Israeli boutique in Dubai – too early, too much

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The story of the Israeli magnate Lev Leviev attempting to open two diamond shops in Dubai was reported this morning by the major Gulf media outlets.

Israel and UAE do not have a diplomatic relations (although small-scale economic cooperation doest exist), and this is why this story made headlines. In the core is the question whether Leviev and his local partners did or did not obtain the license to operate in Dubai.

Lev Leviev is an orthodox Jew, born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and currently considered to be one of the wealthiest people of the world, with an estimated capital of $7 Billion. His main business activities are real estate, diamond trade and chemicals.

Much of complaints coming from the Gulf newspapers was over the fact that one of the companies Lev Leviev controls – Africa Israel Investments – is building on what they call “occupied Palestinian territories” and that Lev Leviev himself is a staunch Zionist.

Local authorities claimed that the license to operate has not been granted and not likely to be granted in the first place, since the official policy of UAE is not to allow Israeli citizens to operate - directly or through local partners - in the country.

Whoever broke this story did a very bad service to Leviev and his partners in Dubai.
Even more of a bad service was done to the Israeli – UAE business cooperation and Dubai officials in charge of granting the business licenses, making them a target of criticism and attack for cooperating with the Israelis, and forcing them to deny such cooperation and thus not tell the truth, since despite the claims of Dubai officials, Israeli citizens do operate in UAE through the local partners, and it is a well-known secret to everyone in the area. Israeli business delegations are not that rare of a guest in UAE, and UAE business community is always welcomed to and well received in Israel.

The timing for making such relations public is far from being right. Middle East is a place where things that are to be said must be considered and fully coordinated with things that are to be done, and whoever fails to understand this symbiosis has a very little chance of succeeding in the region - business and politically wise. It seems like in this particular case, whoever broke this story did it out of malicious attempt to sabotage the delicately developing economic cooperation between Israel and the Gulf countries.

If, on the other hand, Leviev and his partners never attempted to be discrete in this business move in the first place, this is definitely “thinking ahead” on their part, but too far ahead – too early and too much.

The entire story, as reported in the Gulf media, can be found here or here

Iran found a new threat - Barbie doll

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Some things in any country’s policies are wrong, based on policy makers’ ignorance; some things are intentionally malicious. Some are simply ridiculous, bordering with pure stupidity.

Iran found a new threat to its cultural heritage - Barbie doll! Yes, the very same Iranian culture that they love to boast about, is apparently so weak and fragile (or perhaps shattered by centuries of Muslim oppression) that American children idols - Barbie, Spiderman, Batman and Harry Potter - are considered to be a social and cultural danger.

Tehran: A top Iranian judiciary official warned on Monday against the “destructive” cultural and social consequences of importing Barbie dolls and other Western toys.

In the latest barrage in a more than decade-old government campaign against Barbie, Prosecutor General Ghorban Ali Dori Najafabadi said in an official letter to Vice President Parviz Davoudi that the doll and other Western toys are a “danger” that need to be stopped.

The letter said “The irregular importation of such toys, which unfortunately arrive through unofficial sources and smuggling, is destructive culturally and a social danger.”

Iranian markets have been inundated with smuggled Western toys in recent years partly due to a dramatic rise in purchasing power as a result of increased oil revenues.

While importing the toys is not necessarily illegal, it is discouraged by a government that seeks to protect Iranians from what it calls the negative effects of Western culture.

Najafabadi said the increasing visibility of Western dolls has alarmed authorities and they are considering intervening.

His letter said, “The displays of personalities such as Barbie, Batman, Spiderman and Harry Potter … as well as the irregular importation of unsanctioned computer games and movies are all warning bells to the officials in the cultural arena.”

Najafabadi said Iran is the world’s third biggest importer of toys and warned that smuggled imports pose a threat to the “identity” of the new generation.

“Undoubtedly, the personality and identity of the new generation and our children, as a result of unrestricted importation of toys, has been put at risk and caused irreparable damages,” he said.

Mattel Inc., the maker of Barbie, had no immediate comment on the Iranian letter.

To this, Borat would say, “WAWAWEEWA!”

Women in business - Arab world vs the West

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Women are by far more progressive and creative than men when it comes to management. To me it’s a factual conclusion, reached after years of experience working with Israeli, African, European and American companies. In terms of finding solutions it is much easier to do business with women. But here is something I find absolutely stunning (and not in a good way).
From Zawya.com

Dammam: Arab women own only about 14 per cent of business establishments unlike their American and European counterparts who own 25-30 per cent.

Pointing out this statistic, Shaikha Hessa Bint Sa’ad Al Abdullah Al Sabah, chairperson of the Arab Council of Businesswomen, however, noted that there has been a big increase in the number of Saudi women securing commercial registration.

In her keynote speech at the Women’s Economic Forum being held here, Shaikha Hessa said: “The number of commercial registrations in the name of Saudi women reached about 43,000, which represents 20 per cent of commercial registrations issued in the kingdom.”

She said that more than 20 per cent of the wealth deposited in Saudi investment funds belong to women, and pegged the value of real estate investments by Saudi women at 120 billion riyals.
“The volume of assets owned by women in Saudi banks exceeds 45 billion riyals,” Shaikha Hessa said.
She compared the situation to the UAE where there are over 9,000 businesswomen. Women account for 18 per cent of the UAE’s private sector. “In Qatar, the volume of investment by businesswomen amounted to $1.6 billion,” she added.

The fact that only 14% of women in Saudi Arabia own business establishments does not surprise me at all. Muslim women are on the front line of the last chance of the Islamic world to be dragged out of medival ages into the 21st century. If there is a hope for the West and Islamic worlds to reach some kind of peaceful coexistence on this planet, it lies in the Muslim women and their progressive thinking. None other is aware of that more than the Muslim radicals are and this ONE of the reasons why they continue their brutal practices towards their women. Women can be characterized as a fear factor in Islamic world.

What stunned me in the article, however, is the fact that ONLY 20 – 35 percent of women in Europe and America. Lift this percentage by 15%, and our businesses and economies become much more efficient. Why? Human factor - women are simply better.

Iran to host “Islamic Unity” fairy tale conference

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Ever heard of the term “Islamic Unity”? Spoken very often, practiced never.

To attach the word “Islam” to the word “Unity” produces the same effect as attaching the word “State” to the the word “Palestine”. Once the renown inconvicted paedo Michael Jackson sells his ranch, I suggest the so-called “Palestinians” to adopt the name of the ranch – Neverland – and to apply for trade mark on it.

Regardless of “Palestine” – “Neverland”, it appears that the centuries of Islamic oppression did not falter famous Persian skill to tell and believe in fairy tales. This is why Iran is hosting the conference on “Islamic Unity”.

Secretary-General of the World Assembly for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought Ayatollah Mohammad-Ali Taskhiri said here on Monday that Iran is to host 21st International Conference on Islamic Unity from May 4-6.

Talking to reporters, he added that some 850 thinkers and intellectuals from 45 countries including Oman, Sudan, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Germany, the US, Tunisia, Syria, Saudi Arabia, France, Morocco, India, Algeria, Hong Kong, Qatar, Britain, Denmark, Iraq, Turkey, Gambia, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and the United Arab Emirates are to attend the conference.

Taskhiri said preparing grounds for unity and solidarity of the Islamic World and bringing various cultural and scientific views closer to one another are among major goals of the conference.

The participants are also to discuss peaceful coexistence and removal of current obstacles including the enemies’ plots and secular thoughts, Ayatollah Taskhiri noted.

Over 100 foreign and domestic articles have been sent to the secretariat of the conference of which 70 articles have been selected for presentation, he said.

Taskhiri further noted that Islamic unity charter has been compiled. He added that over 2,000 Muslim thinkers and scholars have so far signed the charter.

Cultural and scientific views. How interesting! I’d love to see how Sunnis and Shiites bring their “cultural views” closer to one another. Oh wait, I think I’ve seen that already…hmm…where might that be?

And how about the secular thought being an obstacle to peaceful coexistence? I guess the Iranians skipped the parts of the history where free secular thought was the very thought that led the humanity to the most amazing scientific discoveries; they’re also ignoring the fact that the secular thought is the main leading force behind the term “multiculturalism” and embracing different cultures

My dear liberals and pseudo liberals! Many of you are the masters of secular thought, but according to Iran – the same Iran you urge to start a dialogue and reach an understanding with - considers you an obstacle to peaceful coexistence. Of course, by “enemies plots” the distinguished Iranian hosts mean the conservatives in the West and (cover your eyes and duck) – The Zionists. To rephrase what the Iranians are trying to say – both liberals and conservatives are obstacles to peace. Ponder on that. And while you’re at it, ponder on how comfortable the delegates from Britain, Denmark, France and USA will feel when their countries are going to get bashed by the mullahs.

I just wonder if the fighting between the Sunni and Shiite terrorists in Iraq and Lebanon will seize after that conference. I dare to say it won’t, and since it is so, Islamic Unity will remain nothing but another myth – just like the “Palestine”.

Hizballah detains French delegate

Iranian assault on the Lebanese sovereignty though their proxy terrorist agents “Hizballah” continues. This time the Iranian puppets detained and questioned French delegate who attended Socialist International meeting in Beirut.

Ya Libnan reports

The French delegate was attending the Socialist International meeting in Beirut was touring the capital in a convertible car, was at the time taking pictures of posters showing Hezbollah “martyrs” who died in combat. The incident was reported by a senior member of Walid Jumblatt’s Progressive Socialist Party, Wael Abou Faour.

French delegate Karim Pakzad was on the airport road when a motorcyclist followed by a four wheel-drive car carrying armed men stopped him and interrogated him, Abou Faour said.

The road leading to the airport is in a zone dominated by Hizbullah.

I guess it was a friendly gesture by Hizballah to France, as a token of friendship and respect after the representative of this terrorist organization that trades with body parts and recognizes no one’s authority but this of Iranian ayatollahs’, was hosted by the French embassy in Beirut for croissants

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Muslims to boycott English football club in Malaysia

Malaysia is a country where football is loved.

Hoards of Malaysian football fans support European clubs - from German Shalke and Bayern Munchen, to English Manchester United, Chelsea FC and Scottish Celtic and Rangers. Most of these fans don’t seem to be bothered by the fact that the owners of Manchester United are American Jews who support Israel, or that Israeli football player took part in Celtic first squad a few years ago. The numbers of Malaysian fans supporting Chelsea have not dropped but increased, after Russian Jewish billionaire Roman Abramovich (also a staunch supporter of and frequent visitor in Israel) took over the club and injected hundreds of millions of pounds to buy the best players available and contest for all titles; or when he appointed Avram Grant – Israeli football manager with no real record in Europe – to lead the coaching staff. Surprisingly, this particular move was most protested by hard core English Chelsea fans, mainly due to Grant’s no-record in the European football.

But there is always someone who’s going to stir things up. And guess what, these are no Hindus and no Chinese living in Malaysia.

This time, Muslim groups in Malaysia are urging their countrymen to boycott the games of the English football club Chelsea, that is coming to this South-Eastern country for a planned game tour. The reason for boycott – head-coach of the club and one of the players are Israelis.

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Muslim leaders on Sunday urged Malaysians to boycott a visit by English football giants Chelsea in protest at the move to let their Israeli coach and defender into the country

Spokesman Mohamad Azmi Abdul Hamid said the coalition of 21 Muslim groups would hold a mass protest at the tour match if the government did not bar coach Avram Grant and player Tal Ben Haim.

“Malaysians should boycott the match,” Mohamad Azmi said. “We should unite with the Palestinian people and fight for an independent homeland for them.”

Malaysia does not have diplomatic ties with Israel and its citizens must obtain special permission to travel here.

On Friday, the group submitted a memorandum to the home ministry opposing the government’s decision to allow the Israeli pair into the country.

“The reason for the travel ban to Malaysia is to isolate Israel which is a rogue state. If the Israeli footballers are allowed in, the government will be considered as being insensitive to the Palestinian people,” Mohamad Azmi said.

He warned that if Grant and Ben Haim are allowed into Malaysia, the coalition would picket Chelsea’s match against a Malaysian team on July 29.

“Definitely, we will mobilise the public and hold a protest outside the stadium,” he said.

Foreign Minister Rais Yatim has confirmed Malaysia had no “objections” to admitting the two, allaying fears that Chelsea may cancel the visit.

“They are a sports team with two Israeli members. We don’t see it as something wrong,” he said.

The English title contenders are among the most popular teams in Malaysia, where sports fans avidly follow the Premier League on satellite television.

Thank God there is someone with a common sense in this country’s leadership. And his fears of Chelsea FC cancelling the tour are more than just fears - the club has specifically threatened to do so if visas for the Israeli coach and player are not issued.

The fact of the matter is that when the football clubs are coming to play in Israel, Israeli authorities always ready to issue entrance permits and visas to the players coming from the countries Israel does not have a diplomatic relations with, including the players from Iran. Sport is above all, that’s what we in Israel and the West are taught. Apparently, there are some who don’t share this point of view. And speaking of sports, it seems like boycott has become one of the favorite sports of the Muslim public.

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