“As a Palestinian, my life was a war,” Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish is saying. “You expect the worst of tomorrow. You say, ‘Thank god, I am alive today, but I don’t know what will happen tomorrow’. ” His voice cracks a little on the last words as our internet connection falters and the video feed stutters. Frozen on my screen for that moment is one of the most famous faces to be associated with the Israel-Palestine conflict in recent years.

In early December 2011, I had the privilege of making an extensive tour of the Northern Province with my wife. Kilinochchi District was of special interest to us. LTTE supremo Prabhakaran’s four-floored underground luxury bunker in Pudukudirippu, the many other impenetrable and amazing fortifications, the runway and underground hangar at Iranamadu, a huge concrete tank/swimming pool for training of .....