Greta Thunberg and Renaz Ebrahimi in Search of Publicity

Swedish Greta Thunberg and her friends suffered a terrible setback just as they were about to once again set off to be turned back from Gaza. The gods of the winds, it seems, stirred up a strong gale over the Mediterranean, forcing the brave adventurers to return to their port of departure.

Thunberg and her companions have nevertheless decided to continue their journey once the wind dies down, setting sail for the much-suffering Gaza. Their intention there is to break the illegal blockade of Gaza and deliver essential aid to its civilians.

It remains to be seen how Greta’s brave warriors will fare: will they succeed in forcing Israel to do what neither Hamas nor Iran has achieved through violence, and what not even the UN itself managed through diplomacy? What is certain, in any case, is that today’s storm and their eventual arrival will provide them with very welcome publicity, which will surely flatter their egos.

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One of the participants on this expedition is Renaz Ebrahimi, a Finnish public figure. Her most successful performance to date took place during a Finnish TV broadcast (at 13:57), where she acted with Oscar-worthy rage after astronomer and science writer Esko Valtaoja unfortunately said: “For example, now this notorious N-word. It’s quite a different matter if it’s used by some member of parliament who talks – pardon me – about jumping little neekeri men, than if it’s Pippi Longstocking’s father, who happens to be the neekeri king.”

By way of background for my international readers: as recently as the 1990s, the Finnish word neekeri simply meant a dark-skinned person, without carrying the same connotation as the American word nigger. Of course, today that association has been forcibly imported from America, but even now, the older generation often uses the term without any negative intent.

So, it remains to be seen whether Renaz Ebrahimi will succeed in gaining as much publicity from her trip to Gaza as she did after the TV broadcast I linked above. What is already certain, however, is that she, Greta, and the other brave travelers will be diverted away from the coast of Gaza—most likely to an Israeli port, as happened on the previous occasion.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Greta Thunberg in Search of a Greater Thrill
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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
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How Hamas Exploited Aid and Lost the Support of Many Palestinians

The UN and other aid organizations have been delivering food to civilians in Gaza. However, according to newly released information that many had previously suspected, the aid has not always reached civilians directly. Instead, the terrorist organization Hamas has often stolen the aid and sold it on the black market in order to raise funds—for example, to pay its fighters’ salaries.

When Israel blocked the aid convoys, this flow of money came to an end, and Hamas now appears to be out of cash. It has reportedly not been able to pay its fighters for several months, let alone provide compensation to the families of those killed in action.

Aid deliveries resumed a few days ago, and this time Israel intends to ensure that the food goes directly to those in need. Time will tell how successful they will be.

All this raises a legitimate question: should Palestinian aid actors—especially the UN—that in practice ended up supporting Hamas, now critically reassess their actions? And what about those in the West who made noise about the temporary suspension of aid that, in effect, had been benefiting terrorists? 

For my part, I simply note that Hamas’s actions do not serve the interests of the vast majority of Palestinians; rather, the organization’s goal seems to be nothing more than exploiting them. It appears that more and more Gazans have come to the same conclusion, as many have turned against the group and even dared to protest openly in hopes of driving it out of Gaza. 

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
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Finnish International Law Experts Viewed as Political Influencers by Peers

Finland, like other Western nations, is a rule-of-law state where power is based on Montesquieu’s theory of the separation of powers. According to this principle, executive, legislative, and judicial powers must be vested in separate entities. In recent years, however, Finnish lawyers have increasingly been accused, particularly by the political right, of attempting to undermine the freedom of the Finnish Parliament, which exercises legislative power.

A striking comment about this issue was made today by Jukka Savolainen, the Network Director at the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats. He stated that many international legal experts view their Finnish colleagues more as political influencers than as lawyers focused on the impartial administration of justice.

Specifically, Savolainen noted: "Next week, I’ll be hosting a symposium with seven professors of international law, and the majority of them have expressed surprise at the emergence of Finnish international law experts. They’ve wondered whether these experts are just poor legal scholars. Then they’ve concluded, no, they’re political influencers."

Left-leaning legal scholars have particularly criticized the return law passed last year to counter Russia’s hybrid warfare. This law allowed Finland to close its eastern border, effectively halting the flow of asylum seekers facilitated by Russia. The legislative amendment was enacted despite opposition from these scholars and successfully stopped the influx of migrants across Finland’s eastern border.

According to Savolainen, the emergency law was enacted in accordance with proper legislative procedures. He also emphasized that Finland is a sovereign state that can choose its commitments and withdraw from them as it sees fit. Additionally, he noted that Russia’s modern warfare doctrine explicitly mentions directing migration waves toward targeted countries as a method of state destabilization, providing both theoretical and factual justification for the law.

Regrettably, I doubt that even the criticisms I have discussed here will have any effect on left-leaning Finnish legal scholars, whose leading figure is Martin Scheinin. Scheinin, a former member of the UN Human Rights Committee and also once involved in Finland’s Communist Party, has shown no respect for the separation of powers whenever it has conflicted with his own ambitions. This trend is evident throughout his career.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Defending National Security: Finland's Response to Hybrid Warfare
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Putin's useful idiots in Finland

Uncertain Horizons: Syria's Post-Assad Era

Israel destroyed the Syrian army’s equipment in swift strikes following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime, as the previously Islamist-designated Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) assumed power.

In practical terms, this means that the armaments of the Syrian dictatorship, including chemical weapons of mass destruction, will not fall into the hands of a new government, which may turn out to be an Islamist rogue state.

In this light, one might imagine that the entire world would be pleased with Israel’s actions. On the other hand, Israel’s operations contradict general principles of justice, which dictate that the law should apply equally to all. The same should hold true at the state level, meaning that Israel’s actions appear as nothing more than the unlawful use of force by the stronger party.

It is therefore clear that opponents of the Jewish state have gained yet another justification for their hatred toward it—and even a seemingly legitimate basis for actions against it in international forums such as the UN.

It is thus to be expected that the value-liberal left in Western countries will exploit this development to support Hamas terrorists in their fight in Gaza. At the same time, they will conveniently forget that the entire Gaza war began with Hamas’s terrorist attack and has only continued because the group has refused to disarm or release the hostages it took in October of last year.

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When power shifted in Syria, Israel also occupied the demilitarized zone between it and Syria. Furthermore, it has advanced somewhat into the part of Syria inhabited by Druze communities.

The world was simultaneously surprised by the fact that, following these events, the Syrian Druze neither fled nor mounted resistance but instead declared their desire to become part of Israel. This indicates that this religious minority does not trust its future under the rule of Syria's new leaders.

This development is unlikely to sit well with Syria's new government. Should Israel fulfill the Druze community's wish, it could lay the groundwork for HTS to become a more fundamentalist organization—ultimately transforming into a rogue state similar to Iran or Afghanistan.

At this stage, however, it is virtually impossible to predict what will ultimately happen in Syria. Some have even suggested dividing the country into three parts, with HTS governing the central region, the Kurds holding power in the northeast, and either Israel or the Druze themselves controlling the southwestern corner.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
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Why aren't People Interested in the Rights of Iraqi Girls?

In recent years, there has been concern in Western countries for issues like the rights of sexual and gender minorities. A sign of this was, for example, when two men were allowed to box against women in last summer’s Olympics.

It is therefore strange that Iraq’s plans to allow marriage for nine-year-old girls have not sparked much opposition, even though these children would, in practice, be forced to fulfill the misguided desires of their pedophilic husbands.

So far, this issue has led only to remarks from the UN and human rights organizations, but not to major reactions from ordinary people, such as protests or demonstrations. It remains to be seen, however, whether people in the West will take notice if this law is indeed passed, subjecting little girls to legalized exploitation. 

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
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Highlights of the BRICS Meeting in Kazan, Russia

BRICS is an intergovernmental organization comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. It is a geopolitical bloc, with governments meeting annually at formal summits to coordinate multilateral policies.

This year's meeting in Kazan, Russia, has brought up some interesting developments, which I would like to present to you, my esteemed reader.

The Portuguese UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, attended a summit hosted by Vladimir Putin, a man who did not participate in the previous BRICS meeting to avoid being arrested under an international arrest warrant. I wonder whether the UN Secretary-General is unaware of the political implications of this or if he knowingly chooses to support the Russian dictator.

In any case, I do not believe his visit enhances the respect for the UN among people in Western countries. However, I am certain his popularity will rise in some other parts of the world.

President Vladimir Putin presented a symbolic BRICS currency proposal. However, the head of Russia's Central Bank, Elvira Nabiullina, was not in favor of the idea.

I can’t help but wonder how long it will take before Nabiullina's body is found under a window somewhere in Russia. That seems to be the fate of Russians who disagree with Mr. Putin.

Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro declared that “Venezuela is part of this BRICS family. We apply the principles of BRICS with historical conviction. The time has come for a balanced world, which is multipolar and multicentric. BRICS can count on Venezuela and on the full revolutionary strength of our historical project.”

Given the collapse of the Venezuelan currency - the Bolivar - it is clear that anything would be an improvement in terms of stability. On the other hand, Venezuela's inclusion could have a highly negative effect on any new currency. It will be interesting to see if, for example, China would be willing to join a currency shared with Venezuela.

Finally, it is worth noting a prime example of a kind of transparent dishonesty heard at the meeting. It was said by Putin, who, without batting an eye and without acknowledging his own guilt, rambled on that "unfortunately, there are many armed conflicts on our planet, including at Russia's borders. It is truly unfortunate that there is this armed conflict in Ukraine."

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
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The British human rights decision led to unwarranted calls

In the UK, a bill has passed which would allow asylum seekers to be sent to Rwanda while awaiting a decision on their asylum application. However, this hasn't been put into practice just yet, as it requires approval from King Charles first, followed by what are known as human rights activists organizing a trial farce, and then there must be a court decision on the matter.

In the future, we will likely see mass deportations of asylum seekers from Europe to Africa. Additionally, according to the new British law, a potential asylum would only entitle the applicant to stay in Rwanda—not to unsettle British society.

What's particularly interesting about the case is that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has directly stated that the purpose of enacting the law was to create a deterrent effect on asylum seekers heading to Britain. On the other hand, there has been skepticism in the opposition about its impact on the numbers of people attempting to cross the Channel.

It remains to be seen how the law will impact the numbers of asylum seekers attempting to cross the English Channel. Will it achieve its goal of redirecting the flow of people, or will the previous trend continue, with the difference being that British taxpayer money is used for the nearly 6,500-kilometer flights of arrivals?

The question is pertinent, as according to Britain's own parliamentary institution, the Rwanda program costs nearly two million pounds per asylum seeker sent to Africa. If this estimate holds true, the bill for combating modern-day migration will be considerable.

On the other hand, if the flows of migrants seeking to exploit European social welfare were indeed effectively redirected elsewhere as a result of the decision, London's administration would save significantly more money. Moreover, the process of demographic change in Britain, sometimes referred to as population replacement, would slow down significantly from its current pace. Consequently, Britain's population would remain predominantly European well into the future.

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Today I got to read an article where it was reported that the United Nations and the EU are urging the island nation to reject the bill.

According to the story, Michael O'Flaherty, the director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), expressed that he is "concerned that the Rwanda bill enables the implementation of a policy of removing people to Rwanda without any prior assessment of their asylum claims by the UK authorities in the majority of cases.

The statement raises the question of whether there is a misunderstanding among influential figures in the UN and EU. The explicit intention of the British bill is that the assessment of the spontaneous asylum seekers' protection will be conducted in Rwanda, and thus there is no rational basis for conducting it first in the UK.

According to the same article, Rwanda has expressed satisfaction with Britain's decision and welcomes any potential entrants. This way, they can find a safe place to build their lives, which is ultimately what the international asylum system is about. It's not about the subjective right of all people in the world to settle in Europe and burden its inhabitants' economy or change its culture.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
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United Nations, corruption and terrorism

In Finland, a new president will be elected tomorrow, Sunday. One of the candidates, Sari Essayah of the Christian Democrats, stated in the final election debate that UN organizations are corrupt.

This statement shouldn't have caused much attention, as the corruption within the UN is considered a public secret – known to anyone who follows international affairs even remotely. However, addressing it more forcefully would lead to a crisis for the entire organization, so it is allowed to persist.

The presidential candidate's perspective emerged in the context of discussing development cooperation through the UN and the influence it provides in the third world. Finland is reducing the financial flows it contributes to this, which has sparked opposition, especially among those whose income and lifestyle depend on this activity.

In this regard, it was unpleasant to discover that deep-seated corruption is not the UN's only significant problem. This realization comes as it has been revealed that some of the organization's employees have even participated in terrorist activities and subsequently been dismissed from their positions.

I am referring, of course, to the news that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is horrified by the accusations, and there is now an urgent and comprehensive independent audit of UNRWA to verify its credibility. Having followed the actions of the UN for decades, I am not surprised by this development, and I have no doubt about the validity of the accusations.

However, it is good that the issue has now come to light, as it provides hope for change within the organization. Such change, though, requires the major funding states – namely the USA and other Western countries – to act decisively in this matter. If this happens, there may be renewed hope that the UN will one day become a useful organization.

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