Bigger Fish to Fry; Link to Omen Air Taxi; SOFTS Provides the Big Fish; China Will Usher Into Free Palestine; Alexis Says HUH; Photo of My Last Sunrise Before I Left Edmonton. More to Follow of my Blessed Trip to Saudi Arabia: PHEW, My New and Favorite Expression
Bigger fish to fry strangely came to mind, so of course, I Googled to find that it was an idiom meaning that one has something more important to work on or other things one would rather do. The literal meaning of the phrase says that someone is in possession of a fish that’s larger and worth their time to cook, in comparison to others they might be offered. But, the phrase is very rarely used to actually refer to cooking.
Going backward for just a moment you shall receive the reel of the air taxi landing in Neom, my destination in about ten days. The link to the landing: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ct1GFYXhtXG/?igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==. My plans to visit this famous place are coming together brilliantly due to the assistance of the Hilton Honor program. It is the most amazing system ever encountered. One merely goes on line, requests a call and immediately one is received from an intelligent, incredibly helpful person who lives (and works) in South Africa. That is most handy as these individuals speak clean and understandable English, therefore it is not one of those offshore dreadful experiences, where no understanding is reached. They haunt my life. Trusty Travel Guru was letting me down – so I went to my totally reliable back up plan – called Hilton Honors. I was in desperately in need of a hotel in Tubak as I am staying there overnight at the end of the archeological tour. To my wonder and amazement, there is a Hilton in that rather unknown place. Like magic I have a reservation, which I can cancel at the last minute (by the way). PHEW. I was able to make a Hilton reservation for my next destination at the same time. That is so profoundly exciting, you shall hear about that later. Absolutely everything is falling into place.
But back to the big fish. Just when I was playing with the concept of a bigger fish to fry a text arrived from SOFTS.
She: Did you hear about this recently?
Me: No! How do you do this?? You are absolutely brilliant.
She: All synchro. Someone emailed these articles to me today.
Me: What makes it utterly amazing is that I was going to start writing a blog. And this is the perfect topic. It could not be better
She: Also the email said: The Saudi flag is is behind Saudi Leader Mohammed Bin Salman, but the US flag cannot be seen behind Biden This is a sign to the world that he is not viewed as a representative of the US people.
Me: That is no surprise but there is no representative of the US government, nor its people and I left. Hahaha The poor country!
SOFTS send a link to Arab News with the following groundbreaking amazing story. Please note it came from Arab News – not the Western media.
“BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated to Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas on Wednesday his call for a state of Palestine to become a “full member” of the United Nations, state media reported.Xi expressed Beijing’s position during a summit with Arab countries in Saudi Arabia in December, although the latest call comes as the Asian powerhouse works to strengthen its role as mediator in the Middle East.Xi met Abbas during the December trip and pledged to “work for an early, just and durable solution to the Palestinian issue.”Beijing has since positioned itself as a mediator in the Middle East, brokering the restoration in March of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia in a region where the United States has for decades been the main powerbroker.“China supports Palestine in becoming a full member State of the United Nations,” Xi said during a meeting with Abbas in Beijing, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. The fundamental way out of the Palestinian issue lies in the establishment of an independent Palestinian State,” he said.Abbas will be in the Chinese capital until Friday, his fifth official visit to the world’s second-largest economy.Xi told Abbas at a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People that China was “ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with the Palestinian side.”“Today, we will jointly announce the establishment of a China-Palestine strategic partnership, which will be an important milestone in the history of bilateral relations,” Xi said.Abbas arrived in Beijing on Monday to hold talks with top Chinese leaders including Xi and Premier Li Qiang.The two sides are using the opportunity to discuss ways to advance relations and resolve longstanding challenges to the Palestinian-Israel relationship.Beijing has sought to boost its ties in the Middle East, challenging US influence — efforts that have sparked unease in Washington.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin called long-time Palestinian leader Abbas an “old and good friend of the Chinese people” during a regular media briefing last week.Finding a lasting solution to Israeli-Palestinian tensions may prove elusive, as peace negotiations between the two sides have been stalled since 2014.Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang told his Israeli and Palestinian counterparts in April that his country was willing to aid peace negotiations, Xinhua reported.And Qin told Palestinian foreign minister Riyad Al-Maliki that Beijing supports the resumption of talks as soon as possible, according to the state news agency.In both calls Qin emphasised China’s push for peace talks on the basis of implementing a “two-state solution.”
I find this to be rather amazing. China solving the 75 year conflict between Palestine and Israel. My considered intellectual viewpoint about this can be summarized in one word
Me: HUH?!?!
Alter Ego: Cannot you think of anything else to say, Alexis?
Me: Well I did say to SOFTS that the Emir of Qatar was going to the UN a lot and making speeches about the failure of the UN to enforce its Resolutions but he got nowhere fast.
Going nowhere fast is an idiom which describes a effort which fails to make progress or to produce a desired result There are many synonyms related to going nowhere, such as: absurd, aimless, fruitless, futile, impotent, and inconsequential. OOPS did I just call the Emir of Qatar impotent and inconsequential? That was very tactless. It was just that nothing came of his well publicized efforts. I did praise them on the blog, I absolutely know I did. Will look them up in the search engine. But is is rather irrelevant at this point in time.
Here is the link to Arab News: Looked through the entries. It is going to be my go to place for news. How terribly convenient as I am going to Saudi Arabia. Hahaha
I am funny and do realize I have been letting down my faithful readers who love my humor. I am sure it will return when I report the fun and enjoyable times in Saudi Arabia. I shall tell all (well perhaps not ALL). Hahaha.
I shall miss my Edmonton home and the wonderful, kind people who surround me – there are many. It seems as if they are all handpicked. The blemished, bruised ones seem, somewhat miraculously, to disappear from my firmament. Therefore room for the handpicked s leaves room for the handpicked ones. All praise to Allah (SWT).
If I were forced to choose, between what I would miss most about my apartment home I would say: !) My private mosque, my prayer room, and 2) the incredible magnificent sunsets. One such sunset appeared, unbidden the last night before my departure. Your shall be accorded the privilege of seeing it by looking at the photo. Lucky you! Hahaha
Amalgamating/ Commingling Both Private and Public Viewpoints on Palestine; First an Exchange with SOFTS; Combined with an Article from The New Yorker I was Reading at the Time; Two Instagram Posts Supportive of Palestine
Friend SOFTS exchanged texts concerning my last Free Palestine posting.
She: Good post on Free Palestine. Great article from 1945. It is interesting how we hear very little about Palestine in Canada.
Me: Thank you!! That is so very true, We do not hear about Palestine here. I did not think of that until you mentioned it. Canada’s foreign policy is a bit lacking. I think. What do you think?? We HAVE to get out of the shadow of the US.
She: Zionist Nazis controlling Christian/Catholic countries.
Me: You are SO wise. It is frightening and ridiculous. Never looked at it that way. I am going to put that in Free Palestine giving you SOFTS credit. If that is okay with you. I was just reading a New Yorker article that fits in perfectly. WOW.
She; Awesome to hear that.
Me: What would I do without you and the New Yorker. Hahaha
She: and Wikipedia.
Me: I have got an army on my side. Watch out world!!!! Putin has got nothing on us. Hahaha
Seriously it is rather scary. I am going to Saudi Arabia soon and the Ruler is the new world leader. Not admitted by the US of course, but he is.
She: You mean Salman bin Abulaziz Al Saud the “king’ of Saudi.
Me: None other. That guy indeed.
She: Someone predicted you would meet him.
Me: Yes. I am trying to send you a voice message but it is not working. It is so complicated that it is impossible to text about it.
She: I am taking a late lunch on campus if u want to call me and tell me
Me: Okay. When? Now?
She: Ya now. Ohh no I am at 2%
Me: Huh?
She: Crap my phone will die soon.
Me: Charge the thing. I am laughing.
She: Do you want to go for a walk and talk after I am done work at 5?
Me: My goodness YES. You come by and I will get dressed. Hahaha I need to talk.
She: Okay I will call you when I am downstairs at ur building.
Me: Perfect.
She came by. We walked but it was so hot (for Edmonton.) I suggested (she acquiesced) an , adjournment to air-conditioned restaurant where we talked and talked and talked. It was FAB.
We texted the next day.
Me: It is good to have a friend to to talk about things and you are IT. Lucky you. Hahaha
Here are excerpts from the February 27, 2023 New Yorker magazine, written by Ruth Margalit, titled Minister of Chaos: Minister Ben-Gvir and the Politics of Reaction .
The excellently written and well researched article begins in the following fashion.
“Late last year, as Israel swore in the most right-wing government in its history, a despairing joke circulated online. A picture broken into squares to resemble a captcha—the test designed to tell you from a robot—depicted the members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet. The caption read, “Select the squares in which people who have been indicted appear.” The correct answer involved half of them. It was the kind of message that has become typical of Israel’s center and left in recent years: grim, cynical, ultimately resigned. A few weeks later, Netanyahu’s cabinet introduced the first stage in a judicial overhaul that would weaken the country’s Supreme Court and render the government largely impervious to oversight. Right-wing legislators had floated a similar measure before, but it was regarded as too drastic. What changed, Netanyahu’s opponents say, is that he is a defendant now, on trial for allegedly providing political favors to tycoons in exchange for personal gifts and positive press coverage—charges that he denies. By removing constraints on executive power, the overhaul threatened to place Israel among the ranks of such illiberal democracies as Hungary and Poland. In an extraordinarily blunt speech, the country’s chief justice, Esther Hayut, called it a “fatal blow” to democratic institutions. Since then, tens of thousands of protesters have poured into the streets of Tel Aviv and other cities each Saturday. One marcher’s placard summed up the sentiment: “For Sale: Democracy. Model: 1948. No brakes.”
Margalit continues, speaking of Netanyahu’s political party. Linkud.
Netanyahu leads Likud, a party defined by conservative and populist ideas. Likud has long taken hard-line positions on national security, but its leaders traditionally venerated the rule of law, maintained a balance of power, and upheld free expression. Netanyahu, too, used to court centrist voters, attempting to convince the undecided. But, as peace talks with Palestinians have failed and religious nationalism has gained force, the Israeli left has shrivelled, and Netanyahu’s party has become more extreme. Recently, a Likud lawmaker put forth a proposal that would effectively bar many Arab politicians from running for parliament.
Protesters warn that Israeli headlines have begun to read like a manual for future autocracies, with ministers seemingly handpicked to undermine the departments they run. The new justice minister intends to strip away the judiciary’s power. The communications minister has threatened to defund Israel’s public broadcaster, reportedly hoping to funnel money to a channel favorable to Netanyahu. The minister of heritage has called organizations representing Reform Jews an “active danger” to Jewish identity.
But you ain’t seen nothing yet, according to Margalit, because along came the Minister of Chaos who suddenly joined forces with Netanyahu.
No one, however, offends liberal and centrist Israelis quite like Itamar Ben-Gvir. Ben-Gvir, who entered parliament in 2021, leads a far-right party called Otzma Yehudit, or Jewish Power.
Ben-Gvir is then portrayed in no uncertain terms.
Ben-Gvir, who is forty-six, has been convicted on at least eight charges, including supporting a terrorist organization and incitement to racism, compiling a criminal record so long that, when he appeared before a judge, “we had to change the ink on the printer,” Dvir Kariv, a former official in the Shin Bet intelligence agency, told me. As recently as last October, Netanyahu refused to share a stage with him, or even to be seen with him in photographs. But a series of disappointing elections persuaded Netanyahu to change his mind.
I urge you to read the entire article which can be found by Googling the author’s name, adding The New Yorker. The last paragraph is chilling.
In a transition ceremony on New Year’s Day, he referred to his predecessor as “undoubtedly the most failed minister.” At midnight on January 3rd, he made a trip to the mikvah, or ritual bath. At seven the next morning, surrounded by security and police, he walked up the Temple Mount. His visit, which lasted thirteen minutes, was swiftly condemned by the Arab world, the U.S., and Turkey. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry called it a “flagrant assault.” Netanyahu himself had issued a similar warning in 2020, saying that disturbing the status quo at the site could “unleash a billion Muslims on us.” But Ben-Gvir maintained that he’d secured the Prime Minister’s approval before making the trip. The Temple Mount is “open to everyone,” he said in a video. “Muslims and Christians come here, and, yes, Jews, too.” Staring into the camera while walking through the compound, he added, “In a government in which I’m a member, there will be no racist discrimination.”
I am also incorporating two Instagram videos with strong messages in support of Palestine.
More Palestine News: Some Good Because Al Jazeera is Doing A Good Job Reporting the News
It is more than just interesting, but indeed fascinating, that Al Jazeera has created a new ‘category’ of news. It is called Isreal-Palestine conflict. In my humble opinion this is absolutely necessary as no other major news media source speaks about what is going on there.
So that is going to have to serve as good news – in this blog section that promised good news. So, at least Israel’s dirty laundry will be shown and seen by the world, instead of being totally suppressed.
On June 14,2023 Al Jazeera Al Harb reported: T
The United States will address the death of elderly American citizen Omar Assad, who was killed by Israeli forces last year, “directly” with Israel after the country’s military announced that it will not pursue criminal charges in the case. Early in 2022, Assad, who was 80 years old, suffered a stress-induced heart attack after he was arbitrarily detained, bound, blindfolded and gagged by Israeli forces, and then left out unresponsive on the ground at a cold construction site in the occupied West Bank.
It is again fascinating to see that the death occurred “early in 2022”. One wonders why the delayed reaction and what forced the overdue accountability.
The Israeli army said on Tuesday that it found no “causal link” between the way its soldiers treated Assad and the American citizen’s death.The US Department of State, which often reiterates that the safety of Americans abroad is its top priority, said on Wednesday that it was looking into the Israeli findings.“We’re aware of the conclusion of the investigation, and we’re at this time seeking more information from the Israeli government about it,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters. “We’re going to talk to them directly about it.”Miller said Washington expected “full accountability” in the case early on.
May I suggest Miller that the time for ‘full accountability early on” has indeed passed. But it is extremely gratifying to observe that something MIGHT be happening.
“We have been clear about our deep concern on the circumstances surrounding Omar Assad’s death and the need for such accountability,” he added.
There is more atrocities to be reported in this article. Leahy LawAssad was one of two US citizens killed by Israel last year – the other, Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, was fatally shot by Israeli forces while covering a raid in Jenin in the occupied West Bank. Israeli authorities rarely ever prosecute abuses by their forces against Palestinians, but the US vehemently opposes Palestinians’ efforts to seek accountability at the International Criminal Court, including in the case of Abu Akleh.Israel, accused of imposing a system of apartheid by leading human rights organisations like Amnesty International, receives at least $3.8bn of US aid annually.President Joe Biden and his top aides often stress Washington’s “ironclad” commitment to Israel.
How hypocritical of Israel talking about US aid to Amnesty International considering thee massive aid Israel receives from the coffers of the United States (which includes, unfortunately, my tax dollars.)
There is more news about Leahy Law.
Adam Shapiro, director of advocacy for Israel-Palestine at Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), a US-based rights group, called for meaningful accountability for the killing of Assad.He said the Biden administration should apply the Leahy Law, which bans American aid to foreign forces engaged in gross violations of human rights, to Israel’s Netzah Yehuda unit that was involved in the killing of Assad.Shapiro added that the State Department has been looking at the case from the perspective of the Leahy Law after DAWN submitted a referral to the US government last October, which underscored that the blindfolding of Assad violated Israeli regulations. “We believe that that process should not only continue, but that this closure of the Israeli investigation requires the State Department to now apply Leahy Law sanctions to the unit,” Shapiro told Al Jazeera.
Shapiro strengthened his case concerning the application of Leahy Law.
He added that by blindfolding Assad, Israeli soldiers “took an action that was deliberate and intentional that was a violation of their own rules”. He said the Palestinian autopsy report on the death of Assad noted that the gagging and blindfolding of the elderly US citizen contributed to his heart attack.“We have a direct line of causation from the deliberate illegal actions by the Israeli soldiers to the death of Assad,” Shapiro said.
But will Shapiro’s comments be used in the Western popular press? My new and favorite saying shall not come into play: When Pigs Fly. It is important to laugh in the face of adversity.
Of course, it is not helpful that Biden and his top aides are saying they have an ‘ironclad’ commitment to Israel. Any fool (even me) can see that this is directly related to the upcoming election. Biden, a typical politician, is more concerned about his re-election, not the country he is pledged to serve. Democrats are always shooting themselves in the foot – interesting analogy considering the trouble his sons facing.
Me: Get me out of here!
Alter Ego: Alexis, you do not live in the United States. And may I remind you, you leave for Saudi Arabia in days.
Me: Thank you for your calming effect, Alter Ego.
The same message was expressed by the executive director of AMP.
Abuirshaid said that if the Biden administration does not impose consequences on Israel for killing Assad, it would be abdicating its responsibility to protect US citizens. “Our problem is not only with Israel and its mistreatment of American citizens, but our problem is mainly with our own administration – with our own government here – that allows Israel to continue its mistreatment of American citizens,” Abuirshaid said, also citing the killing of Abu Akleh.
There is even more gloom and doom taking place here on the Homefront (as I now call Canada)
This is a recent conversation with SOFTS, a fellow Canadian. (I live in Canada, bur only recently – I call myself a Born Again Canadian.
She: Read ur new Free Palestine post, frightening NY article – also frightening that we never heard about all this in the Canada main stream news. Have you heard of US journalist Abby Marin? She has been reporting on crimes against Palestine for a long time. Here is her website if you have the time. The Empire Times (the empire files.tv)
Me” You are, as usual, so insightful and add so much to my knowledge as I am utterly clueless about Canada. I refuse to be blamed for this however. Canada needs a better press secretary or a better website – or something.
She: Is there ever going to be a solution?
Me” The only solution to the problem, as I see it, is MBS. I guess I could request an audience with him when I am in Saudi Arabia – not sure how to do that. There is another problem – he is not there. He is in France. The idea of MBS as the solution came to me during prayer. You saw me in action with that obnoxious taxi driver, perhaps he was just training material for a bigger and better challenge. Hahaha I am beginning to feel like Joan of Arc – the only problem being I cannot ride a horse and it is too late in life to learn. I was thinking I could do side saddle a couple years ago, but that did not work out.
She: I looked up Abby Martin on Wikipedia. She made a documentary title Gaza Fights for Freedom – it is released on YouTube for free. Gaza Fights For Freedom (2019) | Full Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnZSaKYmP2s&pp=ygUfIEdhemEgRmlnaHRzIEZvciBGcmVlZG9tICgyMDE5KQ%3D%3D
The Wise Words of King Saud Spoken on March 21, 1943
These words were preserved in the May 31, 1943 edition of Life magazine which I found amongst my possessions in May of 2021. The magazine is no longer in my possession but I took a photograph of the page (which is attached). It is barely legible, these are the words as I see them.
Interview of His Majesty the King with LIFE Magazine’s Representative, Mr. Busch Read, March 21, 1943
What is your Majesty’s opinion concerning the Palestine problem?
I have withheld my opinion concerning the Palestine problem from the Arabs in order to avoid placing them in an embarrassing with the Allies. But because you are one of our friends, I wish to acquaint you with my opinion so that it can be known to the friendly American people so that they may understand the truth of the matter.
First I know nothing of that justifies the Jewish claims in Palestine. Centuries before the birth of Mohammed Palestine belonged to the Jews. But the Romans prevailed over them, killed some and dispersed the rest. No trace of their rule remained. Then the Arabs seized Palestine from the Romans, more than thirteen hundred years ago and it has remained ever since in the possession of the Moslems. This shows that the Jews have no right to their claim, since all the countries saw the succession of different people who conquered them. Those countries became their undisputed homelands. Were we to follow the Jewish theory, it would become necessary to for many peoples of the world, including those of Palestine, to move out of the lands that they settled.
Secondly, I am not afraid of the Jews or of the possibility of their ever having a state or a power, either in the land of the Arabs or elsewhere. This is in accordance with what onto us through through the mouth of his Prophet in his Holy Book. Thus I hold the demand of the Jews upon this land an error, first because it is an injustice against the Arabs, and the Moslems in general, and secondly because it causes dissensions and disturbances between Moslems and its friends the Allies; and in this I fail to see anything good. Furthermore, if the Jews are impelled to seek a place to live , Europe and America as well as other lands are larger and more fertile than Palestine, and more suitable to their welfare and interests. This would constitute justice, and there is no need to involve the Allies and the Moslems in a problem void of good.
As to the native population in Palestine, I suggest that the Arabs agree with their friends the Allies to safeguard the interests of those Jews, provided the Jews take no action that would lead to strife and dissension, which would not be in the general interest and provided the Jews give a guarantee, endorsed by the Allies, that they would not strive to buy Arab property, and would refrain from using their great financial power for that purpose. Such effort would only bring to the people of Palestine loss and injury, and poverty and every decay to their doors, such efforts would inevitably lead to more trouble.
On the other hand the Arabs would recognize the rights of Jews and would promise to safeguard them.
What does your Highness think of Arab unity?
There are no differences between the Arabs and I believe, with Allied aid, they will be united after the war.
(Signed)nHead of the Royal Cabinet
