Sunday, September 4, 2022

Two thousand days

Click image to enlarge
Today is Day 2,000.

That's how long it has been since our Malki's murderer, Jordanian fugitive Ahlam Aref  Ahmad Al-Tamimi, was indicted by the United States Department of Justice on terror charges ["Individual Charged in Connection With 2001 Terrorist Attack in Jerusalem That Resulted in Death of Americans"].

But she remains free.

The consequent demand that Jordan - where she was born, raised and educated and to which she returned in October 2011 - extradite her to be tried in a US court has been refused by King Abdullah II's regime. 

Never mind that the valid US/Jordan extradition treaty cited by the DOJ was signed and ratified by both countries in 1995. And that Jordan breaches it, according to the State Department.

Never mind that Abdullah's own father, the widely respected King Hussein, formally ratified it, declaring via the use of the Royal "we": 
"We further pledge to carry out its provisions and abide by its Articles, and We, G-d willing, shall not allow its violation. 
Never mind that Tamimi is one of the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists with a $5 million reward for her capture. (But in reality it's hard to see why any reward is called for since her whereabouts in Jordan are public knowledge.)

It would be hard to find a more egregiously defiant reaction by a purported US ally - an ally that depends on generous, ongoing financial backing from its benefactor totaling close to US$2 billion annually.

Jordan's conduct has been variously ignored, excused or justified by nearly every politician and influencer that we have approached.

That stance crosses the aisle, religious lines and geographical boundaries.

It is shared by many respected Jewish organizations and leaders whom we plan to name at some suitable moment. I am certain many of you will be shocked to learn them.

For now, please... remember, condemn and rage with us against this travesty of justice.

Friday, September 2, 2022

Pushing buttons


Over the past two years I've accumulated what is undoubtedly an impressive collection of button-push-toys. Each produces a wide range of animal calls, musical scores, automobile and instrumental sounds. 

Some even light up - an irrelevant perk for us, of course, with Haya cortically blind.

A few were inexpensive, others not so. But none has suited Haya and they have been relegated to the grandchildren's toy collection.

A few were inexpensive, others not so. But none has suited Haya and they have all been relegated to the grandchildren's toy collection.

So I have continued hunting for the ideal one. 

Here below is my latest acquisition which cost me a whopping 20 shekels, about US $6. (Well, that's without batteries, but still rates as a bargain IMHO). 

Haya has been working on reaching for the buttons and pressing them to trigger a sound. 


As the video clip shows, Haya's rather adept at stretching out her fingers but pressing down is often still a challenge.