International Business Development Consultant
The World on the Brink of Chaos
In the face of the invitation released last Thursday by Speaker Mike Johnson for Prime Minister Netanyahu to speak to a joint session of congress, I have an op ed in today’s Jerusalem Post urging him not to accept that invitation. You can see it here…..
I hope he sees it and agrees but time will tell. My guess is he will accept the invite.
Israel faced new condemnation Monday for strikes on the southern Gaza city of Rafah that Hamas terrorist-run Gaza Health Ministry said killed at least 45 Palestinians, including displaced people living in tents that were engulfed by fire. Prime Minister Netanyahu said there had been a “tragic mistake” and that Israel was investigating.
Israel said it was looking into the civilian deaths after it struck a Hamas installation and killed two senior militants. Sunday night’s attack, which appeared to be one of the war’s deadliest, helped push the overall Gaza death toll in the war above 36,000, according to the Hamas terrorist-run Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and noncombatants in its tally. In a speech before Israel’s parliament Monday, Netanyahu said, “despite our utmost efforts not to harm innocent civilians, last night, there was a tragic mistake. We are investigating the incident and will obtain a conclusion because this is our policy.”
In a separate development, Egypt’s military said one of its soldiers was shot dead during an exchange of fire in the Rafah area, without providing further details. Israel said it was in contact with Egyptian authorities, and both sides said they were investigating.
In the “life goes on” category, effective August 1st, Israel’s Ministry of Interior has advised that the Marom ETA – IL (Electronic Travel Authorization – Israel) system will go into effect. The system is expected to streamline the entry process for visa waiver nationals seeking short-term visits to Israel for purposes other than work, volunteering, or studying.
The ETA-IL approval will be valid for up to 2 years, allowing stays of up to 90 days maximum per visit and permitting multiple entries. The system does not replace the discretion of the Israeli border control to deny entry in certain cases. The ETA-IL online portal will require individuals to obtain approval prior to their travel. Applications must be submitted electronically at least 72 hours before the expected entry date. The system is designed to provide instant approval for those eligible.
A report in the Wall Street Journal indicates that the Biden administration is arguing against an effort by Britain and France to censure Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s board meeting in early June, as it expands its stockpile of near-weapons-grade fissile material to a record level, diplomats said. The US has pressed a number of countries to abstain in a censure vote, saying that is what Washington will do.
Earlier today, the IAEA reported that Iran’s stockpile of 60% highly enriched uranium rose 20.6 kg. to 142.1 kg. as of May 11 from three months earlier, its highest level to date. US officials say that material could be converted into weapons-grade enriched uranium in a matter of days and would be enough to fuel three nuclear weapons. European diplomats have warned that failure to take action would undermine the authority of the IAEA and weaken the credibility of Western pressure on Iran.
For those who want to know what’s next? Frankly, it is impossible to tell as what is going on in the world right now seems to be an illogical and unpredictable mix of events which create a state of chaos that we have not seen since the onset of World War II. Let us hope that we are not again on the cusp of the next global conflagration.