Bel is thinking

A judge in Israel has ruled that cremation is legal in that country.

This has angered many in Israel who believe that cremation is not supported under Biblical law.

I am conversant enough with the Bible to set out its position thus:

The Bible does not expressly recommend cremation, but is instead full of references to burial as the customary practice of the Jews. Contrary to general belief, the expression ‘ashes to ashes, dust to dust’ (which some have used to state the Biblical case for cremation) does not appear anywhere in the Bible. However, the fact that the Bible is silent on cremation as a custom does not necessarily mean it prohibits it.

In the few instances that the Israelites in the Old Testament set fire to bodies, this was generally done after they had invaded a town and killed every living thing. Their express instructions were to kill everyone, man and beast, and then set the bodies on fire, to destroy them utterly. They were also supposed to destroy every inanimate object in the same way. This was one way of enforcing the ’separation’ message to the full, to create a new start untouched by the previous inhabitants of the place, and their possessions. Interesting to note that on one occasion that an Israelite did not follow this instruction, he was himself killed and burned with fire.

Another reason the Israelites of the Old Testament did not cremate was because in some cases, they felt the need to preserve the bones of the deceased. One such example was when Joseph died, after years of living in Egypt. He instructed that his bones be preserved and taken along with the Israelites when they eventually left for the Promised Land.

There is an instance, however, when someone was cremated, and not as a punishment. After the death of Saul, the first king of Israel, his body was retrieved by the people of Jabesh Gilead. They burned his body and buried his bones in Gilead. Biblical scholars have differing views on what seemed to have been an unscriptural practice by these people. They are however agreed on one thing: the Gileadites had acted out of respect for Saul.

My conclusion? The same as the judge’s. The Bible does not prohibit cremation. I understand that quite apart from religious reasons, some Israelis may have objections to cremation because it stirs up memories of the holocaust, but that is another matter.

(I know this topic is well outside the scope of my blog, but I thought it interesting enough to comment on.)

… and about time, too.

Islamists in Somalia have for some time been plotting to wipe out Ethiopia, inviting fellow jihadists to Somalia to help wage war against Ethiopia. All because of the support Ethiopia has been giving to the interim government of Somalia, much to the displeasure of the islamist forces.

Apart from anything else, there is a personal angle for me. In my youth, I spent many a happy moment in Ethiopia. After all the dear people of that precious land have been through in the past 20 years, I would hate to see them destabilised in this way.

Ethiopia had no option but to attack the islamist targets. Their sovereignty is at stake, and they must do what they can to defend it. The islamist militants are no match for Ethiopia, and President Zenawi has reportedly declared that he could wipe them out in ‘one or two weeks’.

I wish the army and people of Ethiopia the best of luck as they fight the islamist threat. If they manage to succeed in this, they would have accomplished for themselves the very thing that Western powers have signally failed to do in their own backyards.

Now how the hell did that happen?

Wasn’t he supposed to be immortal or something?

He won’t be best pleased.

General Pinochet has appeared before the great Human Rights Tribunal in the sky.

Wonder what he had to say in his defence.

His obituary is already on the Sunday Telegraph website. (Well, he was 91; they had ample time to prepare it.)

So Scotland Yard officers investigating the death of Alexander Litvinenko swagger into Moscow expecting the Russian authorities to step back and let them interrogate whomever they liked. Imagine their shock when they were put firmly in their place. Any questioning would be done by the Russians, but permission may be granted for the Scotland Yard guys to listen in. And as for arresting anyone, they could forget that. According to the Russian prosecutor:

“Scotland Yard can’t arrest Russian citizens. If they have to be investigated, we can do that in Russia according to a convention. We can open an inquiry… and put them on trial in Russia.”

Well, that’s told them. Wonder when they’ll be back in London.

Whatever the rights and wrongs of this case, you do not just turn up in a sovereign State, particularly one like Russia, and expect to interrogate its citizens without restrictions. Forget all the noises from politicians about Russia promising its full co-operation; there was no way on earth that London police would have been given free rein in Moscow. Anyone could have seen that.

As to the possibiity of arresting an extraditing a suspect, that is almost impossible. Apart from anything else, there is no extradition mechanism in place, and as it turns out, no co-operation from the Russian authorities.

Apparently, the Kremlin are being unhelpful because they are upset that Downing Street did not block Litvinenko’s death bed statement in which he named Putin as Poisoner-General. It may have escaped their notice, but we (still) have freedom of speech in this country. Maybe they could send some of their police officers to come interview the journalists who publicised the statement.

So Scotland Yard officers investigating the death of Alexander Litvinenko swagger into Moscow expecting the Russian authorities to step back and let them interrogate whomever they liked. Imagine their shock when they were put firmly in their place. Any questioning would be done by the Russians, but permission may be granted for the Scotland Yard guys to listen in. And as for arresting anyone, they could forget that. According to the Russian prosecutor:

“Scotland Yard can’t arrest Russian citizens. If they have to be investigated, we can do that in Russia according to a convention. We can open an inquiry… and put them on trial in Russia.”

Well, that’s told them. Wonder when they’ll be back in London.

Whatever the rights and wrongs of this case, you do not just turn up in a sovereign State, particularly one like Russia, and expect to interrogate its citizens without restrictions. Forget all the noises from politicians about Russia promising its full co-operation; there was no way on earth that London police would have been given free rein in Moscow. Anyone could have seen that.

As to the possibiity of arresting an extraditing a suspect, that is almost impossible. Apart from anything else, there is no extradition mechanism in place, and as it turns out, no co-operation from the Russian authorities.

Apparently, the Kremlin are being unhelpful because they are upset that Downing Street did not block Litvinenko’s death bed statement in which he named Putin as Poisoner-General. It may have escaped their notice, but we (still) have freedom of speech in this country. Maybe they could send some of their police officers to come interview the journalists who publicised the statement.