19 March, 2024

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What The Hell Is The International Community Doing? Jerusalem Is Burning!

By Laksiri Fernando

Dr. Laksiri Fernando

Jerusalem, sacred to many religions and civilizations, is virtually burning. But the international community including the United Nations are sleeping! They will jump and shout if something even small scale happens in a culturally different, third world developing country. But on the question of Palestine, they have always been ambiguous, silent, or selective.

Even the international human rights shenanigans are the same. They are more dubious and hypocritical because the issues are related to fundamental human rights violations that they talk about. That is one reason why the Israel-Palestinian or more correctly Palestinian-Israeli question has been dragging on since the arbitrary creation of Israel in 1948.

Victims Becoming Perpetrators?

Jews were the victims of terrible atrocities under fascism in Germany and similar countries leading to the Second World War. Even on the question of Jews, the then international community including the League of Nations were late and ambiguous, and to a great extent culpable. The same pattern appears to be repeating this time in the reverse order. The then victims, the Jews, now becoming the terrible perpetrators. If not fascism what kind of ‘naming’ should we attribute to the behavior of Israel today?

Among many victim communities, there are always dreadful extremisms. This is also apparent among some Palestinian groups. In the case of Jews, Zionism was/is the form of Jewish fascism. It is on this fascism that the international community is silent today. This should change and this must be changed. Otherwise, there is no solution to the Palestinian question or to the peaceful existence of Israel.

The possibility of avoiding victims becoming perpetrators is not a hypothetical question. South Africa is a positive example where this predicament was largely avoided. The good or correct behavior of the international community, on both sides of the fence, is important for this realization. Yasser Arafat in this sense was a rational and a reasonable person whatever his deviations in the young years. This cannot be said for any of the Israeli leaders and particularly of Benjamin Netanyahu.

Those who talk big about war crimes and crimes against humanity (or genocide) have always been silent about the Palestinian question and accompanied atrocities. Netanyahu should not be the PM of Israel, but an accused before the International Criminal Court. Perhaps his skin color or the political ideology is not suitable for prosecuting him before the ICC! China should perform a more proactive role on the Palestinian question.   

Present Escalation

The present escalation of conflict or more correctly atrocities started when Israel started forced evacuation of Palestinians from East Jerusalem and destroying their homes, including repeated attacks on the Al Aqsa Mosque during the Ramadan period. The reactions from Hamas and ordinary Palestinians were natural given the present and past atrocities. Nearly half a million Palestinians were expelled or evacuated when Israel was formed in 1948. Most of them became refugees in Palestinian territories and many other countries (Jordan, Lebanon etc.).

UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) was created in 1949 because of this situation. Refugees became piled up in 1956, 1967 and thereafter due to repeated atrocities. I have visited many of these refugee camps in 1980s as the World University Service (WUS) was offering scholarships and some other facilities for higher education, although modest.

East Jerusalem was never a part of Israel or Jewish settlements at least in the modern era. There was a vast difference between the Eastern and Western parts of Jerusalem as I saw them. It was very clear to see. One was extremely poor, the other was extremely rich. One was culturally Western, and the other was Eastern. One was Islam, and the other was Jewish – the Christian historical places lying in between. 

It was a henious crime to forcefully annex East Jerusalem in 1967. It was more henious to claim the whole of Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel since 1980. The backing of the United States, directly and indirectly, throughout years was the primary incentive for the Israel to do these atrocities. Jerusalem is one place where the Eastern and Western civilizations come into open clash with the backing of the Americans.

Hypocrisy of Joe Biden

It is nearly four year since (2017) America recognized the whole of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. It is still the American official policy. It is not merely a policy of that lunatic Donald Trump. Joe Biden is merely a disguised hypocrite. 

In January 2021, during his Senate confirmation, the Secretary of State Antony Blinken was asked, 

“Do you agree that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and do you commit that the United States will keep our embassy in Jerusalem?” 

“Yes, and Yes,” said Blinken without any blinking. His voice was Joe Biden’s. 

The American Embassy is still in Jerusalem and that is where all the atrocities are endorsed. If it is not, Joe Biden should immediately call the UN Security Council and should take a decision to take over the whole of Jerusalem under the UN peacekeeping force. The UN has done so many takeovers in very many places (in Africa and Asia?) and why cannot it do the same in Jerusalem?

Proposals for Peace

History is full of ironies. Jerusalem is often interpreted as the ‘city of peace.’ However, it is not the case today or even in the past. The peace has always been robbed from the people by the rulers and politicians. I was once getting out of the King David St looking for a service taxi behind the International YMCA hotel in Jerusalem during my visits. A bomb suddenly blasted in a nearby bus and a dozen of people instantly got killed. 

What does the Psalm 122:6-7 says? “Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem; May those who Love you be Secure. May there be Peace within Your Walls and Security within Your Citadels.”

Today, it is difficult to have ‘security within your citadels or peace within your walls’ for anyone, unless the UN intervenes impartially, independently, and reasonably to all. There are Jews and Palestinians, and there are Islamists and even Christians. Jerusalem is a holy place for all.

There are proposals to have Jerusalem as the capital of both Israel and Palestine, proposed undoubtedly with good intentions. However, it would be too ideal to have such a ‘cooperation’ in the immediate future given the past circumstances.

In the immediate circumstances, what is necessary is to stop missile exchanges of both sides and stop Israeli atrocities particularly the Palestinian evacuations in Jerusalem. This should be done in good faith and on a sustainable basis. Netanyahu should go. He does not have even a clear majority in Israeli Parliament. This is one reason why he is escalating the conflict and mobilizing rightwing youth to aggravate the situation.

As ‘sharing’ of Jerusalem is not practically possible, what might be necessary is for the Israel to take back its ‘artificial’ capital to Tel Aviv and allow Palestine to use Hebron or Ramallah as their capital. The whole of Jerusalem (both East and West) can be considered ‘a peace zone and a pilgrimage city’ for all religious faiths of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. It can be a combined administration under the supervision of a proper UN.   

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Latest comments

  • 21
    15

    It is business as usual.

    • 52
      43

      “Those who talk big about war crimes and crimes against humanity (or genocide) have always been silent about the Palestinian question “
      I agree entirely, but I wish the author would look at atrocities in his country of birth the same way, or at least not promote the perpetrators so shamelessly.

      • 10
        32

        old codger,
        I guess you are talking about atrocities committed by Tamil and Muslim terrorists.
        —-
        “…atrocities in his country of birth…”

        • 28
          33

          Eagle,
          Congratulations! So you are now fully qualified with a PhD donated on the recommendation of Prof.Laksiri ? Is it true that it’s a PhD in Advanced Sewage disposal?

        • 17
          1

          The entire world is guilty on Palestine.
          But where is justice in this world now ? The so-called judges are the instigators and supporters of mass human rights violations. Go back into history and see. The biggest culprit is the USA, the slave of Israel who wants to teach us about human rights. What a joke !
          Unless this malady is eradicated the world will not have peace.
          How and when we will not know and until then we will continue to carry the guilt of being a witness to to such inhuman actions on innocent humans.
          Every dog will have its day and and nothing lasts for ever.

          • 3
            0

            Pakis B,
            .
            Agree with you, but from what I hear from Palantinians and Isralis, it is much more complex issue than appeared to be.

        • 20
          0

          quick to pounce on Tamils and Muslims. its now very clear who has been the the real culprits. Also you guys have a big problem with yourselves. Try to solve that first.

      • 31
        34

        “I wish the author would look at atrocities in his country of birth the same way, or at least not promote the perpetrators so shamelessly.”

        OC,

        How dare you criticize Dr. Laksiri Fernando ……… he has done his bit by granting PhDs, DScs to uneducated OL failed ….. that’s the best way to single out, mock and embarrass the uneducated. ………

        Dr. Laksiri Fernando works in a roundabout way …… too smart for us plebs …….

      • 36
        21

        Oc,
        Unfortunately the author has proved that he is very biased about the grave high crimes in his own country. Just to cover up only he is raising issue of Palestinian here. King of crime against humanity are his men in Srilanka, those who are in power today. The new wave of high crimes are now on regarding Covid, which is based on total ignorance on it’s people not providing them with jabs but let them be caught by the virus. May be ulterior motive is to cover up their capabilities. ☹☹☹☹☹☹☺️

    • 33
      21

      SJ@
      Palestinian issue is complex not comparable to that of srilanka and Eritrea. And it is also no right to self adulate srilankens with israelis. Our housemaids and drivers in Israel not the other way around. This author just makes every effort to mitigate of the war criminals that are now in repeated mode shortly before new high crimes through let people die like rats due to lack of jabs against SARS CoV2.☹☹☹☹☹

      • 7
        29

        Why are you complaining to me?

        • 26
          0

          SJ,
          apologies, It was my mistake.
          :
          LM

  • 42
    37

    The same thing when North East was burning in 2009

    • 5
      35

      Rajash,
      No. When North East was burning because Tamil terrorists were playing hell over there, the International Community sent their agents to order the Government to stop the military operation against LTTE so that they can rescue Prabhakaran and top level LTTE carders and take them to a safe haven. Mahinda Rajapakshe stood firm and told those guys not to interfere in domestic affairs of the country. As a result of that firm decision, the Government got rid of Tamil terrorists and restored peace for all the people in the country but the Government face war crimes charges fabricated by those guys who got embarrassed by Mahinda Rajapakshes response.
      —-
      “The same thing when North East was burning in 2009”

      • 24
        28

        Hello Eagle Eye how r u keeping

  • 12
    59

    We stand by Israel who stood by us during the war.

    • 37
      37

      Which side would that be? Israel is a snake. It was training the LTTE at the same time it was paid to train SL troops. They played a double game. They also, according to a book by an ex Mossad official looked down on Sri Lankans and said we were “monkeys who needed to be fed nuts”. Indians love Israel too, that is because Israel sells it weapons, but look what snakes do:
      “Two Israeli Chabad emissaries active in the south Indian state of Kerala have been questioned by authorities and are due to be expelled from the country, the Times of India reported on Tuesday.

      The married couple are suspected of being Israeli agents or spies. According to the article, undercover police officers tracked them for a year before filing a deportation order. The state intelligence department said that the couple regularly held meetings at their rented house and were under close surveillance.” The Times of Israel”.

      • 33
        33

        Ashan, many of us have been wasting time arguing with idiots like Gatam, Eagle ‘stupid’ Eye, Soma and ilk for many years. Israel trained PLOTE cadres and the STF men in two different camps close by to each other but one side did not know other was there too. Gatam is a complete wingnut.

      • 6
        28

        So what? Those things have no impact on SL. Even Sri Lankans themselves call them by various names. Normal.

        Israel trained SL’s STF, SF and even pro-government Tamil paramilitaries at the same time, sold jets when no country did so (including Russia and China), gave SL the technology to manufacture Dvora fast attack crafts and drones, exchanged intelligence and stood against world terrorism and extremism.

        Most Sri Lankans love Israel for good reasons. A fact. Not just SL, apart from a few countries the whole world loves Israel.

        • 2
          26

          You are right. Not only Mossad but British also played a big role in training paramilitary forces, including STF/SF, as part of the counterinsurgency warfare.
          Tragic that Tamils are being guided and told that these are their saviours.

          • 24
            1

            nk ,

            Who do you think trained Ceylonese to wear Pant and Shirt ?
            Hair cut ? Socks and Shoes we are wearing today ? Pen and
            Pencil ? Police and Army ? And what is not ? Votes and MPs ,
            the whole Admins system ? Just imagine for a moment “we
            without all these .” Take off all these and visualise where we
            stand ! Without clothes ! ! !

    • 45
      36

      Gatam,
      “Israel…who stood by us during the war.”
      Before you make more foolish comments, go read “By way of Deception” by Viktor Ostrofsky.

      • 26
        32

        old codger, I read the book and it was demeaning how Mosad called PLOTE cadres were like monkeys off a tree then trained them. PLOTE had their men trained by the Mosad and PLO at the same time.

        • 7
          26

          TftN
          You may know that Israel trained the LTTE and the Sri Lankan Army at the same time.

          • 22
            25

            SJ, I read the book by Victor Ostrovsky (spelling?) But there was no mention of the LTTE being there, but PLOTE was trained by the Mosad and the PLO.

      • 24
        9

        OC
        Some of his comments are too stupid even to be called stupid.
        I often wonder where his mines them from.

    • 30
      32

      JATAM

      Does Israel stand by you?
      Mossad trained LTTE cadres in under water combat.
      Read:
      Story of double games LTTE, RAW and Mossad
      Friday, April 9, 2021 – 01:00

      https://www.dailynews.lk/2021/04/09/features/246296/story-double-games-ltte-raw-and-mossad

      It appears you are standing on your head.

    • 29
      7

      GATAM, Israel’s never stood by anyone apart from Israel. https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/enter-mossad-and-ravi-jayewardene/

    • 26
      2

      JRJ got advice from Moasd and convinced if you kill 10 Tamil at least you will kill 1 terrorist stick with them

  • 33
    38

    “Israel-Palestinian or more correctly Palestinian-Israeli question has been dragging on since the arbitrary creation of Israel in 1948.”

    Yes, It is business as usual and comparable with the Sinhala- Tamil question or more accurately Tamils _ Sinhalese question arbitrary creation of Sri Lanka in 1948. The international community (United Nations) also includes not only USA, UK but also China and Russia as well. China, Russia and Sri Lanka.
    Laksiri, you are on the side Palestinians but you are against Tamils in this same question. China and Russia is on the side of Sinhalese supporting bombing and massacring of civilians in the name of LTTE terrorism. Similarly USA and UK support Israel bombing and massacring civilians in the name Hamas Terrorism (Palestine Terrorists).
    Be human!

    • 6
      33

      Ajith,
      Sinhalayo = Palestinians
      Tamils = Jews
      Tamils are trying to do in Sinhale exactly what Jews did in Palestine. Grab part of Sinhale, the Land of Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo to create a separate State for Tamils.

    • 4
      33

      “China and Russia is on the side of Sinhalese supporting bombing and massacring of civilians in the name of LTTE terrorism.”
      *
      I wonder which country’s military personnel were here alongside the SL Army during the last months of the war.
      I also wonder who provided Satellite information to help drown 10 or so LTTE’s supply vessels.
      Did a Chinese gunboat sink the vessel in which ‘Colonel’ Kittu was sailing home? Or was it Russian?

      • 27
        32

        You may be forgotten few other countries including China and Russia helped Sri Lanka during the war and after the war to save Rajapaksas.
        * It is USA, UK and EU banned LTTE, not China and Russia.
        * It is Indian, Pakistan and probably USA, UK military alongside the SL army during the last months of war
        * It is USA who prided Satellite information to help drown 10 or more LTTE’s supply level.
        *But it is also Chinese multi barrel cluster bombs and possibly Chemical weapons and Russia’s MiC fighters (you may remember Lasantha was murdered for exposing the Mic deal) alongside other helps.

        – See more at: http://southasiajournal.net/which-countries-helped-the-sri-lankan-government-in-the-sri-lankan-civilian-war-2009http://southasiajournal.net/which-countries-helped-the-sri-lankan-government-in-the-sri-lankan-civilian-war-2009/

        • 2
          27

          Russia sold military items on a commercial basis. Do not mix things.
          Chinese arms supplies went on regardless of who was in power.
          Neither country got involved in the politics of the conflict or logistic support like India & the US.
          *
          But there has recently been a desperate effort to cover up the roles of the US and India that hurt the Tamil people, while posing as friends.
          These two countries used the conflict to gain influence in local political affairs. Had they kept out, they would have been winners.
          *
          But you single out Russia and China to protect those who were directly involved.
          You will not fool anyone but yourself.

          • 23
            25

            SJ,
            It is of mixing up or supporting USA and UK and against to China or Russia. This is about Sri Lanka and particularly after the end of war. USA,UK and other western nations and India and Eastern nations helped Sri Lanka as a to wipe out LTTE for their owns reasons. It is not a secret that all these competing nations want to keep their power in this region. However, our interest is within the island of Sri Lanka, making the island good for all. Sri Lanka had an opportunity to resolve the internal conflict. It is not secret that there is a long standing political problem regarding devolution of power, rule of law and justice.
            You cannot deny that the current regime continued to use Buddhist Sinhala Fundamentalism, racism, Sinhala militarisation, genocide etc. Don’t tell that China and Russia did not help directly or indirectly support this regime to keep this problems going forever. Genocide is not a local affair. Why can’t China keep neutral when there was a resolution about Sri Lanka? Do you support the massacre of Tamil Civilians, 1958, 1977, 1983 and 2009?

          • 23
            10

            Oh dear

            “Do not mix things.
            Chinese arms supplies went on regardless of who was in power.”

            Chinese arms did not kill a single of course.
            Is that why Sri Lankan army was carrying chinese arms in one hand and UN Human Rights Charter on the other.
            Sri Lanka won the war by not firing a single Chinese manufactured bullet, nor any shells, bombs, ….. cluster bombs.

            Chinese made weapons of mass destruction such as
            Chengdu F-7
            Harbin Y-12

            ..
            were kept as display items.
            Never been used in the combat and mass killing.

            Why the hell a few people want to defend Chinese policies when they have no powers to change them. Only a man gone Ga Ga will defend such policies.

  • 36
    18

    Why the International Community especially the friends of Palestinians- Russia, China and the Muslim Countries are silent?
    Act immediately before it is too late! Summon Security Council for an urgent meeting!

    • 19
      25

      srikrish,

      Exactly!

  • 36
    35

    Israel is pounding Gaza again, while playing victim. Look at the casualties, and you will know the answer as to who should get world wide support. Israel has had this brutal occupation for over 50 years. It uses Hamas to justify all it’s crimes like land theft, illegal settlements, stealing of water, olive trees are destroyed, stolen, or olives are harvested by the illegal settlers before the Palestinians are able to harvest it. They point guns at the Palestinians and steal. They kill unarmed kids who protest their suffering by the fence with snipers. All condemned by the UN.

    Once again the provoked the Palestinians during Ramadan. They started with trying to evict Palestinians from East Jerusalem, which they had no claim to, then they storm Islam’s 3rd Holy Mosque, desecrating it, and attacking the worshippers, and those protesting the evictions, injuring hundreds, with tear gas and stun guns. What kind of monsters are these? Maybe they are the good friends of the Rajapaksa’s now, but Sri Lanka has always supported the Palestinians, as they have been the victims of Israel’s greed and brutality.
    It is easy for Israel to label them as “terrorists” to justify their crimes. The US State Department has labelled Israel’s illegal settlers as “terrorists” too, but you won’t hear it mentioned.

  • 39
    37

    Another whataboutism article.
    Those who use whataboutism are indirectly admitting to their own guilt.
    Sri lanka is actually using the israel instruction manual on land grabbing
    and genocide.

    • 24
      25

      Good point. There is that similarity. Maybe the Israelis advised them on this issue too.

    • 0
      20

      Humble,
      DSS started the process that gathered much momentum since 2009.

  • 34
    30

    I appreciate the stand taken by the Author in the human rights of Plaestinians against the Super powers. Such a principled stand for fighting against branding Hamas as terrorist and bombing Palestinians, justifying Hamas missile attacks on Tell Aviv.
    Unfortunately author must have been in sick bed when our Sinhala army shelled hospitals and no fire zones. If he this angry for Plaestinian massacre How much he would have Genocide of his country men. He would have defended despite LTTE bombing of central bank and attack on airport in which our army men destroyed our planes

  • 23
    0

    Gatam,

    We stand by Israel who stood by us during the war.

    Victims Becoming Perpetrators?

    If peace can only come through killing someone, then NOBODY want it.

  • 32
    31

    Laksiri: What The Hell The International Community Doing? Jerusalem Is Burning!

    TFTN: same thing when Sri Lanka was burning……………………..nothing at all. Fuel the fire by selling weapons to both sides to kill each other.

  • 37
    29

    All peace-loving people should support the freedom struggle of Palestinians. There can be no excuse for apartheid in the 21st century. The disgusting response of the USA should be noted: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vcj2jOXg4lM&t=17s. “Do you condemn the killing of Palestinian children?” Answer: “we don’t have independent confirmation.”

    • 1
      0

      Lester

      “There can be no excuse for apartheid in the 21st century. “

      Except in Sinahala/Buddhist fascist state.

  • 25
    38

    This hypocrisy professor pretends to be that he is man of justice and compassionate. Local Muslims couldn’t burry their loved ones’ bodies so Harris and Nazeer donated their pants and under wears to become nude for the Amendment 20th of the constitution. Emeritus Professor, who in the cool Austrian fall is on the deception to divert the Modayas’ attention to save the Aanduwa from its fraud of selling Colombo Pong Cing to China. Israelis and Palestinians are attacking each other only because both of their celebrations are under way & they wants to disturb each other. Why did Rapist Army demolish the Maaweerers’ Memorial, yesterday? Theory of Sinhala Buddhist Aanduwa is how much they humiliate the Tamils, that much the Modaya coolies would be happy. Israel didn’t say that to Palestinians. So yesterday rapist army demolished it. I have been telling the Thayaga Tamil Brothers/Sisters to ignore these provocations because government order Rapist Army to do these only because they know these rowdy actions humiliates the Tamils. In Mahabharat, it is described how Arjuna stood when he wanted the Lord Siva’s Pasupath Astra. He imitated the crane which stays on one leg until the fish of the size he desires. Tamils must stand like Arjuna in the Geneva for the justice of Sinhala Buddhist’s Aanduwa’s war crime. That day only the humiliations the Aanduwa started on 1948 will stop.

  • 32
    2

    I wish to associate myself with the sentiments expressed by the author about the atrocities now being committed in Palestine. I also wish to condemn the author for the views he has expressed on previous occasions about the national question in SL and his unabashed kowtowing to the Rajapaksas.

    • 2
      28

      eeakdavi
      You are smart enough to figure out what the author is up to by putting both parts of your narrative together.

  • 23
    0

    Many powers are losing and few powers are gaining , building muscles thanks
    to Israel-Palestine conflict . Israel-Palestine struggle is not a localised issue .
    It is a hot spot for world power play . Those who tirelessly teach to the world
    the value of being a dignified human being , have left a huge Black spot in this
    region . It is a shame that both the Jew and the Arab are forced to fight each
    other without an end to be seen in the horizon . The struggle continues and
    the world enjoys a stable price for petrol . Arms production for mid-east by
    many countries equally enjoy a good harvest . One day Palestine might decide
    what world power means in front of Freedom Struggle . Until then , there’s
    a place on this planet where babies are born to be killed by Civilised Gentle
    Men !

  • 23
    1

    I agree 100% with Dr. Laksiri Fernando on the Palestinian issue. At the same time, comments by CT readers on Dr. Laksiri’s stand on the Sri Lankan conflict are also true. He was initially for a political solution but later jumped on the Rajapakse bandwagon. After the end of the war, he proposed at the Colombo University Senate (without the matter being put on the agenda and thus giving Senate members due notice) that MR be given a LLD (Honoris causa) and GR be given a PhD (Honoris causa). Vice-Chancellor Hirimburegama who chaired the meeting and supported Dr Laksiri was made Ambassador to France but Dr. Laksiri was not even appointed Consul to Sydney where he lives.

    • 2
      0

      Jayasiri Samarakoon

      “Dr. Laksiri was not even appointed Consul to Sydney where he lives.”

      Further the clan refused to consider his appeal for financial assistance from Presidential fund to pay for treatment for his illness.

  • 16
    10

    When there s a bombing or a killing people generally take the side of the victim. But if you start looking at the whole thing, the history, the issues, general conduct, the ethics of the two parties, their democratic instincts etc the story becomes very confusing.

    • 25
      1

      Deepthi, may I suggest to you and others here who may b confused about this tragic happening, that they take a look at some of Shlomo Sand’s books? A history prof in Tel Aviv University, born in a displaced persons’ camp in 1946/7 to an Austrian Jewish mother, he was automatically a citizen of Israel from 1948. But some years ago he renounced his status of “Jew”.
      —-
      I recommend his books: “The Invention of the Land of Israel”; “The Invention of the Jewish People”; & “How I Stopped being a Jew”. They are can be read on the internet archive at: https://archive.org/search.php?query=shlomo%20sand

      The 3rd book is less than 60pp & can be downloaded from
      https://archive.org/details/SandHowIStoppedBeingAJew/page/n37/mode/2up
      —-
      Israelis like him & Ilan Pappe are speaking out against the very creation of Israel. It is sickening that Biden is even planning to increase the military budget to Israel & even guarantee the next 10 years in advance. Sickening, too, that the US uses its veto in the UN on this issue.
      —-
      How can we be “confused” in the present instance? Go back to the latest attempt to dispossess Palestinians of the homes in East Jerusalem, the resistance to that, then the attack on Muslim worshippers in the mosque. I have no regard for Hamas but how else can the Palestinians fight back in this situation? How else?

      And, as usual, they are the ones to suffer most.
      Unbearable, simply unbearable.

      • 6
        27

        Manel
        Thank you for the effort to educate.
        I hope that at least some people will follow up with your reading suggestions.

        • 0
          1

          I never realized that the campaign for illiteracy is so strong.

    • 1
      0

      Deepthi Silva
      Given yr final, contemptuous rejection of “old muslims” (like me!), why invite this discussion in the first place, Deepthi with yr “if you start looking.” ?

      Everything that followed, responding to yr “confusion”, seems to have been a sheer waste of time.  Whatever the “truth” of the “story”, it seems that nothing will shake yr firm belief that Muslims will take over the world if Israel lifts its jackboot from the Palestinians. 

      If you are in any doubt that Israel has severely violated humanitarian law here, a brief resort to the following will put you right:

      https://www.btselem.org/international_law

  • 12
    8

    Mr. Laksiri Fernando your article is well said.

  • 24
    27

    This is state terrorism by Israel and Sri Lanka against minorities. Terror under occupation for submission. It would never ever happen.
    Need UN peace keeping force in occupied Palestinian lands and in the NE of Sri Lanka, for the Tamil Homeland.
    If UN fails again on the R2P – Right to Protect, war will commence in the streets of by-standers.

    • 1
      17

      MV
      I hope that you were not among the great admirers of Israel that Suthanthiran generated by serialising a Tamil translation of Exodus in the 1960s.
      *
      It was the Tamil youth who woke up to the Palestinian struggle, thanks partly to a volume of translations by MA Nuhman including one translation by R.Murugaiyan.
      That was after Mujibur Rahman proved a disappointment and Eezaththu Mujibur was renamed Eezaththu Arafat.

      • 4
        0

        Manicka Vasagar

        SJ types:
        “I hope that you were not among the great admirers of Israel that Suthanthiran generated by serialising a Tamil translation of Exodus in the 1960s.”

        Instead you should have read the “Mao’s Little Red Book” and demanded Amir/VP organised a long march from Pottuvil to Polikandy (P2P).

    • 4
      18

      If UN fails again on the R2P
      We have seen where R2P took Libya.
      R2P is not about any victim but about the imperialist agenda for regime change.

    • 3
      25

      Manicka Vasagar,
      It is difficult to understand why Tamils want to have two Homelands, one in India (Tamil Nadu) and the second one in Sinhale>Ceylon>Sri Lanka which is the ‘Homeland’ of Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo.
      —-
      “…in the NE of Sri Lanka, for the Tamil Homeland.”

      • 4
        0

        Eagle Blind Eye

        “It is difficult to understand why Tamils want to have two Homelands, one in India (Tamil Nadu) and the second one in Sinhale>Ceylon>Sri Lanka which is the ‘Homeland’ of Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo.”

        With one stroke of your computer you have clearly made yourself a stupid.
        Do the Tamil Nadu Tamils demand homeland in India?
        Where is the evidence?
        Get some help from SJ.

        Where is Sinhale?
        Ceylon andSri Lanka are not indigenous name, both foreign.
        This island belongs to my people.
        If we are going establish semblance of peace we need to get rid all descendants of Kallathonie converts.

        When can the Sinhala/Buddhist converts leave?

    • 2
      23

      Manicka Vasagar,
      In Sri Lanka we had Tamil terrorism and Muslim terrorism targeting Native Sinhalayo but there was no State terrorism. State launched a military operation to eradicate LTTE Tamil terrorists. That was not State terrorism. Don’t you feel ashamed to tell this kind of blatant lies?
      —-
      “This is state terrorism by Israel and Sri Lanka against minorities.”

      • 4
        0

        Eagle Blind Eye

        “In Sri Lanka we had Tamil terrorism and Muslim terrorism targeting Native Sinhalayo but there was no State terrorism.”

        Don’t lie, there is no native Sinhalayos, however there are Sinhalese and there are Sinhala/Buddhists, and there is a Sinhala/Buddhist state, now it is turning into Sinhala/Buddhist/Fascist state.

        Even the Sinhala/Buddhist identity was concocted by the feeble public racist Anagarika Homeless Dharmapala who ran away to his native country India and died there.

        You too should find your way back to your motherland, which is situated in the shores of Coromandel Coast.
        Why do you people let others sit on your head?

  • 24
    33

    “CROCODILE TEARS” .

  • 17
    0

    I notice from the people like the Muslim traders here,only people of that religion I could meet.They are very unhappy that an establish government with superior weapons and with the apparent backing of Western countries seems to have abandoned Palestinians who are also the original settlers of the holy land.It seems to them that it is one sided in favour of the Jewish settlers.I truly fear the worse when feeling are running so high.
    I fear that other countries like Turkey and Iran will get involved and lend the ISIS like people with rockets that may be launched from Lebanon, Syria and even from Jordon. These countries are been unstable with their leaders either unpopular or not in command of their countries, then the likes of Islamises will take advantage to launch offensives toward Israel.
    It is time Israel come to her senses and get on amicably with the native Palestinians without giving into their version of the religious sect. Netanyahu wants to get off the hook for his wrong doings by destabilizing the communities in Jerusalem with recent unpleasant events there, by this serious distraction. Blaming HAMAS all the time is old hat.HAMAS only reacting to the injustices of the apartheid like state created for the Palestinians. Wake up ,Israel and smell the coffee…

    • 5
      0

      Noel

      “Blaming HAMAS all the time is old hat.”

      So is blaming LTTE for everything wrong with this island.
      The inapt Shavendra, Kamal, Gota …… and the Sinhala/Buddhist racist establishment should stop patting on their own back and hand over their powers to able people.

  • 11
    11

    Manel thank you for referring to those books by Sholom Sand.

    Are there similar books by those disillusioned with Islam, their systems or their leaders , especially by those living in Saudi, Iraq, Iran ,Pakistan, Afghanistan and such like ?

    Or is it that those living in these countries have found the “truth” ?. Looking at them it is hard to believe that they know anything about civility, democracy or honesty leave alone the truth .

    • 14
      0

      Deepthi, please go back to what prompted me to mention Shlomo Sand’s books. You said:
      “…people generally take the side of the victim. But if you start looking at the whole thing, the history, the issues… the story becomes very confusing.”

      Such a comment seems to suggest that, in this instance, people probably take the Palestinian side, because they are clearly at a huge disadvantage, suffering much more death & destruction, with very little firepower to match Israeli bombardment from air, sea & land.

      But then you say “But”, which suggests that in this particular case, at least, things are not so straightforward. And when I read the rest of that sentence, I cant help but get the impression that your own consideration of all the issues leads you to supporting Israel in the present conflict.

      And since this tragic situation has concerned me for almost 60 years, from the time I began to move from a romantic dream of joining a kibbutz (I was born during the bombing of London & one of the first things I learnt about as a child was the Holocaust) to a stunned realization of the awful dispossession of the original (YES, original!) inhabitants of that land, I felt I had to suggest to you some important sources to help you to “look at the whole thing” – as I have come to understand it, at least..

      • 12
        0

        You ask if there “are similar books by those disillusioned with Islam”, etc. I’m afraid you’ll have to ask somebody else that question, I am not qualified to answer, & besides, we are talking about the current situation in the Middle East. Moreover, Sand’s books are not expressions of disillusionment; they are explorations of history & religion & myth & politics, etc. Before you can look for “similar” books, you must first know what you are looking for. At least one of these books was on the best-sellers’ list in Israel for 19 weeks, which does not mean everyone approved of it but that it was found to be extremely interesting, provocative, perhaps, but valuable. In France, however, Sand said the reaction of the Jewish community was hostile – “hysterical”.

        When interviewed in France at the time of a similar “encounter” between Israel & Gaza in 2008/9, Sand responded:
        “Instead of strengthening the moderate wing of Hamas, Israel pushes the Palestinians into despair. We have ghettoised an entire population & refuse to accord it its sovereignty, 42 years on. Or, indulgent as I am toward Israel, let’s say only 20 years on, since 1988, the date when Arafat & the Palestinian Authority recognised the State of Israel without winning anything in exchange.

    • 12
      0

      I wonder if you know about the one month, brain-washing of children from kindergarten upwards in Israel.

      A documentary “Izkor: Slaves of Memory”, was made by Eyal Sivan in 1990, about this annual imposition of official memory. Due to its ‎implied criticism of the Israeli educational establishment, the Ministry of Education & ‎Culture forbids public screenings of the film in Israel.‎

      The process takes place during 4 sequential festivals: Passover, a celebration of freedom, marking la sortie the exodus of Hebrew slaves from Egypt; “Holocaust Remembrance Day”; “Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism Remembrance Day”; & “Independence Day”. Children are imbued with the memory of each event, performing related actions as each one is described.

      The film is 97m of which 11 min can be seen online at
      http://eyalsivan.info/index.php?p=fichefilm&id=16#&panel1-5

      “The collective memory becomes a terribly efficient tool for the training of young minds.”

      • 12
        0

        Let there be no misunderstanding: I do not accept Hamas’s positions & least of all its religious ideology. I am a secularist, I am a democrat & am rather moderate. As an Israeli & as a human being I do not like the rockets. But as an Israeli & as a human being I cannot forget that the people who are setting them off are the children & grandchildren of those who were chased out of Jaffa & Ashkelon in 1948. I, Shlomo Sand, see this people of refugees on land that was once their own. I am not saying that I can give them this land back. But that each peace offer must begin from recognition of this.”

        • 15
          11

          “I do not accept Hamas’s positions & least of all its religious ideology.”

          Hamas does not have any religious ideology of significance. Even if they did, it is irrelevant. The Jews believe “Israel” belongs to them because Abraham counted stars. There is no legal basis within international law for such a justification. There was never any Jewish kingdom in Israel, no archaeological evidence exists to support claims that “David”, “Solomon”, etc. ever existed. We know that the Romans expelled the Jews and the Jews returned to Palestine in large numbers during the time of the Ottomans. Until the Balfour Declaration, however, the Jews were never able to lay exert territorial control of Israel.

          • 5
            2

            Lester

            “The Jews believe “Israel” belongs to them because Abraham counted stars.”

            So do the Sinhala/Buddhists because Indian Buddha thought, and the public racist Annagarika Homeless Dharmapala said so.

        • 3
          0

          Oh dear, my comments seem to have come out in the wrong order. That’s the problem with trying to do this on a mobile.

        • 3
          0

          I must apologise for typos here & there, wrong sequencing & the omission of a note at the beginning of the above extract saying it is Sand speaking in an
          interview conducted in France at the time of an early “encounter” between Israel & Gaza.

    • 4
      1

      Deepthi,
      Let’s put it simply.
      Who discriminated and murdered European Jews over centuries? European Christians.
      Who promised European Jews a homeland? Britain.
      Who killed 6 million European Jews? Nazi Germany.
      Now, does it make any sense to you, Deepthi, that Israel was set up for European Jews on Arab land, not Germany or Britain?

  • 14
    0

    The entire world is guilty on Palestine.
    But where is justice in this world now ? The so-called judges are the instigators and supporters of mass human rights violations. Go back into history and see. The biggest culprit is the USA, the slave of Israel who wants to teach us about human rights. What a joke !
    Unless this malady is eradicated the world will not have peace.
    How and when we will not know and until then we will continue to carry the guilt of being a witness to to such inhuman actions on innocent humans.
    Every dog will have its day and and nothing lasts for ever.

  • 9
    8

    Shalom Sand actually wrote his books in Israel and published his book there. Contrary views, not only to challenge the State of Israel but even to denigrate the Hebrew religion is possible in Israel.

    Are we to destroy that culture and create something like Saudi Arabia all over the world ?

    • 13
      1

      Perhaps Professor Sand’s complex books were not expected tofind a wide public & anyway, you must them before you express surprise they weren’t banned. He neither denigrates the Jewish religion nor calls for the overthrow of Israeli culture. And anyway, how on earth would this make way for something like Saudi Arabia?

      “Sand’s detractors portray the book as an assault on Jewish identity & the legitimacy of Israel. But he sees it as the opposite: an attempt to rescue Jewish-Israeli identity from an intellectual abyss & redeem Israeli society with a healthy dose of secular rationalism. ‘I wrote the book for a double purpose. First, as an Israeli, to democratise the state; to make it a real republic. Second, I wrote the book against Jewish essentialism.’”

      Censorship in Israel is based on a law from British Emergency Regulations of 1945. Whole lists of banned books are circulated among Arab bookshops in Israel. Shops are also forbidden to import from publishers in Beirut, Damascus, etc. Anyone found with such a book risks trial in a military court. Even the word “Nakba” is banned in Israeli Arab school & text books. I recall the case of “All the Rivers” a novel by Dorit Rabinyan (Israeli) of a Jewish-Palestinian love story. The Ministry of Education banned it after an Educational Board had recommended it for teaching in senior literature classes. Things are even worse in the Occupied Territories where Israel severely controls what the Arab population can read.

      • 14
        2

        From the last chapter of HOW I STOPPED BEING A JEW
        I am aware of living in one of the most racist societies in the Western world. Racism is most certainly present to some degree everywhere, but in Israel it exists deep within the spirit of the laws. It is taught in schools & colleges, spread in the media, & above all & most dreadful, in Israel the racists do not know what they are doing &, because of this, feel in no way obliged to apologize. This absence of a need for self-justification has made Israel a particularly prized reference point for many movements of the far right throughout the world, movements whose past history of anti-Semitism is only too well known.

        “To live in such a society has become increasingly intolerable to me, but I must also admit that it is no less difficult to make my home elsewhere. I am myself a part of the cultural, linguistic & even conceptual production of the Zionist enterprise, & I cannot undo this. By my everyday life & my basic culture I am an Israeli. I am not especially proud of this, just as I have no reason to take pride in being a man with brown eyes & of average height. I am often even ashamed of Israel, particularly when I witness evidence of its cruel military colonization, with its weak & defenceless victims who are not part of the ‘chosen people’.

    • 4
      3

      Deepthi,
      Let’s put it simply.
      Who discriminated and murdered European Jews over centuries? European Christians.
      Who promised European Jews a homeland? Britain.
      Who killed 6 million European Jews? Nazi Germany.
      Now, does it make any sense to you, Deepthi, that Israel was set up for European Jews on Arab land, not Germany or Britain?
      The truth is that “Israel” is a settler colony much like Rhodesia or Apartheid South Africa. But the last two didn’t pretend to have religious justifications.

      • 6
        1

        old codger

        “Now, does it make any sense to you, Deepthi, that Israel was set up for European Jews on Arab land, not Germany or Britain?”

        Nor on Uganda as envisaged by the great powers (UK, ….), being “Jewish territory” in East Africa.

        • 4
          1

          Native,
          “Nor on Uganda as envisaged by the great powers (UK, ….), being “Jewish territory” in East Africa”
          I don’t think Deepthi will believe that , even though it is true. Must keep it simple, you see.

          • 3
            1

            old codger

            “I don’t think Deepthi will believe that , even though it is true. Must keep it simple, you see.”

            I do understand.
            Thank you.

  • 11
    0

    What The Hell Is The International Community Doing This comminity is in Hell wants things done or suit to it. ever be them all end up there

  • 14
    3

    The Jews who have suffered so much in Europe and Russia should know better. They have become the new Nazis, occupying another’s land and slowly exterminating it’s people. All this because America and the West supported the oppressors instead of the oppressed in the Forties.

    • 6
      0

      Svenson,

      The younger generation of American Jews is increasingly at odds with Israel.
      Google Peter Beinart and read his recent articles in the Jewish Currents magazine (should be free online).

      Older members of the Jewish community may happen to be diehard supporters of Israel and Zionism. But, despite their financial clout and heavy concentration in some cities like NYC and LA, Jews are less than 2% of the population in the U.S., with limited electoral clout.

      It is the much larger evangelical Christian community (nearly 35%) that is even more diehard in its support for Israel. They engage in circular reasoning and irrationality in saying that the existence of Israel as a Jewish state is proof the God of the Bible exists. Right-wing Israelis often call secular progressive Jewish Americans self-hating Jews and dismiss them; instead, they cultivate the evangelicals.

      • 6
        0

        A
        “Right-wing Israelis often call secular progressive Jewish Americans self-hating Jews and dismiss them; instead, they cultivate the evangelicals.”
        That rings a bell.
        Do you spot a similar pattern of name calling of secular progressive Tamil/Sinhalese individuals by hard line Tamil/Sinhala nationalists?

      • 1
        5

        Agnos,
        .
        This is just to remind you. You’re well informed so I’m sure you know this man, one of the greatest persons of our time. As old a Jew as you could want – 92 years old, and speaking just last month.
        .
        Naom Chomsky; warning more than an hour! A man who is a bitter critic of Israel’s actions and Zionism.
        .
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuSPX-2oFM0
        .
        It is this honesty and consistency that I admire. I hope that Laksiri Fernando not only reads all this, but listens to this. He’s had lots of responses to this article which is on a worthy subject.
        .
        Please don’t give us any more racist crap on Lanka!
        .

        • 3
          0

          SM,

          Yes, people like Noam Chomsky and Bernie Sanders are among the older progressive Jews. But among the younger generation, there are a lot more of them. Peter Beinart is one of the more prominent ones. His progressive views are all the more remarkable because, in private, he maintains his Orthodox Jewish religious practices.

          As for Laksiri, he has become a chameleon, probably looking for some position or handouts from the current GR-MR regime. Since MR had advertised himself as pro-Palestinian in the past, Laksiri is assuming MR would take note if he likewise took a pro-Palestinian stand.

          • 1
            0

            Agnos
            Laksiri is not that daft to expect MR to be a keen supporter of the Palestinians. Deals with Israel are still on.
            I suspect that it is a different calculation based on garnering some progressive credibility.
            It fits in well though with the stand of the US on Israel and US dislike for the GR-MR rule.

  • 2
    6

    Manel Fonseka ,you seem to have studied various aspects of the Israel/Arab conflict with interest.This is a subject that has drawn the interest of some of the best brains in the world, with varying opinions.

    I haven’t studied the matter with anything like your interest, so cannot say anything about who came first to Israel and so on. There are as you know, many views on these subjects , as shown by even the Sri Lankan example-honey pots for academics.
    Not sure if there can be a final truth, there is no such thing, all is relative.

    I can say this– wars are brutal, there are no hero’s, all are terrorists depending on who is looking.

    Here, two world (civilizations ) are clashing.

    If finally, the Muslims win, and finally all world becomes Muslim, would you like that ?

    Do you like their culture, their attitudes, their democracy ?

    Or, is a little bit of democracy, multi-culturalism , diversity, freedom to think and challenge however flawed, better ?

    We have to chose.

    • 4
      3

      Of course. She has studied it in depth, and is very sincere.
      .
      Also note that she uses the name on her Birth Certificate.
      .
      We need more people of honour and courage like her. She never speaks with forked tongue. In this she’s very different from the author of this article.

    • 1
      4

      In this respect she’s also different from Lanka Netizen, below.
      .
      How many names and gravatar from him. I have had emails from him, and I’ve even spoken to him on his mobile.
      .
      Then he blocked my number.

      • 2
        1

        Dear Eagle Eye,
        .
        Appealing again to tell us unambiguously who you are. Many think that you are H.LD. Mahindapala. I say cannot be; he’s in Australia. How can he be following all the comments on CT and responding? We want this to be a site for responsible and serious discussion.
        .
        Don’t take this amiss, EE. You use English competently. However, compare with the real Mahindapala; he writes scholarly English. I did the same degree. I think I genuinely like Eliot. But then, I had to say so. He is a Major Figure; saying otherwise, I couldn’t have completed the “story book degree”.
        .
        https://island.lk/t-s-eliot-a-response-to-kumar-davids-dislike/
        .
        Kumar hasn’t read Literature because he had to; he genuinely liked it. He is only one of those engineering fellows who connects bits of wire so that electrons pass through them.
        .
        “leelagemalli” and I have received threatening phone calls because we say that we support equal rights for all Lankans. After the deaths of ‘Uru Juva’ and Tharaka Perera Wijesekera or ‘Kosgoda Tharaka’, whilst in Police custody, we’re getting afraid.
        .
        How much worse for a Tamil?
        .
        Think that we are Tamils masquerading as Sinhalese? Look here:
        .
        https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/m-m-janapriya-14-may-2021/

      • 1
        0

        This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.

        For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2

    • 2
      0

      Deepthi S,
      “haven’t studied the matter with anything like your interest,”.
      Well, you should.
      Consider what the world would be like if Israel hadn’t been created:
      Before 1948, Muslims looked to Turkey for leadership. Turkey was secular and modern for the time. Women were educated and no dress codes were imposed.
      Then Israel was created, and all hell broke loose. Wars in 1956, 1967, and 1973. The Arabs turned first to socialism and then Islam. In Iran, another secular regime was overthrown by fundamentalists. The US radicalised and used Afghans to fight its war against the Soviets. There are many more such stories. The common factor is Muslim radicalisation, which wouldn’t have happened without Israel.

      • 4
        0

        D.S,
        “If finally, the Muslims win, and finally all world becomes Muslim, would you like that ?
        Do you like their culture, their attitudes, their democracy ?”
        You are being simplistic. All Muslims are not the same, any more than all Christians are the same. Muslim Indonesia and Malaysia rank above Catholic Philippines . Turkey, Bosnia, are secular European states. Saudi Arabia is a feudal state.
        Perhaps you don’t know that Muslims invented algebra (an Arabic word), developed astronomy,
        improved medicine, chemistry, and were more aware of this world than the West.

      • 5
        0

        Thank you, Old Codger! Spot on and so succinct. Now why cant I gather up the facts and slap them down in an inkling like you?

        Could it be age?….nowadays I frequently forget what I’m start out to say…and wander all over the place. When I saw my posts on CT todat I was surprised that they hadnt been axed.

        • 3
          0

          Manel,
          I’m not as young as I’d like to be, either!

    • 4
      0

      Deepthi, I wonder what religion you follow, if any, of course — I gave mine up about the time I realised what the Christians were doing in South Africa, and how the Spanish Inquisition operated & Galileo just about survied, tho Joan of Arc didnt (do try to watch Carl Dreyer’s The Passion of Joan of Arc”), & the Hugenots fled France & Christian Britain burnt people at the stake, & Christians of all kinds forced or inveigled peoples with religions of their own to abandon them. The Crusades, then the terrible great wars between Christian nations … & then the high-handed actions of the same otto rid themselves of the guilt of what had happened to the Jews by planting them on another people’s territory. Except that helping the Jews wasnt the only reason for the establishment of Israel, was it?

  • 0
    0

    What is really going on in Israel&Palestine ?
    ====================
    personal analysis and opoinion
    ===========================
    1) Is it religous ? or the struggle to return to a land God grabed from its peoples and gifted to the Isralites?
    ==============================
    lets examine the scripures of both in the conflict
    very briefly ,
    The jewish scriptures says God gave them the full right of ownership for the whole of palestine to make it their home land when they were frerd from Pharo’s slavery.

    Palestinians scriptures say , the jewish tribes were roaming homeless after they were freed from pharo, and God permitted them to enter palestine a country blessed with all kinds of good food , they were also commanded by God not to be arrogant and to treat the people of the land with respect .
    later some settled down according to jewish narations, but a large number among 12 tribes were lost and no trace to date,no one has been able to find them.
    to be continued
    on 2..

    • 0
      0

      Cont..
      The Palestine- Israel conflict 2
      ====
      For the Israelis belief , God gave it to them , after all all three main branches of Abraham monothiestic religions , no matter whom and how they worship The one true God , they all agree with the Ones of God and also agree unconditionally and not questioning nor doubting that everything belongs to God and he is free to distribute it to whom and how he wants.
      to be continued on 3

    • 1
      1

      NETIZEN is Hussain Fahmy. He used to be Fahmy Knight with a medieval-looking gravatar. Suit of armour and a lance. He contacted me for defending him when some politician (can’t remember who) said something like “Freemasons are crooks”.
      .
      I was a lazy Mason for five years to please my erudite and serious Belgian neighbour. Nuwara-Eliya Lodge. Whilst in Bandarawela he actually functioned as Grandmaster for Czechoslovakia. That is a higher rank than anyone has in Lanka. Highest here, District Grandmaster. He had to make speeches in the Czech language. Fahmy and Jacques Huyghebaert got talking through my phone.
      .
      Jacques announced: “the man is a fraud who doesn’t currently belong to any Lodge in Sri Lanka, but seems to have had some Masonry in Singapore.” Masonry has acquired snob status in Sri Lanka. When Jacques wanted to introduce me, he was actually asked if a GambadaIskoleMahattaya could use English. Had he said that I taught English, that would have confirmed to them that I didn’t know the language! English Masonic ritual is couched in the language used around 1500 AD – pre-Shakepearean. I’m quite at ease with that lingo. However, I found memorising pages and pages taxing.

    • 2
      1

      Continuing:
      .
      The same post-colonial problem in India.
      Jacques, who knows the ritual in at least six languages (google his name for articles by him) also found this memorization a problem, and tried to use a tablet. Complaints to the Victoria Masonic Temple. Not allowed.
      .
      Fahmy is the man who introduced me to the guy calling himself hanchopancha. I hope that readers understand why I unambiguously identify myself, even if I’m warned of the danger. I’m sure that “Captain Morgan” was quite sincere in warning me a fortnight ago.
      .
      NETIZEN has been trying to involve me in discussions, imagining me to not know his identity.
      .
      I hope you understand why I’m posting these two “correct length” comments. Pseudonyms are fine if their use doesn’t vary and if they are consistent – like old codger, SJ, and Native Vedda. However, speaking out becomes hazardous when you have this situation. I know that both “leelagemalli” in Germany, and I in Bandarawela, have received telephone threats.
      .
      With the killing of ‘Uru Juva’ and ‘Kosgoda Tharaka,’ there is indeed real fear amongst us. At least let us ensure that there are no moles or trolls.

  • 5
    0

    Deepthi, I wonder what religion you follow, if any, of course — I gave mine up about the time I realised what the Christians were doing in South Africa, and how the Spanish Inquisition operated & Galileo just about survived, tho Joan of Arc didnt (do try to watch Carl Dreyer’s The Passion of Joan of Arc”), & the Hugenots fled France & Christian Britain burnt people at the stake, & Christians of all kinds forced or inveigled peoples with religions of their own to abandon them. The Crusades, then the terrible great wars between Christian nations … & then the high-handed actions of the same to rid themselves of the guilt of what had happened to the Jews by planting them on another people’s territory. Except that helping the Jews wasnt the only reason for the establishment of Israel, was it?

    Apart from all the scientific contributions Islamic peoples made to to the world, just look at their art, architecture, gardens, etc. There’s a fascinating exhibition in London at the moment by an artist whose work us inspired by Muslim decoration and gardens. I will try to find the site for you.

  • 4
    0

    Deepthi
    One more word on this to you & I will go back to sleep again.

    Please read Zionist writer Ari Shebet’s recent article in the Israeli paper Haaretz, in translation at:

    https://primetimezone.com/world/gulf-news/haaretz-israel-breathes-its-last-while-we-face-the-most-difficult-prime-time-zone-in-history-a-nation-is-tweeting-out-of-tune/

    Mf

  • 2
    4

    It seems two old Muslims in Sri Lanka (MF and OC) have found the truth ! The whole world will bow in awe !

    We are what we are because of Muslim contributions ! Our freedoms, our literacy, our right of dissent, our intellectual breadth, our spiritual growth, our equality ( including between the sexes) even our oil (their technology) and the Middle East jobs (their economic methods) -all because of their sterling qualities

    I give up !

    • 4
      1

      “It seems two old Muslims in Sri Lanka (MF and OC) have…”
      Has one to be a Muslim to speak up for Muslims subject to injustice?
      Like it or not, Europe owes its modernization very much to the Muslims who took science to Europe.
      *
      Where have have our older civilizations taken us?
      The kind of bigotry I witness here makes me wonder if we have not betrayed the great cultural achievements.

    • 5
      1

      Deepthi,
      I am no Muslim, but one doesn’t have to be a Muslim to recognize an injustice wherever it’s committed, by whoever. You seem to have some built-in prejudice against Muslims. But the fact is that the Muslims were first suppressed and then demonized by those who wanted one thing which they had. Do you think it was a coincidence that these people started eating away at Arab lands as soon as their ships and industries started using OIL? Yes, that’s the magic word. All the talk about liberty, democracy, is camouflage.

      • 5
        0

        Deepthi,
        “Our freedoms, our literacy, our right of dissent, our intellectual breadth, our spiritual growth, our equality ( including between the sexes)”
        There is a non-Muslim country where public criticism of the dominant religion is banned, where certain foods are banned on certain days, and where religious sermons blare out of loudspeakers whether you like it or not, and where your right to dissent can be quickly terminated with a cattle prod. Any guesses where it is?

    • 2
      2

      Dear deepthi,
      .
      Don’t be sarcastic; Manel is very sincere.
      .
      Yes, we all realise the other side of Islam as well.
      .
      We must be balanced.
      .
      The old codger must be using a computer; Manel has now got only a phone, I think. Vent your sarcasm on Laksiri Fernando, if you want to. Relating to Lankans he’s such a racist. Got a PhD awarded to Gota about 2010. In 2015, he wanted it revoked. This year he’s written a dozen articles supporting Gota, attacking Michelle Bachelet. That’s hypocrisy.
      .
      I’ve never actually met Manel, but she sometimes sends me emails from her phone. Why can’t I talk to her? She could get mad if I tell you! But she’s very sincere.

    • 4
      0

      Deepthi
      Who has claimed the truth here? Arent you used to people urging opinions different from your own? 

      I am shocked by yr insulting, dismissive description of people who dont agree with u (“2 old Muslims”), then  compounding it by cheap sarcasm.

      Yr whole attitude to Muslims clearly means you intended to insult MF & OC by calling them that, especially as it should b clear to you that I’m not Muslim & I doubt that OC is either.

      I wonder if American Presbyterian minister-cum-journalist, writer, TV host, Chris Hedges, a good deal younger than me (since age also seems to be a disqualification in yr eyes), might persuade you to look beyond yr implacable hostility & fear of Muslim domination.

      https://scheerpost.com/2021/05/14/chris-hedges-israel-the-big-lie/

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