The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe

¶ 01 Please give me two minutes, Hon. Presiding Member.

¶ 02 For long we believed America was safeguarding us; now it is clear America stayed in Saudi Arabia only to protect Israel. Many Arab countries in the Middle East condemn the actions of the United States and Israel. The Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has strongly condemned the actions of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying they cannot set the world on fire and then complain about the smoke.

¶ 03 Italy has said it will not support joint U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran. The United States has announced a bounty of USD 10 million—about 3 billion Sri Lankan rupees—for information leading to Iran’s new spiritual leader, referring to Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Following the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Iranian people are in great anger, and, according to an envoy, they expect retaliation on the basis of “blood for blood.” Countries such as Australia also condemn this heinous act.

¶ 04 Qatar’s Defence Minister has requested, “Stop tormenting us while saying you are helping us. Let us live in our own way; we will live well and in peace.” Even the Government of Saudi Arabia has now barred Israelis from purchasing land there. Spain’s humanitarian-support party MPs have raised their voices in their Parliament against the barbaric bombing of a school that killed more than 160 students.

¶ 05 Against this backdrop, it is deeply painful for us as Muslims that our President and Government have not issued a statement condemning the U.S. and Israel for violating Iran’s sovereignty by launching an incursion, assassinating the country’s supreme spiritual leader, his family members, and security officials. The Government claims neutrality, a Member of Parliament said. That is not neutrality.

¶ 06 Please give me one more minute. Our Foreign Minister Wijitha Herath said here that both sides are at fault—that Iran is at fault and America is at fault. That is not correct. Iran was quiet; it was America and Israel that launched a barbaric attack on Iran. I condemn it and conclude. Thank you.