Congress of the Communist Party of China

Big Congress in Beijing  Xi defends China's actions during the epidemic.  He seems to me worried in the official video clip. He is not enjoying Trump's campaign blaming Commuist China for America's suffering. 

I am re-reading Terry Pratchett's Interesting Times. Suddenly realized that it is a satire of China ("The Agatean Empire") as it meets the "Barbarian Heroes" led by Ghengis Cohen from  the city-state of Ankh-Morpork (London, of course).

America Breaking Conventions

The Afro-American lady pictured is the elected Major of the City of Chicago.

I am anti-diluvian. Decent people used to dress and cross their legs according the conventions of their gender and social status. Those who violated the conventions were not allowed to enter the school, the restaurant or the theater. I despised the hypocricy of conventions, yet feel uneasy with the butch African governing Chicago. 

Russians Watching Europe

Timofey V. Bordachev, a Russian economist, says that Russia will not respect the rights of weaker states:

Now we are taken aback as we observe the European countries close their borders even to each other, displaying examples of national egoism on a scale that previously could not be imagined. The question arises: is the coronavirus pandemic the very "last game" after which a blow will be dealt to European integration that it can no longer withstand?

The strong states, which now include China and Russia, address problems that are so great in scale that their solution does not leave many opportunities for attendance to the rights and feelings of the weak states. Europe ... is living out its last days, months, and even years

Pic: The Suzdal Kremlin. 

New Faces in the Government

After three elections and a prolonged negotiation to form a governing coalition, we can meet the new faces of our rulers. The nucleus of the government is the old Likud gang, but there are surprising people that emerged through the Gantz list. There are two Ethiopian-born Ministers, one with a community-organizing background, the second an unknown journalist.

In 2015 Tamanu-Shata was one of the leaders of the Ethiopian Israelis’ protests against police violence, and her initiative led to a government decision on the establishment of a special committee in the Ministry of Justice, which published the Palmor Report on reducing racism and discrimination in Israel, particularly against Israelis of Ethiopian descent, and on policy change and measures to combat this phenomenon. . She also led a new policy for the optimal integration of members of her community into society.


There is large number of females, including the daughter of former Minister David Levy, and a horrible, agressive female TV personality. There are two or three young politicians who emerged as leaders of students unions - a traditional path to power.  There are relatively few lawyers and no Left wing activists. Netaniyahu has erased several Likud chieftains that tried to compete with him. Except for the central nucleus of seasoned Likudniks, we have a majority of unknown, inexperienced and apparently weak personalities. Now they will have the opportunity to show their capabilities.

Israel is putting the Corona epidemic behind it. The damage seems to be minimal. The TASE stock exchange is rapidly re-gaining lost ground. Yesterday we went to my daughter in Dalia, it was 45.5 C at 3 PM, at home we survive and work thanks to air conditioning. I am wondering if to complete my article on virus transmission through sewage vents, as the suject is no more topical in Israel, is it?     

Israel Yesterday: Zero Infected, No Deaths

Daily Report 115 of the WHO shows that Israel has practically stopped the epidemic. In the most admired country, Nordic Sweden, dozens are dying each day. It must be the sharav (the hamsin in Arabic), a wave of hot desert air. Or, improbably, we are a most effective society.  

Things To Do: Tour Sanliurfa

Göbekli Tepe lies 15 km east of the city of Şanlıurfa, South EastTurkey. This prehistoric site is dated to 12000 years ago i.e. it is 6000 years older than Stonehenge. The "temple" was built in the Early Neolithic, when humans made the transition from hunting to gathering and farming, before even the pottery.

Sanliurfa is the center of bloody battles among several ethnic groups and is under military closure by the Turkish Army. I"ll have to postpone my tour.

Israel's water dilemma

After more than a year of uncertainty and transitional government, Israel succeded in forming a strong coalition led by Bibi Netaniyahu, supported by 75 (of the total of 120) Knesset members.

We had the honor of the visit of the American Secretary of State, Mr Pompeo. I suspect he came to forbid Israel to hire the Chinese firm Hutchinson to build and operate and own the Soreq Desalination Plant Phase B, planned to be the world's largest. The PPP licitation was published two years ago and is managed by the Hashav HaClali, the budget management arm of the Ministry of Treasure. The firms that have submitted offers are SUEZ (French), PMEC (Chinese), GES +Hutchinson (Israeli+Chinese) IDE+ACCIONA (Israeli-Spanish) and the WPI+AQUALIA partnership (Israeli-Spanish). I presume that Hutchinson is the cheapest, the best and provide financing. But America under Trump is fighting China's growing influence, and in this very serious world war, we are America's inconditional ally.  So there is no water dilemma at all. Viva Espana! and welcome to the EIB - European Investment Bank.