An ultra-Ortho dox woman was severely beaten by a hooded man in an attack organised, it is said, by a religious "Morality squad". Police inquiries suggested, an AFP report said, that the underground "morality squad" organised by religious fanatics sought to enforce strict adherence to religious law.
The hooded men of the "morality squad" were Israeli Jews, and many of the incidents occurred in the Holy City of Jerusalem, holy that is to Jews, Christians and Moslems! But in the seven paragraph despatch the word "fundamentalist" did not appear.
It is the role of these ultra-religious groups in the national politics of Israel that invites inquiry. To start with, these organisations now participate in Israeli politics as registered parties which contest Kneeset polls. At the last parliamentary elections, the ultra-orthodox parties won as many as 23 seats in a 120-member Knesset. In order to strengthen his own party, the conservative Likud, which could command only a majority of one, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had to pay quite a large price - seven posts in the Cabinet to these ideologically diverse formations.
It was no Islamic fundamentalist, no mullah, no heavily paid agent of Muammar Gaddafi or unrepentant Khomeinist who killed Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, one of Israel's much-decorated war heroes. Yigal Amir, whose name had never appeared in any Israeli newspaper, belonged to a secret "cell". He had been indoctrinated by Jewish extremists, and convinced finally that the death of Prime Minister Rabin was absolutely necessary - to sabotage the Rabin-Peres "land-for-peace" deal that the Labour administration had negotiated with Chairman Yasser Arafat, the PLO leader. The "chosen people" had only one land - ISRAEL - whereas the Arabs and the Moslems had so many. And so Yigal Amir shot Prime Minister Rabin point-blank at an election rally. He does not deny he was the assassin. He is proud of it.
He had served the CAUSE - Israel, the JEWISH state. What makes him different from an Islamic zealot? The western media i.e., the global information system; in the main, Reuter (London) AFP (Paris), AP and UPI (US).
Prime Minister Natanyahu's most pressing concern is to keep his coalition intact and protect his slender majority in parliament. Each partner knows this. It is the source of their strength.
"The presence of religious fundamentalists alongside extremist right-wing nationalists in Mr. Netanyahu's Cabinet has strengthened irredentism demands to keep conquered Arab land and expand Jewish settlements on that land". With the change of government, the character of the Likud-dominated coalition, has introduced new pressures - not to give land to the Arabs (that is, give back land) but to establish new Jewish settlements, observes a British correspondent David Gardner, reporting from Jerusalem.
Here is a passage from a recent report:
"Bar Ilan is a four lane artery running from the old Green Line dividing East and West Jerusalem, to the Tel Aviv highway. Tel Aviv is where the international airport is located, and international business and trade. Fifteen years ago a third of the population was Haredi, that is ultra-orthodox Jews. Today it is one hundred percent."
Few visitors can resist the temptation to draw what seems an obvious parallel. It is just like a sudden invasion of blacks into an exclusive white area anywhere in the United States. Of course black votes matter at any contest, certainly the presidential. While one can compare such situations and the predictable social implications, there is of course one huge difference, the external.
Israel is no longer as vital to the US as it was at the height of the Cold War when the Soviet Union was a serious challenger in this area, a region which has the world's largest oil resources, a strategic asset. From Indonesia and Malaysia to Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Libya, it is the Islamic world that is heir to this wealth.
Is there a connection between the collapse of Communism and the Soviet Union, and NATO's principal target today - the Islamic world? Otherwise, how can one explain the western Jihad, holy war against "Islamic fundamentalism," rather than any other "ism"?
How does the main source of income of a small Arab country, like Libya, become the object of an utterly discriminatory embargo? When the Soviet Union was strong enough to present itself as a serious challenger to the American superpower, the non-aligned had some room for manoeuvre, even some leverage. No more. Hegemony is justified in terms of Samuel Huntington's Clash of Civilisations. Should we see Israel in those term - as a forward post of the sole superpower?
It is in Washington's interest to keep Israel strong. But strength requires political stability, and that in turn means the two major parties must respect the parliamentary-democratic rules in order to contain the "new" enemy, radical or revolutionary Islam. As important as political stability is economic growth. There too Prime Minister Netanyahu has disappointed the United States.
A negotiated settlement on the land-for-peace formula would have led not only to the political stability of past decades but to new foreign investment.
Fundamentalism and fundamental mistakes in economic management are "fellow travellers" as Mr. Netanyahu may soon find out.
T.V. Moderator:- Today we are discussing something very topical and current. We all know that some bar keepers have protested that Sheeba has been appointed as a Manager of the Supreme Bar, whilst there are others who are fully supportive of the appointment. All this is very confusing to us. So we decided to invite to our TV studios two very respectable bar keepers to debate why they support or oppose this appointment. On my right is Mr. Ekeeya Gunda, Advactus of the Supreme Bar and on my left is Mr. Suspri Edda about to be promoted to the Appeal Bar and presently a Bar keeper of the Supreme Bar. (Turning to his right ) Mr. Ekeeya Gunda, why are you opposed to the appointment of Sheeba to the Supreme Bar?
Ekeeya Gunda :- 'Chabbakka' thought that she could teach all of us a lesson by appointing the pet of Pottani Sir to the Supreme Bar. I feel sorry for Chabbakka. What does she knows about bars and Supreme Bars and its Managers. So she gets advice from Pottani Sir and Bola Bala. Pottani Sir never liked our clan and I believe he has a grudge in rem against us. Mainly because he is not one of us. He will never become one of us. Somebody said that he can't even cross the road.
He is so frightened of being knocked down. Therefore he thought ill of every one who can cross the road. One day when he was walking on the advice of his doctors, that is before he became Chabbakka's advisor, one of his golayas saw him walking along one side of the road and offered him a lift and dropped him in front of his gate on the other side of the road. Poor Pottani Sir.
He stood there for nearly one hour unable to cross the road to reach his home. But he is advising Chabbakka about managing bars. If he takes more than one shot he starts laughing, as if he has inhaled laughing gas. This is the type of man who is advising Chabbakka. Naturally she gets wrong advice. There is another reason why he is angry with us. Pottani Sir, though very educated and highly qualified in other fields, can never think of passing the bar keepers exam. Why, for one question he wrote a book for three hours and got full marks for that question but naught for the others, and failed the exam. So he is angry with all of us. He is trying to screw us all. And others who support this appointment are those who believe in ole Preme's 'slipper soup' policy..
Supiri Edda:- My friend is learned in the art of bar keeping. Why is he calling me a 'Serreppu Supa', I was never in Preme's party. It is true our Pottani Sir tried to commit suicide when he heard in London that Preme had died of cyanide poisoning. I am sure if there was cyanide available he would have swallowed it. He was one of those speech writers of ole Preme, that's why Preme's speeches in English are so boring.
But I was always against Preme. I was always with Chabbakka. I am not like this Walpanawa who was with Preme and with the Kola Kotiya's till the election day and knowing that coming colours are not good distributed Chabbakka's posters on the day of the Election and became a follower of Chabbakka the day after the election. But I am still for all defending Sheeba's appointment because it was made by our Chabbakka. Rules say Chabbakka can do no wrong. What can you say about our most wonderful, most beautiful, most noble, most dignified, most civilised, most respected Chabbakka when she appoints some one like Sheeba. How can we disagree. Who are we, just scum of the earth! I was getting old at drafting, drafting and drafting. I gave up drafting and became a bar keeper. But no one came to my bar. Now as Chabbakka is our leader, my bar is full of people. How can we say my friend is not jealous of us. That is why he is scolding us. Who is he to question Chabbakka's appointment.
Moderator:- Now Mr. Ekeeya Gunda your friend says that you cannot question this appointment.
Ekeeya Gunda:- Surely, just because 'Chabbakka' is our leader, she cannot appoint any one. According to the rules of the kola kotiyas, she can appoint even a donkey. No one can prevent her from appointing a donkey. But just because she has the power, she cannot appoint any one. She must appoint a person who has experience in Managing a Bar. All the bar keepers will be under that person. The manager of the Supreme Bar must know about short measure, about adulteration, about shandies. He must know all the cocktails, and how to prepare them; how to mix them. He must have an independent opinion. He must not listen to Pottani Sir. Otherwise Pottani Sir will run riot.
Supiri Edda:- When Kola Kotiyas appointed their favourites, you did not say anything. Only when our great saviour, great liberator, our lady appoints someone, she can depend on, you start to shout.
Ekeeya Gunda:- When Kola Kotiya tried to play games with managers, our union played hell. Don't forget, you always screamed at those meetings. Though no one heard or understood what you said, all of them laughed at you. You were a bit of a joke. No one took you seriously. But you protested. Can't you remember? You must not forget kola kotiya thought that he could be the boss forever. What happened to him? He had to surrender and give up his lofty ambitions, when all the bar keepers around the Island went on strike demanding justice.
When you become the boss you forget these simple lessons of history. Before the Kola Kotiya there was Deelix Fias. But he, unlike Pottani Sir was one of us. He also thought that he would teach these bar fellows a lesson. He tried to introduce bare foot bar keepers like in China. He also had his friends from all over the place appointed as Supreme Managers. What happened to him and to his friends? Kola kotiya came and fixed Deelix Fias and his friends. In the rush some good managers also lost their jobs. Damn shame.
Supiri Edda:- But our great lady, having carefully considered the merits and demerits of every one, and from the powers given to her by the rules framed by the Kola Kotiya, has appointed Sheeba. How can you challenge her? You say she is not experienced. Though she is appointed as a Supreme Manager, she will not have to decide anything. There will be others who are senior to her, and they will decide for her.
Ekeeya Gunda:- Then you have appointed a dummy, to say yes, and to say I agree with what the other blokes say. Then what will happen to the Pottani Sir? If 'Chabbakka one day throws him out, then he can go before Sheeba and get Sheeba to re-appoint him. I thought this was the plan. It is a grand plan. But if she says yes I agree to everything, the other blokes say the plan is foiled. The other blokes are not going to agree with Pottani Sir, no way.
Supiri Edda:- When it comes to important matters, she can get advice from Pottani Sir. He will tell her how to be independent of the other two .
Ekeeya Gunda:- Will you agree that she has no experience?
Supiri Edda - Unlike you, she has sufficient experience in keeping books.
Ekeeya Gunda:- But we want a person who has experience in keeping bars. A person who aspires to become a Supreme Manager must learn his trade as an assistant bar keeper and go up the ladder.
Supiri Edda - Though she has no experience, she has studied and learned from the books about the finer art of bar keeping and that of supreme management.
Ekeeya Gunda:- She learnt all that at the Horse Faculty which is for non practising Bar Keepers.
Supiri Edda - But she got full marks in theory, if you do not know the theory how can you practice?
Ekeeya Gunda:- But, when she took the practical exam she failed and could not even talk her way through and the talking exam, because she has never in her life mixed scotch with soda, brandy with ale, or Arakku with orange barley or Kassippu with water.
Supiri Edda:- She signed the nomination papers of some candidates, is not that alone sufficient to be appointed to the Supreme Bar.
Ekeeya Gunda:- The most important candidate, she signed the nomination paper was Mr. Jaye Vas Coda Gama, he lost the election first on a election petition, 2nd time even those 153 junior barmen who learned the trade under him did not vote for him, and did not think much of Sheeba signing the nomination papers.
Supiri Edda:- I did not know that but isn't she sweet?
Ekeeya Gunda;- Surely Mr. Supiri you know that as a bar keeper it is the experience that counts. You learned it the hard way, gave up drafting, came out as an assistant manager and learned your trade the real way. Learning to become Supreme Managers by reading books is like learning to swim by reading books. All the knowledge you have gained about swimming by reading books is useless. If you fall into water you sink. Theory cannot help you. You must have practical experience. Only practice makes you a perfect swimmer.
Supiri Edda - But Pottani Sir never had the experience of being an advisor.
Ekeeya Gunda:- That is why he recommended Sheeba to become a Supreme Manager.
Supiri Edda:- But Chabbakka never had the experience of either of running the show and being the boss.
Ekeeya Gunda:- That is why she followed the advice of Pottani Sir and Bola Bala and appointed Sheeba.
Moderator:- I think we have come to the end of the programme. We have no further time. Thank you Sirs for your valuable time.
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