New Malaysian's letter If not anti-Jew, why ban travel to Israel asks why the government does not ban travel to China (which has annexed neighbouring Tibet) when a ban is imposed on Israel (which was 'created' out of the former British Palestine).

The short 'answer' is  otherwise it is a sin in Islam.

Of course, it would also be political suicide for Umno or any of its leaders, to suggest recognising Israel in any way. They would be torn to shreds by PAS for one.

While on the subject of the mindset of Muslims, I have however found it amusing that there seems to exist a correlation between the depth of sympathy accorded to the sufferer and the complexion of the sufferer. For example, white Bosnian Muslims seem to be on the top of the heap. They are invited to live in Malaysia, public funds are generously spent on aid, our soldiers serve over there and Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad weeps freely at their plight.

Next are the fair-complexioned Arabs, Egyptians, Lebanese, etc. Recently we were proud to see Mahathir, in the company of the leaders of Germany and France, as part of an international grouping providing financial aid to Lebanon, on a soft-loan basis. Malaysia granted about RM1.2 billion.

(It was disconcerting to see Mahathir, a few weeks later, traipsing to Japan to apply for a billion ringgit or so, in soft loans, so that a water pipe could be built between Pahang and Selangor. Borrowing money to lend money?)

Back to the colour issue. Bottom of the totem, it seems, are the black Muslims, such as Ethiopians, Somalis and Yemenis. Do we ever welcome them to shelter here? Or organise charity drives, etc. in their name?

No relief for blacks anywhere after all.