and Modi with their fake Hindutva movement (I say fake because what the BJP is promoting is against the basic values of Hinduism) is aligning its right-wing Hindu nationalism with Israel’s right-wing Jewish supremacy for political purposes.
If the conflict could have been so easily resolved by Hamas negotiating with Israel and Egypt as you say, the conflict would have ended a long time ago. The underlying cause of the conflict is the theft of Palestinian land by European Jewish colonialists. The Indigenous Jews of Palestine (approx 8% of the population at the time of the Balfour agreement to hand over 55% of Palestine to Israel in 1917) did not ask for their own state.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / October 30, 2023
It is the same in Pakistan. The underlying cause of the conflict is the theft of Hindu land by Mogul invaders. Indus valley belongs to Dravidians which is being occupied by Pakistan. The indigenous Muslims who were 0%, have been handed over the entire Indus valley. Will Pakistan ever hand over Indus Valley to Dravidians. If India drives out Pakistanis and hands over Indus Valley to Dravidians, can you call it wrong.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / October 30, 2023
Why should Israelis who are living peacefully and contributing to the economy be deported. It is the Islamic fanatics who are glorifying Islamic terrorism who should be deported.
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chiv / October 31, 2023
LF, dont you think ALL RACISTS should be expelled from Lanka, including that A. Hole ( not a Thera) who threatened to cut Tamils into pieces , Ganasara who unleashed violence against your own community, master minds of Easter, war criminals . . . . . . . . and hidden racists like y………..
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leelagemalli / October 31, 2023
Dear Chiv,
Is it realistic? Sri Lanka is a Sinhalese/Buddhist dominated country. It means it is not a Buddhist country. However, no matter what is said or done in public, most people in this nation are primarily racists or supporters of racism. After Israel, it is the next nation to stand out as racist.
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The best example they have given is the election of Gotabhaya in November 2019. They always speak from above, but do not see properly in a mirror. nor do they make effort to see it right even after a long driven BRUTAL civil war.
The indictment of State Minister Diana Gamage, who is no different ot a fish monger woman in Negmombo fish market, will reveal to the nation today how the Sri Lankan judiciary works. It is also believed that the power cut or any other excuses could postpone the verdict.
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leelagemalli / October 31, 2023
Now we can’t believe our eyes, Omalpe Sobitha Thero, ANOTHER yellow pet in racism led sinhala/buddhist society, who has a doctorate degree in education, has joined *Pissu Sumanarathana Thero* in that racism drama scripted by the Rajapaksa clan.
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If this nation is educated and has enough knowledge, can Reverend Omalpe or Reverend Kelaniya lead in front of the same audience today because these yellow pets are the ones who supported Gotabaya’s rise. Remember ?
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Even though the eyes cannot believe, this nation is deaf and blind with such actions. Most of them are regardless of their educational level are beasts in human disguise.
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They did not react as if they swallowed Sigiriya the great rock, they stay stand still, how stupid the people should be ?. People are dumber than they appear. Not only the Sinhalese but also the young politician named Shankikam should be held responsible for this incident. Racism is spreading like wildfire by allowing people to go on amok by hiring crazy monks.
Good luck to this nation, so long people stay mum.
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Mahila / October 30, 2023
LF,
Have been following your articles for long-time. They seem to be evenly balanced and therefore do read them frequently, when published with some admiration as to the Cause and Justification adduced thereof!!!
However, am Aghast at the current Situation and ONE Previous to this!!!
Palestinian-Israeli is or has been Long-drawn, with Ups and Downs in relationship!!!!???
Before we go any further, the first item is to find out what triggered the 7th October 2023, which due to it’s, intensity and severity is condemnable, though one has to blame the cause on the INITIATOR OF THIS DASTARDLY ACT AND ‘TAKING HOSTAGES, STABBING VICTIMS’AND ROCKET ATTACKS ON INNOCENT CIVILIANS ON BOTHSIDES O THE DEVIDE!!!???
One cannot FORGET nor DISMISS, that ‘FOREMOST’ part as insignificant, or irrelevant and move on to what is happening in and around Ghaza, West Bank, Lebanon and Syria NOW!!?? Administrators and POLITICO- MILITARY COMMAND, HOW OPERARIONS HAS EVOLVED, DEVELOPED, GROWN IN PROPORTION and the resultant Chaos, IS THE EFFECT Desired/Sought of the INITIATOR!!!???
THE CONSEQUENCES OF AN OPERATION CANNOT BE EVALUATED OR ASSESED IN ISOLATION!!!???
THE INITIATOR IS EQUALLY, IF NOT MORE CULPABLE THAN ‘LATER DAY CONTRIBUTOR’ and HELD ANSWEARBLE just being for the CRIME of initiation!!????
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leelagemalli / October 31, 2023
MAHILA,
All Sri Lankans should see the truth as the truth.NOt even that former lAW professor GLP is in the view of doing so….. this is so pathetic. Those media brothels *DE/RANA TV and HIRU TV* should be publicly banned. I think if LAWYERS AND JUDGES WOULD RISE UP WE CAN DO THAT EASILY. If people cannot see the truth on their own, they should be guided by regular workshops.
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The law and order problem should be solved by everyone working together. It should be taken as the top of the problems. Today’s law and order which is only limited to the paper, should be corrected without delay.
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Lawyers and judges must understand their responsibilities. They should be the guardians of its people. As long as they behave like SLOTHS in the Amazonian forests, any criminal can breed them like termites.
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Nandamalini as a singer Pawana sang good songs recalling the level of law and order in this country.
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Politicians should be exempt from their interferences in trade agreements but their responsibilities should be legislators.
/ The people should warn those politicians to adopt reforms and introduce laws so that their people can live a good life without busying themselves with fattening their own pockets.
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sonali / October 30, 2023
These are the UN figures. Civilian casualties since 2008 (not counting recent events) are: Palestinian fatalities, 6407; Israeli, 308; Palestinian injuries 152,560, Israeli injuries 6,307 (OCHA, UN).
Palestinians must feel they have nothing left to lose.
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R Kaz / October 30, 2023
Sri Lanka should have never established diplomatic relations with Israel until the Palestinian people received justice. One does not have to be a Muslim to support the Palestinian cause.
Israel is a state created by European Jews in West Asia on land belonging to the Palestinian people. That is the underlying cause of the conflict and the injustice and theft of land is ongoing.
Sri Lanka as a country that lost its freedoms to European colonialists for centuries should naturally align itself with the Palestinian people and their just cause.
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AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM / October 30, 2023
Mahila & R Kaz,
Does anyone know what kind of threat China and Pakistan are giving to India? Now India is threatening Pakistan and China because of its military pact with Israel. Also, when China anchored its spy ship in Sri Lanka, its spy work has been rendered ineffective by Israel’s technological capabilities. Moreover has anyone supporting the Palestinian cause stopped the Islamist terrorists from exploding bombs and threatening people? The recent incident of exploding the bomb in Kerala is a case in point. When Israel was created by European Jews in West Asia on land belonging to the Palestinian people, how is it that Jerusalem became the holiest city in the world – it is where the First and Second Temples of antiquity stood, on what Jews now call the Temple Mount and where the Wall stands as a remnant and reminder of the Second Temple. West Jerusalem is densely populated with Jews and Eastern Jerusalem is populated with Arabs. Moreover, some key Israeli institutions, including the Hebrew University are in Eastern Jerusalem as are a number of Jewish neighbourhoods and holy sites. Both Israelis and Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital and the city is holy to Jews, Muslims, and Christians. As this issue is a complicated one, why can’t the Palestinians negotiate with Israel over their cause through Egypt or India as a mediator, instead of allowing the Hamas to launch an attack on Israel.
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Kanapathy Varunan / October 30, 2023
“As this issue is complicated……….”. Who complicated/complicating the issue? It is Israel with the backing of the West.
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R Kaz / October 31, 2023
You are conflating religion with ideology, I do not doubt the Jewish connections to Jerusalem but Israel or Zionism is an ideology, a supremacist ideology in contradiction to the pretence that Israel is a ‘liberal democracy’. Israel does not want to give an inch to the Palestinians and Israeli lobby in the US will never allow the US to act as an honest broker. The question is not why Palestinians cannot negotiate with Israel but why the west and Israel not deliver a fair and equitable resolution to the conflict. Do not believe the one sided version of the western MSM.
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Kanapathy Varunan / October 30, 2023
Sri Lanka believes in ‘Running with the hare and Hunting with the fox” like the Muslims in Sri Lanka during the massacre of the Tamils. Did they ever condemn the atrocities against the Tamils.?
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leelagemalli / October 31, 2023
KV and rational thinkers,
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why talk only about tamils ?
what about the sinhalaese and muslims that are killed since so called war victory against tamil rebells ?
leaving war related atrocities aside, look at the post war episode, how MR led politics the way they deliberately committed high crimes such as premediated murders, money laundering and media crimes with DERANA TV and HIRU TV and high drug trafficking baronss all along ? now to stand against the people s power, they have chosen pimps such as DERANA TV owner and entrepenur DHammika perera to balance it in favour of them. Even if RAJAPKSHES would have been hanged by their balles, would the curse be ceased _?
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Kanapathy Varunan / October 30, 2023
“As this issue is complicated……….”. Who complicated/complicating the issue? It is Israel with the backing of the West.
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Raj-UK / October 31, 2023
I have no particular affinity to Israelis. I have jewish friends as well as Muslim friends but the fact that Hamas brutally murdered, including children, paraded naked civilians with glee acting as barbarians, seems to be out of the equation.
I am not a historian but the fact is Palestinians & Jews are the same people, separated by religion. Racist politicians on both sides do not want a peaceful settlement & the conflict goes on. The Palestine Authority is toothless, the terror organisations have taken over & the poor people have been brainwashed, even children in Gaza carry assault weapons. Hamas continue to bomb Israel from civilian sites Gaza, therefore, Israel has a right defend itself, otherwise, it would be seen as a weakness.
On the point of Mr Farook, should we also consider expelling Muslims from SL as well? Afterall, Muslim terrorists were responsible for the Easter bombing of innocent civilians & that happened in SL.
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Rajash / November 1, 2023
Sri Lanka expelling Israelis is like an ant biting an elephant.
Israel helped Sri Lanka in the genocide of Tamils not just during the last days of the war. But right through to this very day.
Now Israel is intensifying their genocide against Palestinians in the pretence of fighting the Hamas.
Just like Sri Lanka did with Israel and other countries, Tamil genocide in the pretence of gihting LTTE
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Bert / November 1, 2023
Sri Lanka as a country has to have principles to stand for something.
“LA PAZ, Bolivia — Bolivia’s government severed diplomatic relations with Israel on Tuesday, accusing it of carrying out “crimes against humanity” in Gaza, and Chile and Colombia recalled their ambassadors to Israel as they criticized the Israeli military offensive against Hamas militants.” – abc News
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Lasantha Pethiyagoda / November 1, 2023
Present day Israeli policy is far worse than Hitler’s Nazi ideology. This genocide and the vast crimes against humanity should not be tolerated. The US has a big hand in the carnage, as its policies are decided by neo-con Jews. The stupid idiots in Sri Lanka who support Israel without even bothering to read history are worse than monkeys (a term the Israelis used, to refer to Sri Lankans being trained there).
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Lionel Bopage / November 1, 2023
It is true the current round of hostilities began with Hamas attacking Israelis and taking them hostage. Hamas needs to be condemned for their terror campaign. Similarly, Israel’s collective punishment imposed on Palestinians by indiscriminately bombing of Gaza; prohibiting of food, water, medicine and electricity; and locking down of the West Bank need to be condemned. Last February, Ben Gvir, who is comparable to the likes of Gnanasara and Priyasad in Sri Lanka, was appointed chair of a task force to punish Palestinians. He has been convicted in the past of incitement against Arabs. His ultranationalist Otzma Yehudit party is in Netanyahu’s govt. Even the Police Commissioner of Israel went against Gvir’s proposition to impose collective punishment against Palestinians. Last February, even Shin Bet chief warned Ben Gvir about the ongoing crackdown against the Palestinians. He told Gvir: “Your activity is creating a feeling of collective harassment. This is agitating [East] Jerusalem and may cause a broad flare-up at this sensitive time”. Gvir reportedly dismissed Bar’s warnings. Hamas terror occurred in this social and political context. An immediate ceasefire with an end to the siege, with all hostages held by both sides released, there could be a way forward.
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RAVI PERERA / November 1, 2023
Hi Latheef,
First I like to say a big sorry for what a section of the Sinhalese did to you Muslims. What Gnanasara dog and his golayas did was wrong. Inspite of all their attempts to incite anti muslim feelings among sinhalese , let me assure you that vast majority of the sinhalayas have no hatred torwads the Muslims in SL. This has been proven time and time again by sinhalayas voting for the likes of Bakeer marker, MH Mohommed etc. (Where as there is widespread dislike or even hatred towards the …….. by the sinhalese.). Muslims in the east helped the security forces by providing vital information about the LTTE and was and is fiercely opposed to the North East Merger. If the Mulims had thrown their weight behind Tamils, Eelam may well have been a reality. Even Today Muslims are the biggest headache for Tamils in their march towards a seperate state.
But we simply can not afford to antagonist the Israelis by asking them to leave. We have had very close connections with Israel when fighting the dreaded Tamil Tigers. They trained some of our best commandos. It is not that we should love (There is nothing to love them since they are hard people) but It is a question of looking after your interests first.
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