Fatwa's are flying faster than missiles fired from Israeli war planes. Muslim brothers vie with each other and exhort the virtues of boycott of goods and Jihad.  Every other e-mail decrees that Nokia phones, Coca Cola and a whole host of well known brands of consumer goods should be avoided by Muslims to teach a lesson to Israelis.  

Whenever Israel bombs or attacks Palestine, a section of the Sri Lankan Muslim community goes in to frenzy. They are not the not the ordinary Muslims: they are the internet savvy comfortable living minority section, who has all the time in the world to indulge in frivolous activity. They are the guardians and also the saviours of the Palestinians, Iraqis and what not.  But the sudden surge of enthusiasm dies down when the international media shift focus on another developing story.

Currently the hot topic is the outpouring of sympathy for Gazans. As human beings we all are disturbed at what is happening in Gaza. But some of our brothers sit before computer screens and call for Jihad and to boycott of Israel products and so forth.  Islamic brotherhood ends there.

E-mail in boxes is clogged with condemnation, advice, ideas and so forth, some even try to flaunt their knowledge.  Some even wax eloquence on Jihad. Photographs of destruction caused in Gaza by aerial bombing are also copied to all and sundry to show the Israel brutality.  No one needs evidence to prove Israel's thirst for blood.  Jews it is said are despicable. They are proving this at regular intervals.

It was not long ago that Israelis hoodwinked the Government of Sri Lanka. Mosad agent Victor Osthorvsky who co-wrote "By Way of Deception: The Making and Unmaking of a Mossad Officer" has gone on record saying that they (Israel) provided arms to the Government the Mossad trained Tamil separatists.

Palestinians are also not above blame. Influential sections are playing to the hand of the Jewish lobby. They are hand in glove with Israel and their sponsor states. Power hungry and corrupt Palestinian political leadership will soon betray the innocent Palestinians. They will rake in millions of dollars and stash it away in the investment banks in the west. Hamas and Fatah leaders will laugh their way in to Western Banks soon.

So our Muslim friends here can shout themselves hoarse or till the cows come home, nothing will happen to Israel, until Allah wills. In order that happens the Palestinians themselves will have to change their destiny as it is said in the Holy Quran.

The point I am trying to make is that the concern and spontaneous enthusiasm shown to the Palestinians in the Gaza are not shown to the plight of Muslims in Sri Lanka. Maybe because it is not fashionable or chic to talk about them. Majority of Muslims here live below the poverty line. The current official poverty line (minimum expenditure per person per month to fulfill the basic needs) is Rs. 2919/=. Hundreds of thousands of Muslims are displaced in the North and East. Nearly a million Muslims suffer due to terrorism.

So please let's talk about them, chat about them instead of unduly worrying about other who are far away. Islam says charity begins at home.