Managing the War

 

What is important

Global ratings agency S&P on Friday affirmed its long-term sovereign credit rating on Israel at "AA-/A-1+" and maintained its outlook at "stable"

Despite the security and political risks escalating sharply in the last few days, the combination of a very effective and swift COVID-19 vaccination campaign, strong technology sector performance and rising gas exports should still underpin the country's GDP growth of 5% in 2021.

"Domestic political uncertainty has also been persistently high over the past two years owing to repeated elections, but so far this also has not substantially affected the economy," according to Reuters.

 

Shocking Formosan Arrogance

TSMC chairman and founder Morris Chang warned last month of higher operating costs and a thin talent pool for the U.S. plans in a rare public speech attended by Wei and chairman Mark Liu.

 "In the United States, the level of professional dedication is no match to that in Taiwan, at least for engineers," Chang said. He warned that "short-term subsidy can't make up for long-term operational disadvantage."

Illustration: A Spanish map of Keelung Harbour "Descripcion del Puerto de Los Espanoles', when the island was a colony. 

Tunnels under the Streets of Gaza

According to Ynet, the pic shows collapsed tunnels in Gaza, a product of ZAHAL's bombs. I have seen collapses similar to the pic in Israel, resulting from washout of the sandy soil underneath. It could be leaking sewage or water pipes. I saw similar pictures in Baja California. after an earthquake. I cannot imagine why they would tunnel under heavily trafficked main streets. Ynet says the terrorists are trapped in the caved-in structures. If so, they would be shouting for help and the people in the street trying to save them. So I do not know what exactly I am seeing. 

Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, Rising

Counterintuitively, the TASE 35 index is rising.   Also, the US dollar is rising. These two parameters are very important for me since I have a large debt to pay in a few weeks. The economic situation of Israel is healthy, the communal riots are limited to a few poor mixed towns, and the big question is if foreign investors (like pension funds) will be frightened by biased media reports and doctored pictures and take their monies to safer coasts. 
 

The Arabs Smell Weakness in Israel's Government

 

In fact, it is worse than that. We have a transition government without the mandate to take decisions. The nation is divided into two enemy camps and no workable coalition - even after four consequent elections - can be agreed. One intelligence eminence on YNet said that the government (lead by Netanyahu) cannot give the order to counter-attack and stop the missiles because the leftist opposition would protest, call for civil disobedience and reserve soldiers may desert. We are in a bad position. We need a legitimate government, but our sordid politicians hate each other and cannot agree. In Hebrew: Sinat Hinam, Hate for No Reason At All. 

The Arabs are starting to annoy me

I worked hard on upgrading the KATZAA oil terminal kitchen and dining room near Ashkelon. Got paid 80% of my fees. The rest was to be paid after the actual completion of the building. 

Last night a rocket hit the oil tanks (pic) and black smoke reached 30-40 m high illuminating most of the South. 

When, if ever, shall I be paid? The Palestinian behaviour is starting to irritate me.