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familyabolisher · 1 year

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In 1937, urban planners debated turning Tel Aviv into a ‘Riviera city’ in a proposal called the Grunblatt scheme, which is reminiscent of Le Corbusier’s unrealised 1933 Plan Obus to demolish the Cape of Algiers and construct an elevated highway along its coastline. Today, many of the Palestinian beaches belong to private developers and hotels. This is part of a longstanding policy of effacement, whereby Palestinian scenes of dispossession become sites of Zionist leisure. After the massacre of residents in al-Tantura (occupied May 22–23, 1948; population of 1,500) in 1948, the Palestinian population was driven out. A mass grave of several dozen bodies remains, and today it lies under the parking lot of Dor beach, near Haifa. These processes are not unique to Palestine, architecture and redevelopment play essential roles in the construction of a revisionist urban coloniality. Both Tel Aviv and Algiers were given the moniker ‘White City’.

But Tel Aviv is not particularly white. Off-white maybe, mostly grey. Sharon Rotbard’s WHITE CITY, BLACK CITY (2015) examines the Bauhaus style that is the city’s pride. The Ashkenazi elite of Tel Aviv sought refuge in the ‘values of order and rationality’, she explains, against ‘the amorphous black chaos’ of the present. ‘It enabled many Tel Avivians to conduct wealthy bourgeois lifestyles, and at the same time to expose a socialist and progressive façade, to take solace in the assurance that while their city was clearly grey and faded, it was actually white and clean; that although it was no more than a provincial Western outpost, it was as international as the International Style; and that although it was modern, it was historic.’

The early essays about the local International Style in HA’IR and HA’ARETZ newspapers praised it as neither historic nor revolutionary, but as a sensible innovation, emphasising ‘usability, economy, modesty, cleanliness’. Tel Aviv’s Bauhaus represents the aestheticisation of sterility, which was the style’s original function, in a clear through line from the sanatorium that helped to popularise it. The export of this architecture to the colonies held the promise of ridding the cities of their distinct character, of curing the tropics of their diseases.

These architectures, then, reinforce a psychogeography of ‘cleanliness’. In light of the increasing visibility and political power of the messianic-Zionist bloc in the Israeli governing coalition (Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud alongside the Hasidic political parties United Torah Judaism and Shas), the re-emphasis of Tel Aviv’s White City’s heritage serves as a coping strategy of sorts for Tel Aviv’s settlers in particular. It allows them to self-narrate as ‘liberal’ and to separate themselves from an unwashed ‘Other Israel’, supporting the story that Tel Aviv’s relationship to the rest of the state is of a cosmopolitan vestigial organ. This is romantic, but untrue. While the fanatical settler foot soldiers that roam the frontier are perhaps the most visible parts of the Israeli project, a quieter enemy remains at work – the state’s bureaucratic violences, dressed as system planners and administrators. Tel Aviv’s ghouls in their windowless offices stare at population registries of Palestinians, a blinking red button in front of them, adding to their press releases a Biblical or archaeological citation to camouflage the ethnic cleansing.

#currently reading #palestine

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p-redux · 11 months

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Weekly Summary October 20, 2023

Hi peeps, lots of stuff happened this week, so I'm going to do my weekly summary instead of individual posts or answering individual Asks. This is a LONG one, so grab a drink, and dive right in for: Ringgate, Sam and the City, and Sam and open letter and follow up statement. Also, starting tomorrow, I'll be off for the weekend, my man surprised me with a trip away to the beach before the weather starts to cool down.

Anyhooo, let's start off with something light. #ringgate. For different reasons some fans get verklempt when Sam wears jewelry, and panties definitely get twisted or wet, depending on who you are, when Sam dons RINGS. Sam wore the 2 rings he's been wearing lately during his appearance on Jimmy Fallon a few days ago. Sidenote: Samshine is EXTRA Samshiny is in this pic. Say what you want about him, but the man is BEAUTIFUL 👇

So, of course, Extreme Shippers are convinced Sam is "finally" wearing his wedding rings because he's married to Cait. Um, one small problem, Caitriona Mary Balfe is already married to Tony McGill. Some Non-Shippers get excited to see him wear rings because maybe it makes them think of when Sam WILL get married. There is something about a man wearing rings. I find it sexy as well. But, alas, these rings are on the right hand and Scottish people wear wedding rings on the left hand. Also, Sam's definitely NOT married to anyone since we've seen him linked to several women lately.

For the people who had doubts the copper looking ring is an Oura ring, it definitely is. Here is what the two rings most likely are. The silver one I'm told by some of the Team is 👇

And here is the Oura ring he's wearing, most likely in Rose Gold. It's basically a ring with a computer in it to keep track of physical stuff, the way a fitbit or Apple watch does. Seems EXACTLY like something Sam would wear 👇 So, let's put #ringgate to rest now, please.

On to WHERE in New York had Sam been hiding. Everyone thought he had left and that his recent appearance on Jimmy Fallon had been taped earlier, until we saw THIS fan pic with him. 👇

My New York sources said he had not been seen at his usual hotel The Crosby. I'm putting out the name now just because EVERYONE knows that's where he stays in New York. He used to stay at The Bowery Hotel, but the last few years it's been The Crosby. None of the usual pic and autograph hounds got pics with him, so we assumed he wasn't staying there. All those hounds have contacts at the different hotels and restaurants frequented by celebs, so they would have been alerted to Sam staying there. Soooooo, if he wasn't at The Crosby, BUT he was in New York, THEN the possibilities are. He's aware too many fans know he stays at The Crosby, so he's switched hotels. Or he decided to rent an Airbnb instead. Or he stayed with friends. Or he does have a lady friend in New York, like some think, and he stayed with her. Who knows...but I'm sure we will find out...

Onto more serious matters. I'll preface this by saying I have made it a policy on my blog to NOT talk about anything political and to also not talk about any world events happening, which are upsetting. This blog is my escape from real life. So, I want to continue on that path. But I'm making an exception this time because based on the DMs an Anon Asks I'm getting there is some confusion as to why Sam posted this message on his social media. I just want to give people some clarity on it. And them move on. So, Sam posted this. 👇

It was in response to Sam and other mostly UK celebrities signing an open letter asking Israel to cease fire on Gaza, and explicitly claiming Pro-Palestine sentiments. If you click below, you will find an article on it and then keep scrolling down and you can read the actual letter. That's the letter Sam signed. A few days later, he clarified his feelings and regretted signing it because it doesn't represent fully what he meant. 👇

Here's the thing the history of Israel/Palestine is LONG and COMPLICATED. And most people haven't done enough research to know it fully. Most people go by sound bytes they see as they scroll social media. Or they give in to confirmation bias based on their political party, nationality, ethnicity, religion, affiliations etc.

I'm not going to get into the specifics because all of the information is easily accessible if anyone TAKES THE TIME TO RESEARCH AND READ THE HISTORY, both of Israel and Palestine...with an OPEN MIND.

The reason Sam got himself in trouble with signing the open letter and then the subsequent damage control message is that he didn't take the time to do his research. In extremely simplistic terms: Most of the UK, and in fact, most of Europe has traditionally been Pro-Palestine (except for European Jews, of course). The U.S. has traditionally been Pro-Israel and are allies. Up until recently that is. Due to the divisiveness in the US since the Trump era, Conservatives (Republicans) in the country became even more Pro-Israel, which then meant Liberals (Democrats) had to be the opposite. The rhetoric that Israel was the oppressor and Palestine was the oppressed grew louder. You had to pick one or the other. You couldn't take a step back and look at the history of the Jews being oppressed pretty much since Moses kept trying to get back to The Promised Land aka modern day Israel and Palestine. Or the Palestinians also being oppressed and their lands shrinking year by year.

The Jews have always been fucked over throughout history. And the Palestinians have always been fucked over, but especially since 1948 when modern day Israel was created. So, then, TERROR GROUP, Hamas decides, we're gonna fuck you over, Israel, REALLY BADLY, and engaged in some of the worst atrocities in recent times. No matter what anyone's beliefs are, when you saw what Hamas did (I'm not going to write the details because it's a horror show we all already know about) EVERYONE in the world should have said "Not today, Satan, not today," and DENOUNCED their savagery.

Hamas is NOT the Palestinian people, Hamas' ONLY goal is to terrorize and destroy. First the Jews, then their allies. Look up in the sky if you're in the US, one day a missile will be coming your way if they aren't stopped. After Hamas committed their savagery, Israel, understandably attacked back. They defended themselves from TERRORISTS trying to literally annihilate them. That was NOT the time to chant Free Palestine or write Free Palestine open letters. Just like after the murder of George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter movement came to the forefront in the US, but you had people countering "All Lives Matter!" Yes, all lives matter, but RIGHT NOW we're focusing on Black Lives, ya dopes. Breast Cancer awareness month. But what about Lung Cancer, Colon Cancer, they're important too?! Yes, but JFC, FOCUS people. Should Palestine be free from Israeli occupation, should they have more land? OF COURSE. But when the world SAW what Hamas did to HUMAN BEINGS, regardless of nationality or religion, the ONLY thing that should have been chanted is "DESTROY HAMAS." Hamas fucked things up for Palestinians, not just Israelis. And because of Hamas' actions, now Palestine is getting destroyed by Israel. And then Hamas will counter attack. And it will go on and on. There should be NO sides. There should only be ONE side, the HUMAN side.

So, when celebs seemingly "pick" a side, especially without considering the repercussions, they will get pushback. I love Sam and he's a good man, but he missed the mark on this one. Not through malice, but rather, naivete and ignorance. By cosigning that letter he didn't realize he wasn't simply signing a Pro-Palestine letter, he was simultaneously signing an Anti-Israel letter, Anti-Jews letter. And the reality is he alienated his Jewish fans, his more US conservative fans, his more centrist fans, assorted other fans...and I'm just going to state facts...he forgot WHO runs Hollywood, has always run Hollywood, and will always run Hollywood, including people who run Starz, as well as WHO are some of his agents, and publicists, hence the "better late than never" damage control quasi apology.

If you're wondering about MY stance: I feel badly for the Palestinian people and I feel badly for the Israeli people. There, that wasn't so hard to say, right? You CAN be Pro-Palestine AND Pro-Israel aka Pro-Humans. In the end, ALL HUMANS want the SAME basic things: food, clean water, shelter, safety and peace for their loved ones. To pick sides is to say that one set of people is more important than the other. And that can't be true. It isn't true. I pick the Human Side. Simple as that.

*big long sigh* Okay, peeps, you can leave comments, but I'm not going to answer them because I'm TIRED now. Also any hate comments, antiSemitic or antiPalestineMuslim comments and they will be deleted, and you will be blocked.

I'll check in later today. And then I'll be off until Sunday evening. Of course, still feel free to DM me and send Asks. I'll answer when I can.

Peace, people, PEACE.

#samheughan #sam heughan #palestine #israel #open letter #uk #us #ringgate #ring gate #newyork #new york #Sam and the City #oura ring

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workersolidarity · 6 months

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[ 📹 Scenes from Al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, where children are treated after an Israeli airstrike targeted the Muammar family home in the Al-Nasr neighborhood on Friday, resulting in a number of casualties.]

🇮🇱⚔️🇵🇸 🚀🏘️💥🚑 🚨

ISRAELI SLAUGHTER OF PALESTINIANS CONTINUES ON DAY 175 OF GENOCIDE IN THE GAZA STRIP

On the 175th day of Israel's ongoing war of genocide in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) committed a total of 7 new massacres of Palestinian families, resulting in the deaths of 71 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and wounding another 112 others over the previous 24-hours.

As a result of another day and night of intense Zionist airstrikes and artillery shelling of residential structures, dozens of casualties were reported among Palestinian civilians, according to local sources.

At the same time, Israeli occupation forces launched several airstrikes targeting the Syrian city of Aleppo last night, along with the bombing of structures in the Damascus countryside, just outside the Syrian capital, resulting in dozens of casualties among Syrian civilians.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported the arrival of three martyrs targeted in an Israeli drone strike in the Wadi Gaza area, while also reporting the wounding of PRCS colleague, Ali Abu Harbeed, who sustained minor injuries after a Zionist airstrike targeted a residential home next to a building the crew member was sheltering inside near Jabalia, in the north of the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, IOF warplanes bombed a residential home belonging to the Muammar family, south of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, killing 12 civilians and wounding a number of others.

Similarly, Zionist fighter jets bombarded the Saad bin Abi Waqas mosque in the Jabalia area, in the north of the Gaza Strip, martyring one woman and wounding several others.

At the same time, occupation air forces bombed several residential buildings near the Al-Wahda Tower, located in the Nasr neighborhood, west of Gaza City, as well as bombing neighborhoods in the Tal al-Hawa area, south of Gaza City, resulting in large numbers of casualties.

A group of civilians were also wounded after Zionist forces targeted them as they gathered south of the Al-Shati Refugee Camp in Gaza City, in the northern Gaza Strip.

Simultaneously, occupation aircraft bombarded several buildings in the Al-Nuseirat Refugee Camp, in the central Gaza Strip, while occupation artillery forces shelled the same area. However, it is unknown at this time if or how many casualties resulted from the attack as the shelling continues.

Israeli occupation forces also bombarded new buildings in the City of Hope, also known as the City of Prisoners, south of Gaza City, with a total of 9 strikes targeting the area, causing a fire to break out.

Zionist air forces also bombed the residential home of the Musa family, located in the Al-Maghazi Refugee Camp, in central Gaza, killing 8 Palestinians and wounding several others. Among those killed in the airstrike were the husband, his wife, and his children, while several neighbors were injured by the explosion.

In the meantime, Israeli artillery detatchments repeatedly shelled several areas north of the Nuseirat and Al-Bureij Refugee Camps in central Gaza, while occupation gunboats opened fire on civilian homes along the beach in the central governate area.

Elsewhere, the Zionist occupation army launched several firebelts on various areas in the Khan Yunis governate, in the south of Gaza, destroying several residential homes, while at the same time, occupation forces layed siege to Nasser Hospital, where Zionist soldiers murdered a local nurse.

As the bombing and shelling renewed across central and southern Gaza, local paramedic crews recovered the bodies of three civilians who were taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah.

Zionist forces also bombarded several residential structures near the Al-Amal Hotel, west of Gaza City, while the occupation army also continues ground operations in and around Al-Shifa Medical Complex.

According to Gaza's Media Office, it is confirmed that the Zionist occupation army executed at least 200 Palestinians during its operations at Al-Shifa Hospital, while also kidnapping and detaining over 1'000 citizens.

A series of explosions were also recorded resulting from the occupation army's bombing and shelling in northern Gaza.

IOF warplanes bombed the premises of the Al-Shujaiya Sports Club, located to the east of Gaza City, killing at least 10 civilians and wounding more than 30 others in "Israel's" latest war crime.

In yet another criminal strike, Zionist forces bombed the Gaza Industrial Zone, also east of Gaza City, martyring five civilians and wounding at least 20 others.

As a result of "Israel's" ongoing war of genocide in the Gaza Strip, the endlessly rising death toll now exceeds 32'623 Palestinians martyred, upwards of 25'000 being among women and children, while another 75'092 civilians have been wounded since the start of the current round of Zionist aggression, beginning on October 7th, 2023.

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#videosource

@WorkerSolidarityNews

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eretzyisrael · 7 months

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BY: DAVID LITMAN

Read together, we’re being told that Israeli troops wanted to evacuate those taking shelter (they “told those sheltering inside to leave”) but also wanted to bury them alive inside (“They were about to bury us as well”) a building which the soldiers were themselves inside of (“[They]…came upstairs”). We’re also told that the Israeli forces wanted to blow up the building within 10 minutes, but before that, they had enough time to blow up and bulldoze other buildings.

It’s bad journalistic writing by authors either incapable of crafting a clear, coherent story or intentionally trying to obscure the story in an effort to mislead readers.

The holes in the story would perhaps make more sense had the authors provided additional relevant context.

Consider these three crucial bits of context that should have been mentioned in the article, but weren’t. Each would have provided readers with important information to understand what might have actually happened.

1) Al-Rimal neighborhood is a known Hamas “nest of terror.”

The CNN authors carefully avoid the important question of who, exactly, the Israeli forces were shooting at; readers are only told they were shooting. The omitted detail that likely would have shed light on this question is that al-Rimal neighborhood is well-known for being a “nest of terror.”

Some of the weapons found by the IDF in al-Rimal neighborhood.

From the very beginning of the war, Israeli officials were identifying al-Rimal as one of the key “terror hubs” (see, e.g., here and here). Since then, Israel has provided substantial evidence of terrorists having embedded themselves in and underneath civilian infrastructure. In mid-November alone, troops located approximately 35 tunnel shafts in the area along with numerous military posts and weapons in residential areas. In early December, troops found terror infrastructure and a large number of weapons and military equipment inside Al-Azhar University, along with a tunnel running from the campus to a school a kilometer away. A week later, troops found Hamas terrorists hiding inside two schools in al-Rimal neighborhood. Just days later, Israeli forces killed and captured terrorists in yet another school in al-Rimal neighborhood, including one who had participated in the 10/7 massacre. Shortly after, the IDF uncovered the massive amount of Hamas terrorist infrastructure in Palestine Square, located in al-Rimal, including command and control centers in buildings and terror tunnels located amongst residential buildings, commercial buildings, and even a school for deaf children. In another incident, Israeli soldiers were saved from an ambush by a terrorist lying in wait inside of a building in the area by an Oketz Unit canine named Toy, who bravely neutralized the terrorist.

An IDF infographic providing information about terrorists found in a school in al-Rimal neighborhood in Gaza.

In fact, based on one map produced by the IDF, one of the buildings in which they found a terror tunnel back in December was located just a few blocks away from the building that is the subject of CNN’s article. Several blocks in the other direction, Hamas terrorists had barricaded themselves inside the Blue Beach Hotel, launching missiles at Israeli forces, in early January. The IDF then found inside the hotel seven tunnel shafts, as well as a large quantity of weapons and drones. Given the estimates about how many buildings have contained terrorists, terrorist equipment, or terrorist infrastructure, it is almost guaranteed that even more was found in the vicinity as Israeli forces approached the building in question.

Despite the abundant evidence of Hamas having systematically embedded itself in civilian structures in the area, the journalists demonstrate zero interest in this crucial context. The authors include only a generalized, boilerplate statement from the IDF about operating against “Hamas strongholds” – hidden halfway through the article – as if that absolves them of their responsibility to investigate and report about this critical aspect of the story themselves.

But if it turns out, as seems highly likely, that those incidents of “shooting” referenced by the Gazan women occurred because there were Hamas or other Palestinian terrorists in the vicinity, then the authors’ decision to omit this context becomes indefensible.

#cnn #idf #hamas #gaza #al rimal #al rimal neighborhood

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renee-writer · 1 year

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This was a post I just received from a fellow FA flying back in to ATL. It is just to surreal. Things most of us here in the USA never witness. Prayers are going out to those being attacked. Just thoughts on how we here take for granted. I can not even fathom in my mind closing that forward door with the OPs agent on the other side, knowing they were left behind.😢😢

Today, October 7th, 2023, will forever be etched in my memory. It began as a day of promise in Tel Aviv, Israel, a city that radiates with vibrancy. The previous day was spent soaking in the warmth of the autumn sun, and the crystal-clear embrace of the Mediterranean Sea.

As the sun painted its first strokes across the horizon, an inexplicable compulsion led me to the beach boardwalk, yearning for a final communion with the sea's caress before the 13 hour long journey back to Atlanta, then 4 more to Orange County, CA. Abruptly, the heavens shattered into a chilling crescendo, the searing sounds of rockets piercing the calm. The wail of the national security alarm echoed through the city, shaking the very foundations.

In an instant, the scene transformed into a tableau of terror. People scattered in a frenetic dance of survival, seeking refuge in any hidden alcove. The air trembled with the symphony of screams, a cacophony that still resonates deep within me. One moment, a tranquil morning; the next, a frantic race alongside strangers, the specter of mortality a haunting companion.

Then, a terse notification broke through the chaos, cold and factual: "Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launches an unprecedented surprise attack on Israel, the largest in decades." At precisely 6:30 a.m., the heavens were ablaze, rockets tracing their deadly arc, striking Tel Aviv, Rehovot, Gedera, and Ashkelon.

In that very moment, the gravity of the situation bore down on me. Tel Aviv had been struck. Urgency surged, propelling me back to the refuge of the hotel. I ran with a fervor I'd never known, tears streaming down my face, emotions a tumultuous sea. It was a rollercoaster of the soul, a surreal dance with disbelief. Emotions surged like a tidal wave, an emotional rollercoaster careening through my being. It was surreal, an experience usually reserved for the distant confines of a screen. We never believe they will touch us.

Within the basement, a sanctuary of concrete and anticipation, I found solitude amidst empty space, except for one lone figure, unyielding in his pursuit of normalcy. I claimed a corner, perching upon a chair, eyes transfixed on the news, absorbing the reality that unfurled before me. Tears, unbidden, carved trails upon my cheeks. Was this the crucible of war? Paralyzed by solitude and sorrow, I grappled with the ugliness that scars our world. What, I pondered, are we truly fighting for? Was this my reality, engulfed in the throes of a war zone? The question lingered, a heavy, unspoken burden.

The hotel's emergency alarm granted permission to resume our daily routines, announced in both Hebrew and English. At last, I ascended to my room. The phone chimed, the van's pick-up was set for 9 a.m.

In the lobby, a pallor of solemnity enveloped our crew gathering. Most of the crew slumbered through the rockets and alarms, yet to grasp the gravity that enveloped us. We boarded the crew van, but the driver, discerning the perilous streets, resisted. He would not jeopardize us, nor himself, in the face of this unprecedented onslaught.

Upon our return to the hotel, a CNN bulletin cut through the air, a proclamation of war, not a mere attack. With the inbound aircraft inching towards Ben Gourion International, uncertainty reigned. Should we proceed to the airport? Was Israeli airspace a sanctuary or a perilous threshold?

We treaded carefully, listening to the Hebrew news, each update a somber reminder of our precarious situation. The van's journey was eerily silent, roads barren, devoid of life's bustling rhythm. Never before had I known such a silence, a profound stillness that hung heavy.

The airport loomed, the military posted as gatekeepers. The curbside, once bustling, now bore witness to the tension etched on every face. Military presence commanded attention, ushering cars through in a solemn procession. "The airport is now closed," the driver informed us. We arrived at the curb, reluctance hung thick in the air. The unknown, an abyss that swallowed resolve. Inside, a Delta Agent met us, her face a canvas of disbelief, a mosaic of sorrow.

Security, customs, and exit procedures offered an illusion of normalcy. The terminal, however, was a ghostly expanse, bomb shelter signs echoing a grim reality. Flights were delayed, the arrival board an empty testament to uncertainty. Were we truly bound for home?

Finally, our aircraft materialized, disembarking passengers blissfully unaware. They bore smiles of homecoming, unaware of the turmoil a few miles distant.

Boarding our aircraft, I felt a cocktail of gratitude and trepidation, bound for home but leaving behind a nation in turmoil. We boarded swiftly, a collective desire to depart, to seek the solace of distance. Our flight plan, altered, steered us north, a maneuver to sidestep potential perils over Gaza.

As we ascended, eyes remained fixed on the world below. We were aloft, but what of Israel? What of the lives left behind, the futures hanging in the balance?

The flight stretched on, twelve hours and twenty-three minutes of shared uncertainty and gratitude. Two ACRS messages from the ground shattered the silence, each revelation grimmer than the last. The rockets, relentless, spoke of a bloodied land, of lives lost to the brutality of conflict.

As crew members, we exchanged glances, tears unbidden. Though absent from the frontline, we were conduits of safety, tasked with navigating a tumultuous sea of emotions.

Atlanta's skyline materialized below, but the silence persisted until phones sprung to life. Messages flooded in, a deluge of concern and well-wishes. Touching down in Atlanta, silence reigned until the barrage of messages inundated me.

One hundred and fifty-three text messages, thirty-seven WhatsApps, six voicemails, three hundred and forty-two Facebook messages, and one hundred and thirty-four on Instagram. Chaos in its purest form. Friends and family wanting to insure my safety. To those who reached out, thank you. I am safe

It has been a day of quiet chaos, a day that defies explanation or understanding. I pray that none should bear witness to such strife and trauma.

Upon landing in Atlanta, I took a moment before my connecting flight to Orange County to research, to make sense of the senseless.

“ Hamas militants, in a shocking prelude to a major Jewish holiday, unleashed a barrage of rockets, unleashing chaos upon Israeli towns. The toll, both in lives and spirit, was staggering. Israel, in response, severed the vital conduits of power and sustenance to Gaza. Darkness had descended upon a beleaguered land, a land teetering on the precipice of war.”

From my Holli's other grandma. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem

#from facebook #pray for the peace of jerusalem

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jordanandegypt · 10 days

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Hello Jordan.

September 13, 2024

(Warning - this is a little map-heavy! Y'all know how I LOVE maps!!)

Greetings from Amman, Jordan!! Salam! We have connected with our friends and met our delightful guide, Nader. Let the trip begin!!!!

We escaped Zürich without eating cheese fondu, buying chocolate or a Swiss watch. Yes, we have NO proof that we were ever there. Well. we did buy some grandkid stuff and we had a lovely visit, albeit much too short. And before we leave that topic, I have a correction. As we walked about this lovely town of Zurich we encountered some super busy multi lane roads and there, my friends, we found the walk/don’t walk signs. So they do indeed have them despite my reporting that they did not. But they appear to be few and far between.

On Thursday, Sept 12, we flew from Zürich Switzerland to Athen, Greece.

This morning we flew from Athens to here. WHY? - you ask. Money my friends - Money. Getting to Amman from a lot of places is not easy and not cheap. I was looking for non-stop flights that were reasonable priced and had the timing I could work with and after much research - (OMG - you cannot believe how much time to put into this silly endeavor) I landed on taking two days and doing these short flights with an overnight in Athens. Now - the flights were on small planes - and one option I had was to pay an additional $7.00 as insurance against the airlines going bankrupt.🥴. I took that option FYI!

But it all worked out perfectly. We left Zürich in the AM and arrived in Athens in the early afternoon. The little place we stayed picked us up then arranged for us to be picked up for dinner on the beach. SWEET!!!!

And MAYBE the Greek Salad and grilled fish was delicious because we were in Greece or because we could hear the Mediterranean lapping right there - but whatever the reason, dinner was delicious. (Our younger son, Logan, BTW - pointed out that all salads in Greece would be technically Greek salads - but this is not going to bring me down!)

Today we got to Athen’s airport WAY TOO early but so what. We had a coffee and before we knew it we boarded our flight on Royal Jordanian. Now - let me say - WOW!! The cleanest roomiest seats ever and we were traveling coach. With the exception of one little issue - my gluten free meal was absent - but they scrounged around and I did not go hungry. “Come ON!” To quote my youngest granddaughter. I will say not exactly gourmet - but you be the judge.

But would I fly Royal Jordanian again? Why, yes I would. A crappy lunch on this lovely airplane with attentive flight attendants was just a little blip.

Another reason I wanted to go through Greece was to adjust myself to being completely unable to read signs. While in Greece there were somethings I could make a guess on and somethings I could not - like the sign below.

But once we got to Amman I figured I wouldn’t have a clue about anything - and it appears I am correct.

So, somehow I thought easing myself into that would be a good idea. BUT clearly the answer is NOPE! So really the reason for Athen was money...

Anyway - Jordan:

Michigan is about 2.5 times bigger than Jordan but Jordan has more than 11 million+ people, about 1 million more than live in Michigan. And of that 11 million people 5 million live in Amman - the capital of Jordan. A peek out of our hotel window lets you know this is a HUGE city!

A quick review on the location of Jordan.

Jordan is bordered by Syria to the north, Iraq to the east, Saudi Arabia to the south, and Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories to the west. For those of you who were flipping out about us coming here (MOM!), we are indeed close to the Israel/Hamas conflict. Amman and Jerusalem are just a little more than 60 miles apart.

But we are visiting this beautiful city and then going north to Jerash. After Jerash we will be heading south to Petra and we will certainly be close to Israel - but no worries. You wouldn’t want us to come this far and not get to see Mujib Valley , the Grand Canyon of Jordan. Hopefully, we will get a look at the Dead Sea as well.

When we arrived we had to buy a Visa and it was exactly as we had been told - EASY- PEASY!! We stood in a short line - forked over our passports and 40 Jordanian dinars (that I got before we left Saline) and we got a single entry Visa and a welcome to “The Hashemitec Kingdom of Jordan.” “Enjoy your time here!”

I’m so excited to learn about Jordan, the people, the geography, the history, their politics and more. Already I learned that 85% of the land is desert and that water is scarce and they have NO OIL. I admit I was surprised! I discovered that it is a Sunni Muslim majority religion country (95% according to Wiki) and I expect to learn more about this.

So the learning begins in earnest tomorrow and I’m going to bed. We are now in Arabic Standard Time and we are 7 hours ahead of Michigan. This adjustment is - like the VISA procurement - EASY-PEASY!

Tesbah ala khir. (Good Night in Arabic - and this is NOT easy-peasy). Also just for a little smile - my autocorrect changed that Arabic phrase to "Teabag la Kir" - which I'm pretty sure means nothing.

Salam

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humusboii2thereturnoftheking · 6 months

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On the right, a Jewish Israeli policewoman. On the left, Ahed Tamimi, a Palestinian activist who's advocated for the slaughter of Jews.

Next time someone tells you Jews are European you're welcome to show them this photo and remind them over half the Jews in Israel are Middle Eastern or North African.

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swordformike · 1 year

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omg y’all are so dense. yes, the US is an imperialist war machine with countless crimes on its hands. that doesn’t change the fact that the israeli settlers’ replacement of the indigenous/palestinian population of the land is ONGOING and tourism assists that both for financial and propaganda purposes. noah’s posting all these pics of the beaches and hotels while palestinian people less than a hundred miles from him are living in worn down refugee camps and are economically suffocated. he’s whitewashing a genocidal state to his 20-30 million followers on ig/tiktok. people can argue till they’re red in the face about who claimed the land thousands of years ago (which has been various empires throughout history), but the reality is the concept of a nation-state is relatively new. israel is a settler colonial state, and the settlers’ military is exterminating palestinians. who have far less money, resources, or international support. zionism is a white supremacist ideology. this is evident in the fact that zionists believe arabs/the orient to be “uncivilized”, and in the fact that non-ashkenazi jewish people are also not seen as equal in israel. noah sees what people are saying. that’s why he deleted shit and went silent for almost a whole day. now he’s back and posting more than ever. also liking comments from israelis thanking him for his support and deleting pro-palestine comments. his stance is clear, and so is y’all’s for not wanting to get it.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^ !!!!!!!!!!!!!

#oh my god #nonie #mailbox #noah schnapp

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photoglobo · 1 year

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Israel - Floating in the Dead Sea

“There must be a place to access the Dead Sea, isn’t it?” I asked the nice young lady at the entrance of En Gedi. I had that experience of floating in the highly saturated salty sea twice when i traveled Jordan in 2014 (click here). Since i’m so close to that unique waters, i wanted have at least another short dip on this side of the sea. “There’s a spa at seaside nearby, but it costs a fortune…

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girlactionfigure · 6 months

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FIRST OPERATIONAL INTERCEPTION BY THE "C-DOME" DEFENSE SYSTEM FROM A SA'AR 6-CLASS CORVETTE

Overnight, for the first time ever, an IDF Sa'ar 6-class corvette missile ship successfully intercepted a UAV that had approached from the east and had crossed into the area of the Gulf of Eilat.

IDF troops in the area operated in cooperation with the IAF Aerial Control Unit and the Sa'ar 6-class corvette.

In accordance with the situational assessment since the beginning of the war, IDF missile boats including Sa'ar 6-class corvettes were positioned in the Red Sea.

The Israeli Navy is deployed in the area of the Red Sea and has both the defensive and offensive capabilities to engage with regional threats.

🔅Tue morning - ISRAEL REALTIME - Connecting to Israel in Realtime

🔻ALERTS..

DRONE or CRUISE MISSILE from IRAQ at Eilot, Eilat, Shchoret Industrial Zone - intercepted by Iron Dome on ship, “C-Dome”.

ROCKETS from HEZBOLLAH at Betzet, Rosh HaNikra, Shlomi

▪️EILAT ATTACK.. The Islamic resistance in Iraq used advanced cruise missiles of the Al Arqab type in its latest operations against Israel, a missile with a range of 1000 km.

▪️IRAN DEFENSES UP.. Iran has activated the Zubin SAM system responsible for the defense of the city of Tehran to prepare for Israeli airstrikes.

▪️IRAN PLANS? CNN report: American intelligence estimates that Iran is not likely to attack Israel by itself and predicts that a combined attack of missiles and UAVs is planned to be carried out at the same time by some of Iran's proxies in the region. The estimate is that the attack could to go into effect already this week, and one of the sources was quoted: "They have put all the pieces in place to carry out an attack now. They are just waiting for the right timing."

▪️FAKE NEWS ABOUT US—IRAN.. “Iran has signaled to the US that it may avoid a retaliatory attack on Israel in the event of a ceasefire in Gaza.” - A spokesman for the US State Department denied that such messages were sent from Iran to Washington.

▪️US IN THE RED SEA.. announced that it had destroyed air defense systems and unmanned aerial vehicles in the Yemen Red Sea region.

▪️GREAT INTERCEPTION VIDEOS, DON’T DO THAT! Many great videos of the cruise missile interception in Eilat by people from their hotel rooms and people on the beach. A cool video is not worth the risk to your life - if there is an alert, SHELTER not VIDEO!

▪️GOLAN PLANNED EXPLOSIONS.. Between the hours of 15:30-14:00, explosions will be heard in the areas of Ein Zivan, Ortal and Marom Golan in mine clearing.

▪️HAIFA PLANNED EXPLOSIONS.. Rafael (military industries) Tuesday morning, a planned and controlled experiment will take place on the grounds of the David Institute in Kiryot, during which explosions may be heard. IT’S A TEST.

🟠 CEASEFIRE TALKS..

Hamas - “We will examine the Israeli proposal that does not meet our requirements. We will reply to the brokers when we are done.”

Further to the statement “no ability to release 40 hostages” in the category of women, children, elderly, sick.. several reports added that Hamas straight out said BECAUSE THEY are no longer alive. THE CHILDREN, THE WOMEN.

#Israel #October 7 #Hamas Massacre #Gaza #Israel/HamasWar #Real Time Updates

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mariacallous · 11 months

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In southern Israel, crops are now waiting in the sun, wilting further with every passing minute and shuddering a bit as army vehicles buzz past. The area’s farms have become a vast army staging area, pocked with olive green tents and tanks. Farmhands are nowhere in sight.

On Oct. 7, Hamas rampaged through this region killing more than a thousand people, including foreigners. As many as 7,000 Thai nationals, who make up the largest share of the agricultural workforce, fled Israel after nearly two dozen were abducted and three dozen massacred.

The veritable greenhouse of the nation is now dependent on university volunteers. They have tried to salvage the situation and pick the fruit before it rots, but their efforts have fallen short and the Israeli government has already started to import some items.

Israelis are proud of their technological innovations in agriculture and of their ability to grow in a largely arid region and feed their people. Now it is at the top of the list of sectors that will bear the brunt of a long war with Hamas. Oil and gas, tourism, health care, retail and technology are some of the others.

“Many of my colleagues have left,” said Cindy, a care-giver from the Philippines who asked to be identified only by her first name for safety reasons. “We are going, too, if it gets any worse,” she told me at a market in Jerusalem.

Many airlines have stopped flying to Israel while the government has asked for activities at a gas field to be halted to minimize the risk of a targeted attack. The Israeli shekel has already plummeted to a 14 year low, the central bank has cut the forecast for economic growth this year from 3 percent to 2.3 percent, and prominent industries are facing disruptions.

Israel entered the war with $200 billion in reserves and $14 billion in aid, mainly for military funding, from the United States. And yet experts say the ongoing conflict will cost the Israeli economy billions more and take much longer to recover than it has in the past. Israeli volunteers at home and abroad are chipping in with extra labor and economic assistance—an admirable gesture but insufficient to make up the economic shortfall.

Michel Strawczynski, an economist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and former director of the research department at the Israeli central bank, said the cost of previous two confrontations—the Lebanon war in the summer of 2006 and against Hamas in 2014—cost up to 0.5 percent of the GDP and mainly impacted the tourism sector. But this time, “estimations are for a fall of 3.5 percent to 15 percent in annual terms” in the last quarter of this year.

Entire towns have been abandoned and businesses shut down as 250,000 people have been evacuated and forced to seek refuge across hotels in the country or with relatives living elsewhere. Furthermore, the call to 360,000 reservists, who were employed in various jobs in peace time, has stretched companies and made their continuation as profit-making businesses precarious.

“This war will cause additional costs compared to these two (previous) confrontations also because of a massive participation of reservists, who are inserted in the labor market in normal times but will be absent from their jobs during the war,” Strawczynski said. “If the war is long, the impact of lack of human resources will result on a high cost for the Israeli economy.”

Tourism, a sector that makes up 3 percent of Israel’s GDP and indirectly provides 6 percent of total jobs, has been dealt a fatal blow, too. The beach in Tel Aviv and cobbled lanes of the old city in Jerusalem, the main tourist attractions, both lie vacant.

It’s peak tourist season, but restaurants and bars in the historical quarters of Jaffa gate served few visitors, mostly journalists. The tourists who throng this part of the world to soak in the sun and bathe in a mix of Middle Eastern and Western vibes��enjoying hummus and cocktails in a breezy balmy November—were absent.

The hotels were hosting the internally displaced, with some subsidy from the government but still at a huge loss.

“It’s peak season, but there are no tourists,” said Mohammad, an Arab Israeli and owner of a candy shop in Tel Aviv who also asked that only his first name be used for safety reasons. “No families, no children lining for candies.” His friend Ahmad Hasuna lifted his hands in the air and looked up at the sky when I asked about his business. “There is nothing. It’s very difficult,” he said and pointed to several shops that hadn’t opened since the war broke out in the south.

Both Israeli Jews and Arab entrepreneurs here were united in their desperation, sipping on coffee and hopelessly gazing at the empty streets. At the Market House Hotel nearby, Alaa Marshagi, an Israeli Arab, sat at the reception and said there was only 10 percent occupancy compared to previous years, “all journalists.” His colleague Avi Cohen, an Israeli Jew, said most of the rooms were occupied by people who evacuated from the south at a heavy discount. “We are hosting them at a 50 percent loss, plus free meals,” he told Foreign Policy. “Right now, the government is helping, but that’s only until Nov. 22.”

The startup industry in Israel has been a great success and, although it stands to suffer less in comparison, it was already under pressure as investors pulled back from a country mired in mass protests over judicial reforms. Investments in the sector halved last year sensing instability as thousands gathered against the government’s judicial reforms that would allegedly weaken the courts and empower ruling politicians.

A group of global venture capitalists have come to the aid of budding Israeli startups and are trying to raise millions of dollars to save them from bankruptcy. They have launched an initiative called Iron Nation to protect the companies, and the country’s economy, from collapsing under pressure. (Up to 20 percent of reservists doubled up as employees in the tech industry.) The founders of the initiative claimed that 150 companies have already sought help for a chance at receiving between $500,000 and $1.5 million to keep their businesses running.

According to a study by Hebrew University titled “Civil Society Engagement in Israel During the Iron Swords War,” nearly half of the Israeli population volunteered in some way to help compatriots directly or indirectly reeling under the effects of Hamas’s attack and the concomitant war. Professor Michal Almog-Bar, the author of the study, told Israeli media that domestic philanthropic organizations and NGOs donated “tens of millions of dollars,” while donations from Jews in North America was estimated to run into hundreds of millions of dollars.

Meanwhile, to meet the costs of the war effort—expected to rise into billions of shekels—the economists are pushing the government to reprioritize the budget. Three-hundred Israeli economists have written an open letter to the government and called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who hails from a far-right party, to urgently implement a range of measures however unpalatable to some of their constituents. They have asked that the money kept aside for educational programs for the ultra-orthodox communities be redirected to military expenditure.

Strawczynski said the priorities are to reallocate billions of shekels towards “defense expenditure” and to “indemnizating affected individuals and firms” particularly in the south and the north. “We recommend redirecting what is called coalition funds,” money allocated for key programs of different parties under the coalition agreement. “These issues are related to the groups of voters of those parties, and not to common interest,” he said.

The Israeli government has presented an economic aid plan that offers $1 billion to help businesses, and Finance Minister Smotrich has promised that “whatever doesn’t involve the wartime effort and the state’s resilience will be halted.” The far-right, however, is still adamant on not letting Palestinians be a part of the solution. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, the most vocal far-right leader, has blocked a proposal to hire more Palestinians to meet the shortfall of workers in Israel farms.

The agriculture industry faces a shortfall of 10,000 farmers and the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture has proposed a plan to hire 8,000 of those from the West Bank—Palestinian women of all ages and men at 60 or older. Gvir, however, warns of a security risk, a claim that some support as mistrust between Israelis and Palestinians deepens but others find prejudiced, especially since 2 percent of the Israeli population already comprises Israeli Arabs who arguably have some sympathy for the Palestinian cause but are not in cahoots with Hamas.

Even as the shekel depreciated, a five-member committee of the Bank of Israel which oversees the monetary policy has decided to maintain the interest rate at 4.75 percent and the governor of the central bank underscored the economy’s resilience. “There should be no major changes to our fundamental fiscal position,” Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron said.

Israel is not new to conflict and has in the past sailed through, but this time the war is expected to be a longer affair and may turn into a regional confrontation. Strawczynski suggested the key factor would ultimately be the length of the conflict.

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twwpress · 1 year

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Weekly Press Briefing #67: October 1st - 7th

Welcome back to the Weekly Press Briefing, where we bring you highlights from The West Wing fandom each week, including new fics, ongoing challenges, and more! This briefing covers all things posted from October 1 - October 7, 2023! Did we miss something? Let us know; you can find our contact info at the bottom of this briefing!

Challenges/Prompts:

There are no open challenges/prompts that we know of this week. Do you have a challenge or event you’d like us to promote or know of one we’re missing? Be sure to get in touch with us! Contact info is at the bottom of this briefing.

This Week in Canon:

Welcome back to This Week in Canon, where we revisit moments in The West Wing that occurred on these dates during the show’s run.

Season 1, Episode 3: A Proportional Response aired on October 6, 1999.

Season 2, Episode 1: In the Shadow of Two Gunmen Part I aired on October 4, 2000.

Season 2, Episode 2: In the Shadow of Two Gunmen Part II aired on October 4, 2000.

Season 4, Episode 3: College Kids aired on October 2, 2002.

Season 5, Episode 2: The Dogs of War aired on October 1, 2003.

Season 7, Episode 2: The Mommy Problem aired on October 2, 2005.

Photos/Videos:

Here’s what was posted from October 1 - October 7:

Amy Landecker posted photos of herself, Bradley Whitford, and their former Transparent co-star Jay Duplass at the Documentary Emmys.

Amy Landecker posted photos of Brad and herself at The Broad Museum.

Janel Moloney posted a photo of her twin sister Carey along with a birthday wish.

Josh Malina posted an infographic encouraging people to donate blood for the American Red Cross, as well as a photo of himself donating.

Josh Malina posted a photo of himself celebrating Sukkot.

Josh Malina posted a photo shoot of himself in a furry coat in support of SAG-AFTRA.

Josh Malina posted a photo of Israel with the caption “Thinking of ישראל”.

Marlee Matlin posted a photo of herself with her dad along with thoughts of him on the tenth anniversary of his passing and a photo of a tattoo she has of his handwriting.

Marlee Matlin posted a video of herself in Love Sign ASL Chicago Bears gear.

Marlee Matlin posted an image that said, “Pray for Peace” along with thoughts for people in Israel.

Mary McCormack posted photos of herself and her daughter Rose at the Leelanau Uncaged festival in Newport, Michigan, along with a video of Rose performing there.

Mary McCormack posted a photo of herself on the SAG-AFTRA picket line with Allison Janney and Richard Schiff.

Peter James Smith posted a selfie from week 12 of picketing for SAG-AFTRA.

Rob Lowe posted a TBT photo of a star-studded list of cast and crew hotel assignments from filming The Outsiders on location.

@twwarchive: October 1 | October 2 | October 3 | October 4 | October 7

Edits/Artwork:

#joshdonna: i’m not moving by @hvnleia [VIDEO EDIT] [Ed. Note: There was an edit by Twitter user @carolshathways we were going to share but unfortunately their account was suspended. You can find them now at @abigailbrtlet.]

Fics:

Presenting your weekly roundup of fics posted in the tag for The West Wing on Archive of Our Own.

Josh/Donna

Change Has Gotta Come by Shonio | Rated G | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete

I Have This Friend I Call by Juliethebibliophile | Rated T | Josh Lyman & Sam Seaborn, Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete

Errors and Omissions by Chinesepapercut | Rated M | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | In Progress

i believe in you. i believe in us. by wootcanal | Rated M | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | In Progress

Snow on the Beach by MatthewsMary | Rated E | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete [Editor’s Note: While this fic is listed on AO3 as complete, it has continued to update and appears to be a WIP]

Worst Case Scenerio by Tyrols | Not Rated | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete

Other Pairings/Gen Fic

it started off with a kiss... now it ended up like this by imawkwardlysoc | Rated G | Sam Seaborn/Original Female Character | In Progress

The First Lady by GlitteringNiffler | Rated G | Abbey Bartlet/Jed Bartlet | In Progress

A Stranger Here Myself by JediAnnieScrambler | Rated T | C. J. Cregg/Toby Ziegler | Complete

I'll Call by youvebeenlivingfictional | Rated E | Josh Lyman/Reader | Complete

Multiple Pairings

do you think there’s someplace we could go? by fleurfemme | Rated M | Abbey Bartlet/C. J. Cregg, Abbey Bartlet/Jed Bartlet, Jed Bartlet/Leo McGarry | In Progress

THE WEEKLY PRESS BRIEFING TEAM CAN BE REACHED VIA THE FOLLOWING METHODS:

Twitter: @TWWPress

Email: [email protected]

Feel free to let us know if we missed something, if you have an event you’d like us to promote, or if you have an item that you’d like included in the next briefing!

xx, What’s next?

#the west wing #tww #tww fandom #josh lyman #donna moss #tww fic #west wing #cj cregg #sam seaborn #toby ziegler #weekly press briefing

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