From Mr D. Borg
The interview given by Ambassador Ehud Gol is far removed from the diplomatic nuances that one habitually expects from members of the ambassadorial corps. Mr Gol tells us there are racists in Malta and that in his opinion these belong to one of four kinds of fundamentalists that inhabit the world (TMIS, 16 July).
May I ask him: “Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the great log in your own?” (Matthew 7:3).
I advise Mr Gol to inquire about ultra-orthodox fundamentalists in his country’s Parliament. Perhaps he should also listen to the comments made by Ethiopian and Azeri fellow practitioners of Judaism when it comes to racist remarks made by their orthodox co-religionists in a country that proclaims it accepts all who profess the Jewish faith.
Mr Gol rightly states that Israel is in a tough situation. Unfortunately, today’s situation is the inheritance that stems from the birth of Zionism at the end of the 19th century, helped in most part by one of the many mistakes made by the British when it came to partitioning the Near and Middle East.
Furthermore, had it not been for the Balfour Declaration of 1924 in the British House of Commons, the State of Israel would have remained an idea.
The fact that at various times in the last century it suited British, French and American interests to sustain the fledgling State of Israel did not help either. I have never understood why the biblical statement that Israelites lived in that nebulous area of land 2,000 years ago, should give anyone today – after such a long absence – the notion that they have some exclusive title to this stretch of land.
In reality, the Israelites (like others) were just another (tribal?) group of people who struggled to survive in those circumstances.
Mr Gol believes that the swastika daubed on a wall in Malta is the work of Muslim fundamentalists.
I believe it is the work of Mossad to turn Malta into an anti Muslim country. My theory is as valid (and ridiculous) as his.
Once again the usual reference to the death of European Jews under Nazism is made to tug at our heartstrings. Quite frankly this argument makes me puke!
However, in this case I think Dr Gonzi might take a leaf out of Ambassador Gol’s book and tug at the EU’s purse strings and shame them into giving us extra funds because so many Maltese died in the siege of 1565 defending Europe’s Christian heritage. Dr Gonzi could do worse than employ Mr Gol as his PRO!
Incidentally your Excellency, I was not paid by Hizbullah to write this letter. However, if Mr Gol will supply me with a name and address I will submit a request for incidental expenses. As the Maltese saying goes: “Malta qatt ma rrifjutat qamh”.
I trust that Mr Gol and his family will stick to their intention and visit Malta in the future. I will gladly invite Mr Gol out for lunch if he has no qualms about the food being paid for (indirectly) by Hizbullah and Mossad have not popped me on the head in the meantime.
Dennis Borg
VALLETTA