New Delhi, Jan. 11 -- The explicit support demonstrated by sections of Sri Lanka's Sinhalese Buddhist community for Israel during the war in Gaza stands in stark contrast to the anti-Israeli rallies organised by leftist, liberal, and Muslim groups across the country. This unwavering backing of Israel-despite mounting international criticism over its military actions in Gaza-suggests a deeper ideological motivation.

In the Indian context, pro-Israeli sentiment is frequently associated with Hindutva ideology, which views Israel as a strategic bulwark against perceived Islamic expansionism. However, the Sinhalese Buddhist fascination with Israel and Jewish identity appears to be shaped by more complex and historically embedded factors that ...