Chile president: Israel PM is a ‘war criminal’
Chile is home to the largest and oldest Palestinian community outside the Arab world.
SO BIG THEY HAVE THEIR OWN FOOTBALL TEAM
Chile’s President, Gabriel Boric, participated in the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Santiago, December 2024 [Palestinian community in Chile]
by Eman Abusidu
EmAbusidu
December 20, 2024
On the evening of 17 December, Chile’s President Gabriel Boric took part in a Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Palestinian Club, where the tree was adorned with 45,000 lights in memory of the victims of Gaza. The event highlighted his unwavering support for Palestinian rights.
Prominent figures, including the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gloria de la Fuente; the Minister of National Defence, Maya Fernandez; the President of the Palestinian Community in Chile, Maurice Khamis; and the Mayor of Las Condes, Catalina San Martin, all took part in the event, which was held at Las Condes commune of Santiago Province.
“Christmas invites us to renew our commitment to the fundamental values of solidarity and respect for human dignity everywhere in the world. We will not be passive spectators. We have not been, and we will not be, passive spectators in the face of so much injustice and pain, consciously inflicted on children, women, the elderly and innocent people of all ages,” Boric said during the ceremony.
Read: Palestinian flag flies from landmark bridge in Brazil in major act of solidarity
He continued by expressing his commitment to human rights and condemned the violations committed in Gaza, once again calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a war criminal.
“In the defence of humanity, there is no room for half measures. It is in the defence of humanity that we are meeting here today. We are deeply hurt and shocked by what is happening in Gaza – and not only in Gaza, but also in the West Bank,” Boric added.
“It seems that we have to choose between types of barbarism, but we do not have to choose, I choose humanity, and what Benjamin Netanyahu is doing is a war crime, a crime against humanity.”
President Boric concluded by saying: “From Chile, we call on the entire world to reflect on this suffering during a time of year that symbolises family unity, togetherness, joy and reflection. We urge the international community, particularly the most powerful nations, to go beyond mere words and take concrete action to end this massacre.”
Chile’s President Gabriel Boric, in Santiago, December 2024 [Palestinian community in Chile]The Christmas tree lighting event brought together the local community, who enjoyed festive music and traditional dances.
During the event, Boric signed the Golden Book of the Palestinian Community Club, leaving a message that emphasised peace and unity for both nations. As a token of appreciation, the Palestinian Community presented the president with a babygrow featuring the map of Palestine, celebrating the upcoming arrival of his child.
Maurice Khamis Massu, president of the Palestinian Community of Chile, expressed gratitude to Boric for his words and steadfast commitment to international law and human rights. “As a community, we deeply appreciate President Boric accepting our invitations and joining us in this meaningful ceremony. Together, we light a flame that transcends borders and unites us in the shared hope for a more just future. We are profoundly thankful for his unwavering support for Palestine and the Palestinian community in Chile,” he said.
“Chile has demonstrated this solidarity since the late nineteenth century, when the first immigrants from Palestine arrived. This enduring bond reflects the country’s long-standing commitment to supporting our people and cause.”
Chile is home to the largest and oldest Palestinian community outside the Arab world. The community decided not to light the Christmas tree or hold any festive activities last year due to the events in the Gaza Strip. Instead, they organised a candle lit vigil in memory of the thousands of children who lost their lives in Gaza.
Chile’s President Gabriel Boric (R) and the president of the Palestinian community in Chile, Maurice Khamis, talk during the “Palestinian Christmas: From Bethlehem to Chile, a light of hope” ceremony in Santiago on December 17, 2024.
Chile’s President, Gabriel Boric, participated in the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Santiago, December 2024 [Palestinian community in Chile]
by Eman Abusidu
EmAbusidu
December 20, 2024
On the evening of 17 December, Chile’s President Gabriel Boric took part in a Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Palestinian Club, where the tree was adorned with 45,000 lights in memory of the victims of Gaza. The event highlighted his unwavering support for Palestinian rights.
Prominent figures, including the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gloria de la Fuente; the Minister of National Defence, Maya Fernandez; the President of the Palestinian Community in Chile, Maurice Khamis; and the Mayor of Las Condes, Catalina San Martin, all took part in the event, which was held at Las Condes commune of Santiago Province.
“Christmas invites us to renew our commitment to the fundamental values of solidarity and respect for human dignity everywhere in the world. We will not be passive spectators. We have not been, and we will not be, passive spectators in the face of so much injustice and pain, consciously inflicted on children, women, the elderly and innocent people of all ages,” Boric said during the ceremony.
Read: Palestinian flag flies from landmark bridge in Brazil in major act of solidarity
He continued by expressing his commitment to human rights and condemned the violations committed in Gaza, once again calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a war criminal.
“In the defence of humanity, there is no room for half measures. It is in the defence of humanity that we are meeting here today. We are deeply hurt and shocked by what is happening in Gaza – and not only in Gaza, but also in the West Bank,” Boric added.
“It seems that we have to choose between types of barbarism, but we do not have to choose, I choose humanity, and what Benjamin Netanyahu is doing is a war crime, a crime against humanity.”
President Boric concluded by saying: “From Chile, we call on the entire world to reflect on this suffering during a time of year that symbolises family unity, togetherness, joy and reflection. We urge the international community, particularly the most powerful nations, to go beyond mere words and take concrete action to end this massacre.”
Chile’s President Gabriel Boric, in Santiago, December 2024 [Palestinian community in Chile]The Christmas tree lighting event brought together the local community, who enjoyed festive music and traditional dances.
During the event, Boric signed the Golden Book of the Palestinian Community Club, leaving a message that emphasised peace and unity for both nations. As a token of appreciation, the Palestinian Community presented the president with a babygrow featuring the map of Palestine, celebrating the upcoming arrival of his child.
Maurice Khamis Massu, president of the Palestinian Community of Chile, expressed gratitude to Boric for his words and steadfast commitment to international law and human rights. “As a community, we deeply appreciate President Boric accepting our invitations and joining us in this meaningful ceremony. Together, we light a flame that transcends borders and unites us in the shared hope for a more just future. We are profoundly thankful for his unwavering support for Palestine and the Palestinian community in Chile,” he said.
“Chile has demonstrated this solidarity since the late nineteenth century, when the first immigrants from Palestine arrived. This enduring bond reflects the country’s long-standing commitment to supporting our people and cause.”
Chile is home to the largest and oldest Palestinian community outside the Arab world. The community decided not to light the Christmas tree or hold any festive activities last year due to the events in the Gaza Strip. Instead, they organised a candle lit vigil in memory of the thousands of children who lost their lives in Gaza.
Chile’s President Gabriel Boric (R) and the president of the Palestinian community in Chile, Maurice Khamis, talk during the “Palestinian Christmas: From Bethlehem to Chile, a light of hope” ceremony in Santiago on December 17, 2024.
[Javier TORRES / AFP/ Getty Images]
Israelis involved in the genocide should face prosecution wherever they go, including Sri Lanka
Healthcare workers recover bodies and injured Palestinians from a vehicle hit by Israeli attack at Salah al-Din Road in Deir al Balah, central Gaza on December 23, 2024.
[Ali Jadallah – Anadolu Agency]
by Asim Alavi
December 24, 2024
No one could have predicted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would catch the tiger by its tail in Gaza. Every political analyst said that Israeli soldiers would go home after limited incursions to “mow the lawn” in the enclave. We were told to learn from Israel’s “short and sweet” wars. However, Israel’s latest not so short and not so sweet genocide in Gaza is now in its 15th month. Apart from in the ruling circles and among contracted supporters, particularly following the International Criminal Court’s (ICC’s) issuance of warrants for the arrest of Netanyahu and his former defence minister, Israeli war criminals are losing access to public spaces in many parts of the world. Sri Lanka is one such place where war criminals are being chased.
The Brussels-based Hind Rajab Foundation alerted the Sri Lankan authorities on 17 December about the presence in the country of an Israeli soldier who was, it said, in Colombo to relieve the stress built up in Gaza. “Gal Ferenbook,” said the foundation, “is an Israeli soldier responsible for the death of a Palestinian civilian and the degrading treatment of their body.” The Foundation added that it has formally demanded that the Sri Lankan authorities arrest him and cooperate with the ICC.
by Asim Alavi
December 24, 2024
No one could have predicted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would catch the tiger by its tail in Gaza. Every political analyst said that Israeli soldiers would go home after limited incursions to “mow the lawn” in the enclave. We were told to learn from Israel’s “short and sweet” wars. However, Israel’s latest not so short and not so sweet genocide in Gaza is now in its 15th month. Apart from in the ruling circles and among contracted supporters, particularly following the International Criminal Court’s (ICC’s) issuance of warrants for the arrest of Netanyahu and his former defence minister, Israeli war criminals are losing access to public spaces in many parts of the world. Sri Lanka is one such place where war criminals are being chased.
The Brussels-based Hind Rajab Foundation alerted the Sri Lankan authorities on 17 December about the presence in the country of an Israeli soldier who was, it said, in Colombo to relieve the stress built up in Gaza. “Gal Ferenbook,” said the foundation, “is an Israeli soldier responsible for the death of a Palestinian civilian and the degrading treatment of their body.” The Foundation added that it has formally demanded that the Sri Lankan authorities arrest him and cooperate with the ICC.
War tourism in Sri Lanka
Although this soldier was pressured to leave Sri Lanka, it was not the only case of this nature. During the past several months, concern has been voiced in areas where water sports tourism is popular about the arrogant behaviour of Israeli tourists, often related to running unlicensed businesses, threatening the locals and overstaying their visas.
Their law-unto-themselves behaviour with strict exclusivity in their businesses and parties has irked the locals.
October saw a forceful social media campaign and protests in those areas against bringing Israel’s troubles to Sri Lanka. Activists shared images of Israeli soldiers who have participated in the Gaza genocide.
READ: Hamas: Settlement expansion proves Israel’s ‘peace deals’ cannot be relied on
Last month a new progressive government came to power in Sri Lanka. However, toxic waste dumped clandestinely by the previous government generated more tension among the anti-genocide progressive forces. Facing bankruptcy, the tourism minister devised a Sri Lankan-styled war tourism kit, not for those who want to visit former war zones, but for Israeli war criminals to release stress after exhaustive genocide duties in Gaza. Images shared by social media activists included members of the Israeli commando unit that killed Yahya Sinwar. They are shown snorkelling in Arugam Bay, one of the top ten surf destinations in the world.
Heightened tension prompted Israel’s National Security Council to issue an urgent alert to Israeli holidaymakers in Sri Lanka not to self-identify with the occupation state for their own safety. They were advised to avoid displaying signs of Israeli identity in the public sphere, including shirts with Hebrew slogans that would expose their background; to avoid gatherings of Israelis in public spaces where there is no security; and to contact the local security authorities if they see anything suspicious or unusual.
The Israeli security establishment is apparently in close contact with the security authorities in Sri Lanka and is monitoring developments.
Sri Lanka has never had indigenous Jews like many other countries, and the presence of many Israelis has prompted the Anglican Bishop of Colombo Duleep De Chickera to call out the government for allowing them to overstay their visas and for turning a “blind eye” to the construction or designation of a Jewish place of prayer for them. “The stringent regulations governing the establishment of new places of prayer or worship for our own citizens makes this favour even more puzzling,” wrote the bishop in Groundviews on 23 November 2024.
‘Snorkelling for Judaism’
Moreover, the ultra-Orthodox Chabad House movement advertises Sri Lanka on its website as a “Snorkelling for Judaism” destination. It says that thousands of Jews from Israel go to Sri Lanka each year. One of its facilities in Hikkaduwa apparently includes a synagogue, seven guest rooms, an assembly hall, a high-quality kosher restaurant and an apartment serving the shluchim (a Chabad rabbi and his wife who are sent to a specific location to serve the Jewish population and promote Jewish life) and the T’mimim (students of scripture). It says further that the central Chabad House in Colombo sends yeshiva students for the Jewish holiday seasons, organising Pesach Seiders or prayer services for the High Holidays. This implies that there is a permanent ultra-Orthodox Jewish presence in Sri Lanka with its own seminaries from which students are sent to Israel for further religious study.
READ: Ireland reiterates solidarity, ‘unbreakable support’ for Palestinian people
According to Sri Lankan political commentator Tisaranee Gunasekara, writing in Groundviews on 17 November, Chabad House is a religio-political structure belonging to the Chabad-Lubavitch Movement. An ultra-Orthodox Hasidic sect, it originated among Eastern European Jews and is evangelical in nature (unlike traditional Judaism), headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, and is spreading fast across the globe.
Located on the extreme right of the Israeli political spectrum, it denies Palestinian statehood and Palestinian humanity and believes in creating Greater Israel.
The movement’s magazine carried an article which highlights the individual cost of Israel’s occupation and treatment of Palestine and its people. It is about a traumatised soldier, the kind who are encouraged to go to Sri Lanka for rest and recuperation: “His story was a very sad one. He had been a staff commander in an elite unit with the Israel Defence Forces, and during his service he suffered a serious trauma. He took pills that only worsened his condition, requiring him to undergo a lengthy period of psychiatric rehabilitation…”
Sri Lanka’s traditional alliance with Palestine
As a founder member of the now defunct Non-Alignment Movement, Sri Lanka has been a vociferous supporter of the Palestinian cause. Stemming from its staunch anti-imperialism, quite remarkably the present National People’s Power government has always remained steadfast in this. It is noteworthy that the current president of the decades old Sri Lanka-Palestinian Friendship Association is a senior minister in the present government.
It is amazing to see the genuine empathy that NPP leaders show towards the Palestinians, and now that it is in government, this is sure to be translated into meaningful action locally and internationally against the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza. By building closer relationship with the government, Palestinian advocacy groups and other governments that support the South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) have a lot to gain.
As Bishop De Chickera said in his article, Sri Lanka signed a UN Resolution along with 123 other nations, demanding that Israel must end its unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory within 12 months. “The commendable political will demonstrated in signing the UN resolution on Israel’s occupation of Palestine has a moral sequel. Until the genocide of the Palestinians ends, Israelis who have played a part in the genocide should be on notice that they will face prosecution wherever they go, including Sri Lanka.”
The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.
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