Is Israel Our Friend?
Hameed Abdul Karim
In the recent past there seems to be a rush by sections of the media and top government officials to embrace Israel as a bosom pal.
An article in the once prestigious Daily Mirror claimed the Sinhalese were related to the Jews through the ten headed King Ravana who lived 5000 years ago. It was not the absurdity of the logic of the writer that was in debate, but the fact that the said paper decided to publish the said article that raised eyebrows. Somewhere in the corridors of power in Tel Aviv there will be top officials laughing their heads off at the thought of being related to ‘monkeys’ as the Sinhalese were described by Mossad officials according to Victor Ostrovosky in his book ‘By Way of Deception’.
Dr. Dayan Jayatilleke, the controversial political analyst and Sri Lanka’s former permanent representative at the UN had said that in the good old days the ruling class Sinhala Buddhists went to Bodh Gaya for blessings. Today they go to Tel Aviv. He also disclosed that Israel had complained about him to the government in a five page document over Sri Lanka’s stand for Palestinian rights at the UN. At a lecture in Colombo he said he had given copies of this document to friends in case ‘something was to happen to him’.
There was talk that despite Sri Lanka serenading Israel, a top official in the defence ministry was shabbily treated by Israeli officials at the Ben Gurion airport when he claimed VIP status.
Apart from this Israel was one of the co-sponsors of the US instigated resolution against Sri Lanka at Geneva.
In a recent statement the Shoora Council of Sri Lanka said Israel had voted against Minister Nimal Siripala at the elections at World Health Organisation (WHO) on the grounds Sri Lanka had committed ‘war crimes’. Coming from Israel this must be considered quite rich! Read More
