The Ukraine war fucked up the global economy, with high commodity and oil prices. Now this shit happens. Will prices go up further? Global inflation and recession certain? Is India screwed big time? Also, India has joined the West in condemning Hamas, while most Islamic countries are silent and those like Iran may support Hamas under the table. Will China and Pakistan now exploit this?

Ayn Rand on Israel:

“The Arabs are one of the least developed cultures. They are typically nomads. Their culture is primitive, and they resent Israel because it’s the sole beachhead of modern science and civilization on their continent. When you have civilized men fighting savages, you support the civilized men, no matter who they are.”

https://libquotes.com/ayn-rand/quote/lbz5g6d

Ah, yes, the famous "we are civilized, you are barbarous" trope. I suggest you also read some real literature on the subject: Edward Said is a great start. Or for a Jewish woman who writes on this intractable issue, much more historically situated than the nonsense that Ayn Rand spews, Jacqueline Rose.

Same arguments were made in support of british when India was struggling to gain independence, we were the savages, britishers were the one to be burdened with the duty of reforming us.

The idea of one civilization superior to another is the justification behind the evils of colonialism, my heart bleeds to see such comments from Indians.

You cannot deny the fact that the British did weed out certain harmful traditions practised in our country (Sati, child marriage etc). They introduced railways, a sound legal system and implemented the downward filtration theory through the Western education system.

This is not to justify their brutality but to paint them as all evil is to belie facts.

Civilized men impose blockades (in the case of Israel), impose sanctions for 13 years on Iraq (even though babies are malnourished), use white phosphorous on cities (Fallujah in Iraq), which leads to babies being born deformed, even today, kill entire families (Saddam Hussein's sons and even his 14 year old grandson were not spared by America), France while colonising Algeria raped and did many more unspeakable things to the native Algerian people, and yet, leaders of these countries have the temerity to speak about Democracy and Human Rights, when they themselves are the biggest violators when it comes to the said principles. To listen to America and UK speak about Russian Imperialism is absolutely hilarious, when England colonised so many countries back in the day, and America, well, wiped out an entire race of human beings (the Red Indians) to establish what we call USA today. While violence is always to be condemned, it is wrong to expect a particular section to always continue being the victim of bullying. Iraq before the US invasion had one of the best healthcare systems in the entire Middle East, and also had top class universities, excellent highways, and the Iraqi dinar at the time was the highest valued currency in the world. It is typical American to say that a culture is primitive, but without realising that it is the Americans themselves who made them primitive in the first place with their bullying and brutality. Same with Israel and Palestine.

Absolutely. You are correct. Look at the Japanese. They could have deteriorated into a backward society after WW2 and blamed the US. Instead, they chose the path of education, peace, modernity and prosperity and are superpowers for many decades. Same for Vietnam, a rising power.

We know where the rot lies...

Nobody is absolving anyone of criticism. Violence, irrespective of who commits it, is to be condemned. But why does no one condemn American attempts to impose their way of life by force upon others, while everyone condemns West Asian countries / the Islamic world, when both attempts are by force and result in casualties ? Either both are wrong or none is wrong, one cannot pick and chose here.

Statements supporting Israel so far: USA, EU, UK, Japan, Canada, Australia, Ukraine, India, Nepal, Taiwan, Argentina

Statements supporting Palestine so far: Qatar, Syria, Pakistan, Iran, Yemen, Jordan, new Maldives President-elect.

Ostensibly neutral statements with pro-Palestine tilt: Russia, China, Saudi Arabia,

Smirking in the background: Turkey (trying to play mediator and delighted that world will now forget ethnic cleansing of Armenians)

You kids will mature with age. When I was in college, I used to sympathise with Palestine, as being a leftist and bashing Israel seemed to be the cool thing to do. I later changed my views and now support Israel strongly, because of the following reasons:

1. I have become politically conservative as I have grown older.

2. Israel helped India during our wars with Pakistan and is today one of our major trade partners. It also recognises Kashmir as a part of India. In contrast, Islamic countries often vote against India and support Pakistan at the OIC, and make speeches about Kashmir at the UN. The Palestine Ambassador to Pakistan shared a stage with Hafeeez Saeed some years ago. I don't think it's in national interest for us to choose Palestine over Israel.

3. I read about the history of antisemitism in the Islamic world. How the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem supported Hitler. I also read about the history of antisemitism among leftists and Marxists. Just read about how the Soviets spread hate propaganda about Jews, or what the RAF did in Germany. I view Hamas as an antisemitic and intolerant movement, and I have the same view of many of their supporters in the Left. I also think the Left instinctively hates prosperous and hard-working communities who believe in capitalism.

4. I think radical Islam is a big problem. I support Israel because it is a liberal and modern society, where women are free and gays have rights. I also admire Israel for its scientific progress.

Those who will downvote my comments, trust me: you will change your views as you grow older.

No one is defending Hamas dude. We are saying that it is possible to condemn INDISCRIMINATE killing of innocent civilians, rape, murder etc AND on principle agree that Israel has committed historic wrongs qua occupation, blockade, violence etc. Contrary to news reports, this is NOT unprovoked but has a long, protracted history which is conveniently forgotten and/or undermined.