Palestine’s Statehood and International Law

Many European states have recognized or are in the process of recognizing the State of Palestine. Finland is not among these countries but is instead waiting to see how the situation develops, together with, among others, the USA, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

This is reasonable in the sense that, from the perspective of international law, the existence of a state requires four basic elements – a permanent population, clearly defined borders, a functioning government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. Of these conditions, especially the second, third, and fourth are not met, so a rational person would sooner question the logic of the states that have recognized Palestine than that of the states that have chosen to wait.

Therefore, Palestine should be recognized as a state only when – or if – it one day fulfills all four conditions. In the meantime, every country – regardless of its stance on recognizing Palestine – can act in support of a just peace between Jews and Arabs living in the region.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
When Should the Independence of Palestine Be Recognized?
An Unexpected Endorsement of Professor’s Views
Abu Obaida’s Death Brings Palestine One Step Closer to Peace

New Framework for Post-Hamas Gaza

Israel’s Security Cabinet has announced that it will take control of Gaza and destroy the terrorist organization Hamas, which previously ruled the area. Additionally, it has outlined five principles to be applied in the region.

These principles include the disarmament of Hamas, the release of hostages, the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, Israeli security oversight in Gaza, and the establishment of an entirely new Arab civil administration. The final decision on implementing these principles will be made by Prime Minister Netanyahu’s full cabinet, which is set to convene no earlier than Sunday.

To carry out this plan, Israel has repositioned its troops near the Gaza border in formations suggesting the beginning of a new large-scale ground offensive. It remains to be seen whether the war, sparked by Hamas’s terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, is now moving into a phase that could lead to a peaceful resolution.

* * *

At first glance, the plan raises many questions. It is certain that Hamas fighters will do everything they can to avoid capture—potentially even by using human shields. At the same time, they will undoubtedly seek to prevent the release of hostages.

I also approach with great skepticism the idea that an entirely new Arab administration could be established in Gaza without any involvement from previous powerholders. And even if such an administration were created, could it build enough military strength to prevent Hamas from resurging? One problem could be that such a government would likely be seen as an Israeli puppet regime, making it difficult to gain the trust of the local population—many of whom have traditionally supported Hamas.

On the other hand, any attempt to end the war in Gaza—and to achieve long-term, sustainable peace—is undoubtedly welcome from both the Palestinian Arab and Jewish perspectives. That is why I hope the proposed plan can materialize into an authority that wields real power in the region and succeeds in suppressing the terrorism that has taken root there for decades.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Hamas Continues the Suffering of Gaza's Civilians
A Night at the Opera
When Demands Become Damage

Hamas at a Crossroads: Are Weapons More Important Than Gaza Belonging to the Palestinians?

The Haaretz newspaper, published in Tel Aviv, has reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced his intention to permanently annex parts of Gaza to Israel if Hamas refuses to agree to a ceasefire. According to him, this plan has the support of the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump

The annexation of parts of Gaza is to continue as long as Hamas refuses a ceasefire – or until the entire area has become part of Israel. However, according to Haaretz, which is known for its left-wing and socially liberal stance, Netanyahu’s plan would only lead to more Western countries recognizing the State of Palestine – something France has already announced it is considering. Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s government aims to pressure Hamas into abandoning its armed resistance.

From here in Finland, it is interesting to observe how the situation unfolds. Will Hamas – and its leadership – acknowledge that it has reached a dead end, or will it continue armed resistance, thereby placing the entire population of Gaza in a situation where they permanently lose their homes?

It also remains to be seen what France and its president, Emmanuel Macron, will do if Hamas refuses to lay down its arms and recognize Israel – conditions he has previously stated are prerequisites for recognition. Or will the potential annexation of Gaza areas lead him to forgo even these conditions before recognizing Palestine?

More broadly, I find the entire recognition debate absurd. After all, Palestine does not exist as a state, so its recognition would change the very definition of an independent state. It would therefore be more of a disingenuous political gesture than a serious acknowledgment of a state-level reality.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Hamas Continues the Suffering of Gaza's Civilians
A Night at the Opera
When Demands Become Damage

A Night at the Opera

At the London opera, one performer decided to stage a protest. It involved bringing a Palestinian flag onto the stage and holding it up for the audience to see.

This demonstration had no impact whatsoever on the situation of Palestinians in their homeland, nor did it bring peace between Jews and Arabs in Palestine. It also did not undo the reasons why the Israeli army — in its search for Hamas terrorists — has extensively destroyed buildings in Gaza.

Instead, the performer in question demonstrated a lack of respect for his employer, the art form he practices, and his audience. Nevertheless, it is quite possible that he found satisfaction in getting his moment in the spotlight — at the opera, in London, in Britain, and in the global media. And even in this blog.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Finnish Branch of Extinction Rebellion Faces Possible Ban 
In Finland, the Enemy Is Clear – and Now the Truth Is Emerging for the Palestinians Too
Does Germany’s Ban on Arabic-Language Posters Signal a CDU/CSU-AfD Coalition?

When Demands Become Damage

Yesterday I wrote that the demands of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in particular might prevent peace from being achieved in Gaza. However, according to recent news, it may in fact be Hamas’s far more limited demands that are already doing so.

At the same time, Israel has continued its military operations in the area, causing immense suffering to Palestinian civilians. This raises the question: whose interests are the aforementioned Palestinian organizations actually serving? Their own—or those of ordinary civilians in Gaza?

The answer is not difficult to find, provided one is able to put the facts in order. The first fact is that neither Hamas nor any other Palestinian organization is capable of challenging the Israeli military. The second is that, for this reason, their attempts to present demands to Israel are unequivocally harmful from the perspective of Palestinian civilians.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Will Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s Demand Block Peace in Gaza?
UN Security Council Resolution Draft Risks Encouraging Terrorism
How Hamas Exploited Aid and Lost the Support of Many Palestinians

UN Security Council Resolution Draft Risks Encouraging Terrorism

The United States has used its veto power to block the adoption of a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. It justified its use of the veto by arguing that the draft resolution was not linked to the release of Israeli hostages.

The resolution also failed to meet two other U.S. demands. The United States had wanted the resolution to condemn the October 2023 attack on Israel by the extremist group Hamas, which started the war. The bloody assault claimed the lives of over a thousand people. The draft resolution also lacked the U.S.-requested clause stating that Hamas should be disarmed and withdraw from Gaza.

In fact, I find it strange that the Security Council even attempted to draft a resolution that would leave hostages in the hands of terrorists and not even require their disarmament. And that is why I question the attitude of other Security Council members toward the war in Gaza.

Moreover, it is logically indisputable that the proposal as presented would, globally, encourage the use of terrorism to advance various political causes, while failing to offer—even in theory—a credible solution to enable coexistence between Israelis and Palestinian Arabs.

Such a resolution may well reflect current political realities, but its outcome would clearly not lead to lasting peace—neither for the Jews nor the Arabs of the region. And for that reason, pursuing such a resolution cannot be considered a legitimate goal of international political will.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
How Hamas Exploited Aid and Lost the Support of Many Palestinians
Finnish International Law Experts Viewed as Political Influencers by Peers
Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs reminded Russians about their nightmare

Gambling Addiction and the Shadowy Instigator

Probably every one of us knows what a compulsive gambler is like. A person who plays games of chance, losing again and again. Yet they imagine that luck might turn if they just play one more round — or two — and that they might win back the money they've lost.

This came to mind when I read the news that Israel announced the establishment of 22 new settlements in the West Bank. And the country’s defense minister even spoke of turning the area into a Jewish state.

And no, I didn’t mean that Israel, its defense minister, or the Jewish citizens of the country were the compulsive gamblers in this story — rather, the Palestinian Arabs. In 1947, they would have received about half of what is now the territory of Israel. But this was not acceptable to them, and they decided to take a gamble.

That meant launching a war, with the help of surrounding Arab countries, with the aim of driving the Jews into the sea. As part of that effort, Palestinian Arabs were asked to leave their homes, resulting in a large number of Palestinian refugees who have since been barred from returning to Israeli territory.

In the years that followed, several wars broke out between Israel and Arab states. The plight of the Palestinians was not always the direct cause, but in most cases, it was at least a background factor.

Then came the years 1993–2000, during which the Oslo peace process offered the Palestinians the possibility of an independent state comprising the West Bank and Gaza. However, their leader Yasser Arafat refused to sign the agreement that had been reached — because he wanted borders based on the 1947 plan. And so, once again, he and the Palestinians he led decided to roll the dice and continued down the path of various terrorist acts.

As my esteemed readers know, Palestinian terrorists were especially "successful" in their October 2023 attack, which led to Israel taking control of the Gaza Strip. As a result, Israel recently even threatened to evacuate its entire population.

And now, most recently, came the defense minister’s comment about the West Bank: “we will build the Jewish-Israeli state on the ground.” If that plan goes through, the situation would resemble that of a typical compulsive gambler who has already lost all their money, their spouse has left, the job is gone, and even the house is about to be sold off to pay the debts.

So what the Palestinians do in this situation? Well, like all other compulsive gamblers, they naturally decide to play one more round in a game where they, in reality, have virtually no chance of winning — except in the imagination of the compulsive gambler. 

* * *

Incidentally, perhaps the greatest harm to the Palestinians has been done by Western leftists, Greens, and feminists who have, year after year, supported them ever more fervently. Without this constant encouragement, reason might have prevailed even in the mind of a compulsive gambler.

The massive shows of support may have appeared to Palestinian leaders as signs of hope — that although the fronts keep delivering defeat after defeat, perhaps a power shift in the West might someday bring Western countries to their aid.

And maybe, after enduring all that I’ve described above, they might still hit the jackpot — and drive the Jews into the sea. Isn’t that a possibility to believe in, especially when Palestinian flags and banners with clear slogans like “from the river to the sea” wave ever more prominently on Western university campuses, streets, and squares?

In other words, the pro-Palestinian activity in the West resembles a scene from a Western movie, where the shady backroom figure running the saloon’s card table keeps urging the stranger to stay in the rigged game until he’s lost his last dollar.

Unfortunately for the Palestinians, it seems to be too difficult for the Western left, Greens, and feminists to understand this. And there is no noble hero riding into the saloon to shoot the cheating card shark and the filthy-rich saloon owner.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
How Hamas Exploited Aid and Lost the Support of Many Palestinians
What Would It Take to Make Peace in the Holy Land?
Why Hamas Is Unwilling to Give Up Its Weapons

The Responsibility for Their People's Future Now Lies with Palestinian Leaders

Fresh reports indicate that Israel and Hamas have agreed on a draft deal for a Gaza ceasefire and the release of hostages. The proposed agreement would be implemented in three stages, starting with the gradual release of 33 hostages over six weeks. Among them are five female Israeli soldiers, each of whom would be exchanged for 50 Palestinian prisoners.

In return, Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian women and children in detention, along with 30 security prisoners serving life sentences. During this period, Israeli forces would withdraw from population centers over 42 days, allowing Palestinians to begin returning to their homes in northern Gaza. Additionally, humanitarian aid to the region would increase significantly.

The term "ceasefire" refers to the temporary suspension of war or other armed conflict. It does not, therefore, signify peace, nor does it imply the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Achieving peace would require mutual trust. However, at this moment, such trust appears to be lacking among both Jewish and Palestinian communities.

The key lies with the latter; the Arabs of the Holy Land must abstain from terrorism and warfare against Israel. This means no rockets launched from Gaza or the West Bank into Israel, and ideally no deranged terrorists attacking Jewish targets.

At the same time, it is crucial for Israel to act decisively, particularly in the West Bank, to prevent the construction of new settlements and to avoid other aggressive actions against Palestinians. Furthermore, the current and future governments of Israel must work in ways that foster Palestinian trust in their own future.

If these efforts succeed, it might be possible for Israel’s Jewish population to accept the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, as envisioned in 1993. However, if these efforts fail, the conflict will revert to square one, likely leading to renewed hostilities in the Holy Land sooner or later.

Personally, I believe that in this particular situation, the responsibility for the future of the Palestinian people lies primarily with their leaders. If they are capable and grounded in realism, the future of the Palestinian people can be excellent. However, if they repeat the inability of their predecessors to acknowledge facts and act accordingly, the ordeal of the people they lead will continue far into the future.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Two out of three Palestinians support October 7 attack
Palestinian responsibility
Palestinians: acknowledging facts is the beginning of wisdom!

Mediterranean Taxi Service is Coming to an End

I just noticed information on social media indicating that Doctors Without Borders has decided to end its Mediterranean operations. The organization’s activities have essentially involved taxi-like operations, transporting people from the southern Mediterranean to EU territory instead of taking them to the nearest port on the African side. This has encouraged Africans and Arabs to attempt crossing the Mediterranean in unseaworthy boats, leading to thousands of unnecessary deaths.

The organization is funded through various fundraising efforts, where its activities are described as rescue operations. These appeals attract well-meaning people who want to support the cause without understanding its fundamental nature as a business.

According to the message thread reporting on the cessation of the Mediterranean taxi operations, “We have been forced to discontinue our activities with the rescue ship Geo Barents. Italian legislation and policies have made it impossible to continue in their current form.”

Unfortunately, the organization does not appear to be giving up and simultaneously announced that “We will return to the Mediterranean as soon as possible.” However, one can only hope that Italy and the rest of the EU maintain their now proven approach and ensure the final burial of Doctors Without Borders’ business described here.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
The Fall of Germany’s Government Could Open the EU’s Path to a Better Future
Change of immigration policy and development cooperation
175 happy winners

Finnish Society Adopts Medieval Characteristics

A few days ago, I wrote about the change that is leading to the European Green parties' withering into insignificant political forces. This doesn't seem to be understood, at least among the Finnish Greens.

One could draw this conclusion, at least from the fact that some within the Greens have suggested that the party adopt a positive stance on polygamy and promote the legal recognition of more than one spouse. In practice, this would primarily mean the recognition of polygamous Islamic marriages as valid in Finnish society.

In this way, the Greens would bring Finnish culture a step closer to the medieval demands of Islam. Similarly, society is being steered in this direction by the increasing practice of women-only swimming sessions and by allowing unofficially the wearing of swimsuits in the sauna at public swimming pools. The latter is problematic because sweat gets trapped in the swimsuit during the sauna and later dissolves into the swimming water, fostering the growth of various bacteria, including pathogens.

The national broadcasting company has also taken it upon itself to reshape society according to the demands of immigrants. It has decided to begin broadcasting in Arabic and Somali. By doing so, the company could further reduce the already limited motivation of these immigrants to learn the Finnish language.

The driving forces behind all these changes have been, in particular, Green and left-wing politicians, who have received support especially from the value-liberal politicians of the National Coalition Party and the Swedish People's Party of Finland. Fortunately, the political influence of the Greens is declining, as well as that of the rest of the left.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
The Rise, Fall, and Future of the European Green Parties
The attractiveness of Finland to welfare-seeking economic migrants reduces
Information for Asylum Seekers in Finland

The Stabber Killed Three People in an Extremely Multicultural City

The day's news in Finland (Yle, Ilta-Sanomat, Etelä-Suomen Sanomat) reported on a terrorist attack that took place at the "Festival of Diversity" in the German city of Solingen, where three people were fatally stabbed. Additionally, four other people were injured.

The terrorist was a male, but I couldn’t find any more specific details in the Finnish media. However, there is a claim circulating on social media that the attacker was an "Arab immigrant." Time will tell whether this claim is true or not.

There was also a credible claim on social media that, in the same city of Solingen, an African man attempted to set fire to a restaurant owned by someone of Arab descent at the end of June. However, something went wrong, and the arsonist ended up setting only himself on fire.

The city's population is very diverse, as already in 2020, around 35 percent of the population was non-ethnic Germans. The largest population groups were Italians, Turks, and Syrians, but people from as many as 140 different countries lived in the city. Among children under the age of three, a full 56 percent had a migration background, so it won't be long before ethnic Germans become a minority in the city.

One can only hope that the stabber is caught as soon as possible and receives the deserved punishment for his crime. And that the Germans channel any potential frustration with the new Germans democratically—by voting in the upcoming elections for politicians who know how to solve the immigration problem that has arisen in the country.

Hopefully, for us Finns and other Europeans, this case shows that diversity comes at a price. And therefore, its excessive increase in Finland would also have consequences.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Mass immigration is the greatest concern for EU youth
A caliphate was demanded in Germany
In Germany, immigration policy changes are being planned

The End of the Holy Soldier of the Arabs

The political leader of the Hamas terrorist organization, which controls the Gaza Strip, Ismail Haniyeh—who called Osama Bin Laden the 'holy soldier of the Arabs'—has been killed in the Iranian capital, Tehran. As a result, the world now has one less terrorist.

The head of the Supreme Revolutionary Committee of the Houthi rebels, Mohammed Ali al-Huthi, commented on the incident, saying that the targeting of Ismail Haniyeh is a heinous terrorist crime and a flagrant violation of laws and ideal values.

This is interesting, considering that Hamas has carried out some of the most disgusting terrorist acts in recent years, and the Houthis themselves have not adhered to international laws or ideals either. Instead, they have waged war against the legitimate government of their own country and terrorized international maritime traffic.

In other words, the revolutionary leader has turned the facts upside down, something anyone who follows international politics - even slightly - knows. Apparently, such lies don't matter among the Houthis, as al-Huthi assumes his statement will be accepted by them like a hot knife through butter.

We can only speculate about the reasons. Perhaps it's because the ordinary Houthis don't receive accurate information about world events, as they are distorted by their terrorist rebel government. Or, alternatively, they are simply too ignorant or stupid to understand the significance of Huthi´s actions. Or that their own leaders—Mohammed Ali al-Huthi among them—are to blame for the miserable living conditions they endure.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Two out of three Palestinians support October 7 attack
Norway and Ireland are awarding the terrorists a prize
Religious authority and the Iran strike on Israel

An immigrant who stands out from the average has been taken into custody

The Swedish society is notoriously in a state of rapid change. As a sign of this, a person can become the victim of a violent crime there for very small reasons.

I wrote about one such case in April, when a Swedish man was killed after responding to taunts from a youth gang. Yesterday, we received a bit more information about this case.

An Iraqi-born young man, who had arrived in the country as a child and soon after obtained Swedish citizenship, has been arrested in connection with the murder. Thus, he will remain a burden on the Swedish society for the rest of his life - unless he decides to move somewhere else, like Finland, for instance.

The news reporting the incident mentioned that the suspect comes from a broken home, where the mother changed partners as frequently as an environmentalist changes their salad ingredients. He himself was placed in the care of child welfare authorities at the age of 15, after having committed robberies, assaults, and drug offenses for two years. Additionally, he is suspected of having been involved in kidnapping and attempted murder.

Of course, this person is not the average Swedish immigrant, but nevertheless, according to statistics such cases appear more frequently among immigrants from Arab countries and Africa than among the native Nordic population. Thus, in Finland and many other European countries, we must ensure that our countries do not repeat the mistakes of our western neighbor and grow a problematic population under the guise of so-called human rights.

To clarify this matter to those who may have doubts, I am including a few links to videos that have been published on the messaging service X. I particularly recommend watching them to supporters of Swedish-style humanitarian immigration.

However, I warn you that the videos can provoke strong reactions and are not suitable for the sensitive.

The first, especially for male drivers.

The second, especially for young women.

The third, especially for recreational drug users.

The fourth, especially for those out in the city at night.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
A caliphate was demanded in Germany
Even a brutal murder didn't stir the Swedes
100 percent of the violence is related to migration

Christmas gift to the Holy Land

In the Christian - and nowadays, even among more secular Western people - Christmas emphasizes events over 2,000 years ago in the current territory of Israel, as well as the giving of gifts in commemoration of those events. That's why this Christmas, I want to remember the residents of the so-called Holy Land with a proposal for achieving lasting peace between them.

A new solution is needed for two reasons. The first is the nature of Israel as a Jewish state, and the second is the terrorist violence carried out by the Palestinian population who made a colossal mistake in the events of 1948-49 by following the proposal by other Arabs to leave their homes. Both have hindered the establishment of peace between the inhabitants of the Holy Land.

Therefore, a solution must be sought based on maintaining the nature of Israel as a Jewish state while putting an end to the terrorist activities of the Palestinian population. These conditions are not met by the widely discussed two-state model, and particularly, Jews are not interested in a single-state model where Palestinians who engage in terrorism year after year would be granted Israeli citizenship.

In this situation, creative thinking is needed. However, first, we must wait for the end of the ongoing war so that the biggest obstacle to peace, the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas, is removed from the stage.

Afterward, there should be a negotiation table with representation from Jews and Palestinians living in Israel, as well as Jordan, Egypt, and potentially other Arab countries, along with impartial mediators. The result must be an acceptable solution, offering Palestinians the freedom to either move away from Israel to Jordan, Egypt, or other Arab nations, or alternatively, to await Israeli citizenship.

Palestinians relocating to Arab countries should be granted citizenship, for example, five years after settling in the country, provided they meet the conditions and behave appropriately. Those choosing to live in Israel would initially remain without citizenship, but it would generally be granted to them after 30 years. 

That is primarily because renouncing Palestinian terrorism would be a precondition for citizenship. Since achieving this is unlikely to happen overnight, a framework encouraging the abandonment of violence must be established.

Therefore, it should be decided that for each act of Palestinian terrorism within the first year of the agreement, the granting of citizenship would be postponed by one week. Similarly, from the second to the tenth year of the agreement, each act of terrorism would delay citizenship by one month. After that, for the next ten years, each act of terrorism would postpone citizenship by one year, and from then on, by five years.

Such a system would provide Palestinians with a way out of the current deadlock and strong motivation to refrain from terrorist acts. As violence diminishes, trust between Israeli Jews and Palestinians would gradually grow, leading to increasing economic integration over the years, which would further strengthen the peaceful development.

* * *

In the proposal I outlined earlier, it is crucial that the timeframe is long, at least 30 years. Presumably, a considerable number of Palestinians would not choose to wait in Israel for such an extended period and would instead opt for relocation to an Arab country, where obtaining full citizenship rights could happen in a substantially shorter time. This way, the character of Israel as a Jewish state would not be compromised, even if the remaining Palestinians were granted citizenship.

The extended timeframe is also essential because over three decades, an entirely new generation of Palestinians and Jews would grow up, whose lives would not be overshadowed by continuous violence and oppression but rather characterized by peaceful coexistence. This would lead to a decrease in the significance of ethnic and religious boundaries, strengthening society and ultimately creating a situation where the granting of citizenship to Palestinians would not provoke insurmountable reactions among Jews.

And thus, peace would eventually arrive at the birthplace of Christian Christmas! For the people living there, peace and goodwill toward each other would prevail.

With this proposal, I wish all my readers a Merry Christmas! I also extend my wishes to the residents of the Holy Land, hoping that my gift brings them peace!

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Merry Christmas!
Nauttikaa joulusta! (in Finnish, but readable in English using e.g. Google translator)
Joulumuisto (in Finnish, but readablein English using e.g. Google translator)

Racism or self-preservation instinct?

A young Algerian man who disobeyed a police order was killed by a bullet fired by a French police officer. As a result, violent riots broke out.

Regarding this matter, I have nothing else to say except that it would never occur to me to disobey a police order, even though I personally have no fear of being shot by the Finnish police if I were to disobey their commands. I cannot comment on the French police.

But let's return to the news article from the Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle that reported on this incident. It quotes the news agency Reuters, stating that "the incident has brought to the surface a long-standing debate about police violence and structural racism in France." The latter may be due to the fact that, according to Reuters, "since 2017, the majority of victims in such shooting cases have been black or of Arab descent."

Certainly, based on this information, the case can and should be investigated as a manifestation of racism. However, at the same time, it should be asked whether black or Arab individuals being shot is a result of their own behavior. Do they challenge police orders or engage in violence against the police more frequently than other population groups?

I do not know about France, but I wrote the following a couple of years ago: "African Americans account for 55.9 percent of all homicides in the USA. Whites account for 41.1 percent. As for the victims, 54.7 percent are black and 42.3 percent are white. These numbers can be compared, for example, to the proportion of African Americans in the entire U.S. population, which is about 13 percent."

If black or Arab individuals in France engage in violent crime to the same extent as African Americans, then the police's racially biased trigger-happiness may not be the underlying reason for them being caught in police gunfire; rather, it may be purely a matter of the police's self-preservation instinct.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Ayatollahs in Iran demonstrated their ridiculousness
Sweden already in trouble - Finland following
Riots in Sweden: what next?

Hussein Al-Taee, an Islamic militant and a member of the Social Democratic Party of Finland

Next Sunday, Finland will hold parliamentary elections, and one of the candidates for the Social Democratic Party is Hussein Al-Taee. He has an immigration background and is known for his work in Nobel laureate Martti Ahtisaari's peace mediation company. 

However, it has been revealed that Al-Taee sympathizes with militant Islam and dictatorships, and has been suspected of having connections to the intelligence service of Iraq. He may also have had a task to interfere with Finnish policy and help members of Shia militia immigrate into Finland through the international asylum system. Additionally, Al-Taee has written antisemitic texts, but he apologized for his mistakes after they became public.

Despite these concerning revelations, Al-Taee was still accepted as a candidate for the Social Democratic Party in the elections. Furthermore, he published a video in Arabic where he suggests that immigrants are taken from their parents by force.

In other words, Al-Taee is spreading the same kind of disinformation in Finland that is used in Sweden to hinder the integration of immigrants from the Islamic world into their new home. Furthermore, he has made it clear that his positive views on militant Islam have not changed.

Therefore, as the people of Finland, we must question whether the Social Democrats should continue to support Mr. Al-Taee. They should admit that they made a mistake by nominating him as a candidate for Parliament and discourage voters from supporting him. If they do not take action before the elections, they should cancel his party membership immediately after the election, regardless of the outcome.

We must also consider whether allowing Al-Taee to remain a member of the Social Democratic Party obstructs Finnish immigration policy and endangers the country's security. If so, the party leaders and the entire organization may be unworthy of the trust of the Finnish people.

The original blog post in Finnish:
SDP:n on erotettava Hussein Al-Taee

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Ayatollahs in Iran demonstrated their ridiculousness
Sweden already in trouble - Finland following
Riots in Sweden: what next?

A new Government for Israel, but why doesn´t it solve anything?

Benjamin Netanyahu became the Prime Minister of the 37th Government of Israel. However, looking back in history, there is no reason to believe that his cabinet would stand long. After all, the new Government is already the third in 2020´s. 

One of the reasons for short Governments in Israel might be its high number of parties. After the last elections the Parliament - Knesset - consists of ten parties. Therefore the only possible type of a majority Government is a coalition, where parties contradicting political views must be settled to a common program.

That is not, however, very different from Finland, where we have nine parties and a representative of autonomous island, Åland, in the Parliament. Therefore, also our Governments are coalitions, but last typically throughout the four years between elections. 

So what is the difference between Israel and Finland? Is it the big number of religion-based movements in Israel, whereas in Finland the only religion-based party has only five seats out of the 200?

As we all know, religions have separated people throughout the history, and formed at least part of the motivation in countless number of wars. Or is it the fact, that Israel is surrounded by hostile nations, that cause pressure on the Jewish state? 

It is, however, true that also Finland has a hostile neighbor, as the war in Ukraine has demonstrated. And therefore foreign policy unites Finnish political parties almost throughout the political spectrum. And that policy is also supported by a clear majority of ordinary people: for example a total of 79 percent of Finns support the NATO application currently in progress.

In contrast, there is an ongoing struggle in Israel policy towards Arabic nations and Palestinians. The previous Government supported a two-state solution whereas Netanyahu stands for an Israel including also the West Bank traditionally inhabited by Palestinians. 

Naturally I am not the right person to tell Israeli what to do - they must decide themselves. But according to my view the eternal conflict between Jews and Arabs in near east looks like a problem caused by two nations, neither of which has common sense for solutions. 

The solution could be somehow copied from post-world-war Finland. We then accepted that Karelia was lost forever, and - instead of looking for impossible revenge - started a fruitful collaboration with Soviet Union by taking advantage on trade with our big and potentially dangerous neighbor. But at the same time kept our military readiness high. 

Such a model would have two scenarios in the Holy Land. For Palestinians: stop dreaming about pushing Jews to the Mediterranean sea, stop the violence caused by your own trouble makers (calling themselves freedom fighters) and look for fair economic collaboration with Israel. That could be done equally well as a part of Israel or as an independent Palestine. Army would not be needed or - in the case of an independent Palestine in the West Bank -  its strength could be relatively low via a security agreement (guarantee) to be negotiated with Israel.  

For Jews the situation would be more complicated. They should naturally offer acceptable rights to Palestinians including equality against the law, and also promote economic collaboration with the neighboring Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. But also demand that the three last ones agree on peace agreement in a similar way as Egypt has done. 

And in all cases, Israel should definitely keep its unquestionable military superiority compared to the Islamic world. 

Previous thoughts on the same topic:

Explanation of Finnish attitudes towards Israeli and Palestinians
Historical failure on an issue related to a Finnish beer
Kuun tavoittelu taivaalta on johtanut palestiinalaiset ahdinkoon