“Celebrating & Marking the 2014 International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, a UN Organized Observance.”

29 November 2014 was an evening of celebration of the International both day and year of Solidarity with Palestinian People 2014, Held by the Australian Palestinian Club, The General Union of Palestinian Workers and the Australian Palestinian Professionals at the Cedrus Lebanese Restaurant.

In the presence of His Excellency Izzat Abdulhadi, Ambassador, Head of the General Delegation of Palestine to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific; Ms Julia Dean, UN the National Information Officer on behalf of His Excellency Christopher Woodthorpe the Director of the UN office in Australia, The Hon Senator Lee Rhiannon Greens NSW MP; The Hon Amanda Fazio, MLC Member of the Legislative Council Opposition; The Hon David Shoebridge Greens NSW MP; The Hon Shaoquett Moslemane MLC MP, and Bankstown Councillor Khal Asfour, distinguished guests, journalists; members of the Palestinian community, Lebanese Jordanian, Syrian, Egyptian and other Australian Arabic speaking communities who all attended the dinner.  

Community members present were: Dr Moustapha Almeddin, Dr Mamdouh Matar, Dr Emad Berro (PHD), Professor Ahmad Shboul AM and Dr Nijmeh Hajjar (PHD Sydney), Dr Bassam Dally (PHD Adelaide), Dr Abraham Qadan (Lecturer Sydney); Mr Adel El Hassan, Mr Karim Abiad, Mr Mohd Hammouri, Mr George Hasham; Mr Abbas Mourad (Writer), Mr Mamdouh Sukkarieh (Director at the World Observer); Mr Saleh Saqqaf (SBS journalist); Mr Akram Al Mughawash (Journalist); Mr Issa Shaweesh; Mr Henry Wahhab, Mr Abdel Kader Karanouh; Mr Sameer Musalam, Mr Jamil Batshon, Miss Mona Abu Zalaf, Miss Jennine Abdul Khalik, Mrs Sawsan Wahhab; Mr Reda Haddadeh; Ms Farah Fayyad, Mr Hilmi Dabbagh, Mr Maurice Mansour and the writer of these words Marcelle Mansour.

It is worth mentioning that the date of 29 November was chosen because of its significance to the Palestinian people, both day and year being UN observed. This day is marked in accordance with mandates given by the General Assembly in its resolutions 32/40 B of 2 December 1977, 34/65 D of 12 December 1979, and subsequent resolutions adapted by the General Assembly on the question of Palestine. On 29 Nov 1947, the General Assembly adapted the 181 (II) Partition Resolutions that provided for the establishment in Palestine of a “Jewish State” and an “Arab State”, with Jerusalem as a corpus separatum under a special international regime. Of the two States to be created under this resolution, only one, Israel, has been established as Independent State.

The evening included a few words of the speakers, Mr Izzat Abdulhadi, Ambassador and Ms Julia Dean, who both highlighted the importance of the event to Palestinians for it provides an opportunity for the world nations to focus on the question of Palestine that is still unresolved, and that Palestinians have the right to national independence and the right to return to their occupied homeland. This was followed by the speech of the 18 years old Australian born Mona Abu Zalaf whose grandfather was displaced from Jaffa. Mona elaborated on the fact that how the new generation’s cause and identity still live through them despite of the exodus and Diaspora.

The program was highlighted by the live music of the performer of Oud Mohammad Yousef, and the talented singer Phil Mansour who dedicated his first song to the people in Gaza and their resistance, then followed by Trivia and contribution awards.

Awards were presented to three personalities in recognition of their contributing work and commitment over the years towards serving the Palestinian cause. Ms Jennifer Killen was presented an award by Mr Sameer Mousalam from the Australian Palestinian Club; the second award was presented by Mr Jamil Batshon, the president of the Australian Palestinian Club, to Dr Marcelo Svirsky; a Jewish Israeli Activist and Politics Lecturer at the University of Wollongong.  The third award was presented to Professor Jake Lynch, an Associate professor at the University of Sydney and the Director of the Centre for Peace. This award was delivered by Mr Hilmi Dabbagh from the Australian Palestinian Professionals and was received by Dr Abraham Qadan on behalf of Professor Jake Lynch. 

Mrs Farah Fayyad the MC concluded the event by thanking the organisers, the guest speakers and all the supporters who contributed in celebrating and making the event a successful night of cultural music, trivia, solidarity and unity.

The international of Solidarity Day with Palestinian People was celebrated on Thursday evening 27thNov 2014 at the Arab Council Austrlia Hall, held by both the General Union of Palestinian Workers & the Australian Palestinian Club (APC). Mrs Wafa Jeha Deputy Chairperson of the Arab Council welcomed the place with an opening speech about of the Arabic Communities in Australia. Mr Jamil Batshon, the president of the Australian Palestinian Club used his speech to encourage lobbying the Palestinian Rights in returning to their occupied homeland Palestine.

Distinguished guest speakers included; Professor Emermitus Stuart Rees AM, Director of the Sydney Peace Foundation. Professor Rees AM spoke about the Palestiniana’s resistance to the occupation of their land for decades, the current international protest against the Israel’s constant violation of human rights and calling for contributing in peace-building initiatives at national and international levels.  In his speech, Professor Peter Manning Sociologist journalist; stated that today, we have the majority of the Australian people (57%) supporting the Palestinian cause and they are in solidarity with Free Palestine, so as other nations around the world. The rest of speakers included Peter Boyle Australian Malaysian; Mr Raul Basel Australian Argentinian, Sheikh Mohammed Amin, South African, all showed a real optimism towards the future State of Palestine.

The program included video showing the historical solidarity with Palestine since  the past world leaders such as Nelson Mandela, The South African President (1994 to 1999) and anti- apartheid revolutionary politician and philanthropist. One of his famous quotes was: “Our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”   Another important remarkable leader was Gamal Abdel Nasser, President of Egypt who served from (1956- 1970) until his death. Abdel Naser proved to be the controversial leader of the Arab world, for he understood that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was the cause of inter-Arab disputes. Not to forget the historical Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat with his famous Quote: "I come bearing an olive branch in one hand, and the freedom fighter's gun in the other. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand."

  

The video also showed the rich talent of the young Palestinian singer of “Arab Idol”, Israeli citizen Manal Moussa.

Mr Saleh Saqqaf, the SBS journalist performed the MC and concluded the event by thanking the organisers, the attendees, and all the supporters including The Revered Fr Fadi Nemme who always offers his fantastic work in sound engineering which with no doubt added to the success of the event.

PICTURED:

• Mr Jamil Batshon, the president of the Australian Palestinian Club

• Professor Emermitus Stuart Rees AM, Director of the Sydney Peace Foundation

• Professor Peter Manning Sociologist journalist UTS and APAN Secretary

• A group of attendees include Professor Peter Manning, The Rev Fr Fadi Nemme and Marcelle Mansour

The boiling sands of the timeless Egyptian desert suddenly swarmed with shadows as the summer clouds moved in the windy skies above. Nigel and Angel looked up perplexed at the sudden change in weather. Something irregular was going on, not just with the sphinx and oasis but with the skies. Both slowly moved towards the oasis dumbfounded at the environment they suddenly found themselves in. 

The two camels' caused soft ripples on the surface of the pond as their mouths restlessly drank from its waters. They were loaded with rolled up rugs of all sizes and colors. Their owner sat at a close distance underneath one of the palm trees that surrounded the oasis playing the pipe. He was a short man wearing a white Turban and a brown Tunic. The cane leaning across his lap with the wrinkles on his face and hands announced his advanced years in age. He looked up as they came closer and watched them study the camels with interest.

Nigel and Angel shot a glance towards the man as he ceased playing his tunes. He immediately leaned on his cane standing up and walked towards them, the cane and his heavy feet shuffling the sands underneath. He stopped a short distance away from Angel and knelt in totally respect. Angel and Nigel traded glances in total surprise as the man spoke in broken unaccented English, "Your highness, I'm totally flattered that you have taken the time to stop and check on your humble servant."

Angel approached the man and helped him up commenting, "You must be mistaken, I'm no princess and certainly you are not my servant."

"Your highness, if only you know of the royal Egyptian blood that flows within your veins; your direct ancestors were the most powerful in the known world once and ruled these lands. They subdued mightily any tyrant that threatened their timeless civilizations and presence."

Nigel whispered in Angel's ear, "I think this guy is suffering from senility." 

He smiled at the man and said calmly, "Thank you for you words and my wife and I will be on our way." He took Angel by her arm and turned around to head back but the old man said in a firmer voice, "I'm certainly not senile as you think. Stop for you don't know what your paths hold for you."

Angel and Nigel stopped and turned back. Nigel snapped back, "You have to have microphones in your ears for you to have heard that!"

They approached him once again while Nigel resumed his exclamations, "What do you want with us!"

Angel commented with a nervous voice, "Look if you require any help we will help you as soon as we return home safely. But other than that you have no business with us."

Suddenly the man's eyes shot spears of seriousness towards Angel, "It is not I that requests anything from you your highness. It is your destiny. Your great ancestors were Pharaohs that ruled Egypt for many long years. They faced a macabre presence that wanted to turn the tides of history in our world around and torment the entire human race. Our dear God's wisdom chose Pharaoh's son whom had an excellent pure heart to kill and hide it in the Transjordan Plains. For thousands of years it lied deep within the sands in total quiescence while the days and years rolled on with what they held of events. However presently, a black hearted fool is going to unearth it again, thinking it will bring him riches while unaware of its ghastly nature. His black heart will harmonize with its will once again and history will be repeated in our world. Just like what happened thousands of years ago when the keepers of the Pyramids were strong."

Nigel suddenly blurted out, "YOU NEED FREUD OLD MAN!!!"

The old man closed his eyes and took a couple of steps back shocked by Nigel's screaming. Angel said admonishing, "Nigel keep your temper please!"

She took the old man by his arm and helped him back close to them. "Please you have to understand that we didn't expect to hear any of this not at any point in our lives. What you speak is within the context of a fairytale."

"Don't be an easy victim to ignorance. If you had walked away without my warnings you would have faced things within the next moments that would have been unexplainable to you. Look around you Nigel son of Henry and Stephanie Promise,"

Nigel gasped and stared at the old man as he continued, "Look around you son well. Do you know where you are?" 

Angel and Nigel looked around at the uneven sky, Oasis and the open mouth of the sphinx. Angel answered with a shocked face, "Old man I'm not comfortable where I'm presently. I feel I'm in another world."

"You are in an ageless time warp. The hands of the clock of time have no rule here. This world was constructed especially to guard the Ankh that killed the sinister being thousands of years ago. The hands of evil was never able to approach this place and destroy its contents. Our Lord only knows the wisdom lying behind strange things in our world. Don't think your trips to Jordan and Egypt was randomly prepared by fate. Nothing happens without a purpose in life. You are here for a fate your highness. Find out your destiny and what it holds for you. You both have the will to sacrifice your lives for each other. This love with your Holy Relic that you will retrieve in the near future will be the key to your victory over your enemy."

Angel stood dumbfounded at the words she just heard. "What was going on?"

Nigel's face wasn't easier than hers, his thick eyebrows tying a not at his forehead. He asked, still keeping some hostility within his voice, "And why have you taken the decision to inform us of all of this."

"You don't need to consult with anyone to help the needy of help son. You have to believe my words and render them true to support your love in her fight. I wasn't going to say what I'm about to say but only so I will convince you of my words. Follow me.

They followed the old man to the palm tree and sat down with him. He wiped his sweat off of his forehead with his white turban and calmly spoke… 

"The incessant history books of our world hold plentiful pages of events that were relayed to us either through unearthed manual scripts or various discoveries. However the ruins and ancient cities with their lifeless houses, temples and squares found today, all fall short from telling us what truly bought them to life; what thoughts, words, sufferings and happiness echoed through their walls when the humans that built them were alive. Day after day for thousands of years Egypt saw the rise and fall of its many empires and leaders. It conquered and ruled its known world and came under the sovereignty of others periodically. There were ages of gold and others of brass as its ceaseless days progressed unfolding new events. 

Our story begins just after a turbulent time in Pharaohic history. Egypt has just surfaced from a bitter religious brawl, between monotheism and paganism, which kept it for long years weak and lost. Seti I, emerging with a true leader's appetite, reconfirmed pagan beliefs in his society and began a long successful campaign to flourish Egyptian culture, architect, art and achievement once again. He organized a powerful army that successfully recaptured lands that were once part of the empire built by the great Thutmose III. Seti's stubborn army collided many a times with the Hittites and walled any further advancement by them helping the empire in much needed stability. Buildings and constructions of grand sizes characterized his era. It was an era of accomplishments that his son Ramses II was to continue successfully and advance.  

Soon a sinister play would break the happiness of Seti's rule. Evil, fearing the three great monotheistic religions to emerge and spread within mankind and picking this sensitive era to twist and halt the predestined path of history, collaborated with the evil intentions of a human pawn to stop the prosperity that Ramses was supposed to carry out. A pact made between the black world and Setekh, the head priest of Memphis, hurled the Egyptian empire into death and destruction. Ramses with his lion will was the only key to return its success once again. 

Let us listen to some echoes from the past…

A Nightmare in Ancient Egypt

1296 BC, Set I reign, right before the battle of Kadesh

The Temple of Amenram

The temple of Amenram stood grandly under the shimmering midnight sky of the city of Memphis dwarfing most of the vibrant small houses around it. A true edifice built to the war deity as gratitude for Seti's constant gains in his war campaigns, it boasted a huge court with a colossal statute of the lion god standing on the opposite end of its entrance down its court, an array of twenty columns dispersed within the court's grounds  supporting the solid ceilings and a private small chambers for the head priest of the Egyptian lands Setekh. Glyphs were inscribed on its walls telling of the mightiness of the Egyptian armies in war and thanking Amenram for strength in battle. Paintings were drawn on the walls reflecting the different wars that were waged to expand the territories of the Egyptian Empire.  

While the streets of Memphis remained awake with its few midnight shifters whom were enjoying the summer air, the majority rested inside their homes, preparing themselves for sleep and for the long day that waited ahead. The farmers had to tend and cultivate their lands as it was the beginning days of the summer season while the masons had their travel plans for chores to be achieved at the newly erected building site of the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak. Ordered by Pharaoh Seti I himself it was intended to be the greatest temple of all, dedicated to the god Ammon for his care for Thebes.

As time took Memphis gradually towards the first hour after midnight, a monstrous offering was underway, silently, inside the walls of the temple of Amenram. The offering's muffled groaning never passed outside the thick walls of the private chambers' of Setekh. The butchered young virgin of eighteen springs was tied up arms over her head by a rope that hung from the ceiling. She thrashed about madly as the excruciating waves of pain pounded her body. She couldn't scream from the piece of material that sealed her mouth.  The only thing she was able to do was groan and kick about as she surrendered to her nearing destiny of death. 

Setekh watched with glee as he saw the human blood drench from his prey. The iron pot underneath the offering was a third full when the girl went into a quick frenzy of convulsions for a moment's time then ceased movement. The channels he carved in her body were specially done to drain the blood at a very slow pace and inflict massive suffering for the convenience of the ceremony. Now was the time. He consulted the scriptures within his hands and continued as was written. 

"Bring down the sacrifice and knife its upper body open from neck to abdomen. Remove the internal organs slowly and place them into the blood solution in the pot of offering. Once this is done boil the solution away and let the remnants fry in the pot. Soon after this, the pleasant odor will summon the lords of black evil."  

Setekh had never done this before. He found the scriptures by coincidence in a cave in Sinai upon a trek he took with Seti's army to war. The cave apparently lay silent, unnoticed for many long years or so was its appearance. There was nothing in it but a metal pot in the middle full of residue with the scriptures beside it in a clay container. Setekh visited the cave again in curiosity but found no trace of the owner. The outcome of the sorcerer remained anonymous to him.

The scriptures contained drawings and incantations in Egyptian of many ceremonies that were necessary to make a pact with black evil. The scriptures promised powers unknown to normal people if its contents were practiced. Setekh found the issue pleasing for two purposes, the first being his unending ambitions for power. He always liked to be in power and in control of the circumstances. He loved his position as head priest. He loved it when people referred to him for spiritual advice. He loved manipulating there every move and thought. But what he had was not enough. He wanted to be fully in command of all the Egyptian people. The Empire's rule became his ultimate goal. 

The second reason was his will to remove Seti and his family from power in Egypt and from life completely so none of them will reclaim rights to the throne again. With these supernatural abilities he will be able to achieve without being noticed. These abilities worked in the dark, unnoticed by normal humans. He marveled at the potentialities and possibilities. His agreement with the Hittites could be achieved at last with the most ease.  

It was in the deepest hours of darkness that the murder was set to take place. Setekh had it all planned right. With Seti murdered and with the omens all assuring that his eldest son Ramses was about to die in a near battle, Seti's half sister would be the righteous heir to the throne; Setekh's beloved Isis. This would be until Seti's second eldest son Ammenhotep son of his tenth mistress Nekhbet was old enough to rule. That day wouldn't come in a very long time. Muwatallis, the leader of the Hittites, promised him and Isis rule of Egypt if they helped him get rid of Seti and annex Egypt to Hittite territory. Egypt would be part of the Hittite Empire with him and Isis as Pharaohs but under the Hittite governance. Since the murder would be carried out by a third party Setekh and Isis would be free of any suspicions. Setekh bribed four guards very richly to help the spies infiltrate the royal residence and keep an eye on them. Upon execution of the plan the four guards would play the act of immediately discovering the murder by coincidence and kill the spies so no scandals would be feared for the safety of the agreement. The plan was flawless. With the guards the entering would be made possible and they would secretly be ushered into a private small chamber were they would keep still until execution. 

The solution in the pot began boiling. A potent thick nauseating aroma filled the atmosphere. Setekh grew dizzy and threw up in one of the corners of the chambers. He didn't dare open the door and let the smell roam freely within the grand temple that contained his small private chambers. Very soon his nausea disappeared as his eyes opened wide at the hovering thick human sized column of fog that appeared over the pot. Setekh watched with amazement as the column moved down in front of the pot. "Is it him, or is it his messenger? Soon I will know."

"Setekh come and worship in front of Nartor your master," Said a deep unfathomable creepy voice. The strange voice filled his chambers. The column of fog erupted into different colors and then disrobed a horrid content. A lightning bolt of terror tore through Setekh as he eyed unbelievingly at what was ordering him. A creature with a human body and a bull's head appeared. Its body was all covered with a thick coat of hair and had at the end of its long arms and legs four big animal paws with long sharp claws. On its head were four long horns that pointed upwards. A set of sharp beastly teeth showed behind its menacing smile. A foul smell resembling that of deceased corpses flushed from its bulky body. It stood upright, its ghastly silhouette dancing within the wake of the four torches that were alight in the chambers, waiting for its new subject. 

Setekh ran towards the creature and knelt down. The creature raised his leg and pressed it on Setekh's back forcing him to complete worship. The beast's claws that extended from its foot dipped into the flesh of his back making him scream from the pain and the heavy weight on his back. "This is how you worship me from here on when ever I appear ignorant servant."

"Mercy, I understand." Setekh barely spoke from his crying.

"My master summoned me to you. The offering you have given came to his liking. Not like the sorcerer you stole the scripts from…"

"How did you know...?"

"You don't know what you're dealing with ignorant servant. We are the lords of the black world of evil. Our master knows no mercy or incompetence. From here on your mine, your soul is mine. I own you. If you fail to complete the task you summoned us for, I will take in your soul exactly as I did to the sorcerer. Look at me."

As Nartor removed his leg, his claws snatched off of Setekh's back some flesh making him cringe and yell. Setekh slowly raised his back while lurking under tremendous pains and looked at him directly. Tongues of flames danced in his angry eyes. Thick amounts of Saliva flowed down from his teeth and mouth as he spoke. Spurts of mist were released from his nose as his foul heavy breathing filled the atmosphere around him. 

"Do you want to know what happened to him?" asked the angry creature.

His master took some fire with his paws from under the boiling pot and threw it in a far corner of the chambers. An explosion erupted and a vision cleared up. A man appeared shaking within the steel grip of his master. His master dipped his paw inside the man's chest. The man wailed massively as his blood splashed around. The beastly paw smashed everything within its grasp as it searched for a few seconds, making the man thrash madly from his agony, and then ripped out something invisible from inside. The body released a spasm then rested lifeless.

Setekh shuddered with panic. His teeth clattered and his sentences stuttered as he exclaimed his promises, "I will never fail and be at your obedience always. I will never upset you master. Believe me!" Nartor pointed his hands at Setekh and raised them up. Setekh found himself hovering above the grounds. A huge fire engulfed him. He released anguished screeches as the flames grilled his flesh. The fire disappeared in an instant and Setekh crashed down to the floor. He jolted madly from the pain. He checked his body and awed as there were no burn wounds. 

"This is the least of your punishments if you anger me Setekh. I knew of your evil intensions all along. You lust for power. I will give you your chance. But we don't grant powers randomly. We give them to people who earn them ignorant fool.  Now I will give you your first task in addition to a power that if wisely used will help you achieve. If you succeed in killing Seti your mental powers will enhance permanently. We will give you powers to control subordinate creatures and lease them to your will. Let's see how well you do on that. Kill Seti. I want him totally out of our way. Then I will give your next challenge." 

A column of fog wrapped the sinister creature then disappeared in seconds. Setekh rested in his place crying from pain and freight. This was more than what he bargained for. The scriptures didn't say anything about this. He was a prey to his foolishness and his search for authority. Nevertheless he was no longer a free man. He had a big job to do. He mustn't fail. The punishment hurt him so much. He won't let anything stand in his way. 

*****

The betrayers knifed the two guards to death giving way for the spies to enter into Pharaoh's private chambers, and then fled the scene. One of the spies stood at the door of the room watching the corridors while the other carefully approached Seti. Just as he neared, Seti awoke. The spy froze in his place for a split second then decided to take a quick stab at him. Seti grabbed his hands and stopped him just in the right time forcing him backwards. He curled his legs up till his knees came to his chest and gave the spy a strong thrust hurling him a big distance back. Sekhmet arose and screamed out for the guards at the sight of the conflict.  She ran hysterically towards a far corner and watched in horror as her husband fought the intruders. Seti took a dagger that he kept beside him and jumped up quickly before his enemy could stand up. He hovered above him and stabbed him in his chest. The stab was so powerfully administered that the dagger sliced completely through and hammered on the ground underneath. Scores of guards were instantly in Pharaoh's room but just stood watching helpless as the second spy swiftly ran up with a knife and took Sekhmet as a hostage. He had his left arm wrapped around her waist firmly and a knife in his right hand that was up to her neck. 

"If you let me leave in peace, I will not harm your wife!" The second spy said in a threatening voice. Although in a weak accent, Pharaoh was shocked at how well he spoke the Egyptian language. Pharaoh gave his enemy a sharp look of anger. It was obvious that their enemies were trained killers. "You have Pharaoh's word that you will be unharmed, just don't hurt my wife, please." 

"Dam you, you cheap bastard," Sekhmet kicked wildly and screamed, "Let me go! Seti, don't kill him, we need him alive!" Her words frustrated the spy and he gave her a smart blow with the handle of the knife on her face. Sekhmet screeched from the pain and covered her face. Blood started flowing from her nose. The spy began dragging her outside the chambers and down the long corridors toward the royal court. Suddenly a huge but unclear image started appearing in the distance of the long corridor. The spy had his back to it and was facing the huge assembly, unaware of the image as it crept slowly, stealthily, silently, coming closer to him. The image blew out all the torches within its wake, that were hung on the walls of the corridor, so as not to be visible to the spy who miraculously didn't look back from the sever panic of the moment. Suddenly the cold current the figure was causing caught the spy's attention. He looked back and the figure jumped back hiding in the nearby darkness. The spy not noticing anything continued dragging his hostage in hopes of reaching the court and running away but only to feel a huge thud on the back of his head. In an instant he lost consciousness and fell down. Sekhmet ran back to Seti who hugged her and covered her with warm kisses. Three guards ran up to the spy and picked him up. Seti ordered firmly, 

"Brave man, make your self known to Pharaoh for he wishes to reward you generously for your bravery."

"It is I, your loyal servant and life long friend, mighty pharaoh" Ptah, the six foot bulky first commander of the Egyptian army and military advisor of Pharaoh's court appeared and knelt down in respect.

"Rise my friend. You saved my wife's life; I'm most grateful to you." Pharaoh and Sekhmet walked up to Ptah and hugged him warmly. 

A well built tall soldier approached Ptah and asked, "lord Ptah, what should we do with the captive."

Ptah gave the sleeping body that was supported upright by two soldiers a sharp look. Take him to the fortress on the outskirts of the city. Lock him up there and leave him for a while. I'm sure when he wakes the sounds he will hear will enlighten him and make him speak rapidly and tell us about all parties involved in this plot." The guards left in discipline dragging the body with them. 

Sekhmet looked up at Ptah and asked while her eyes boasted the confusion and horror within her at hearing his words, "Plot, all parties involved," She looked around and noticed that their residence had turned into an army fortress with scores of soldiers lined up everywhere in full armor. They were not ordinary soldiers but elite guards within the excellently trained ranks of the army. "What are you implying Ptah?"

"Perhaps the sudden rapid incidents made you overlook the two young guards that are lying on the sides of the chamber door with their throats sliced up." Ptah approached the entrance and dipped his fingers in the pool of blood that surrounded one of the corpses. He rubbed his fingers together in analysis and commented, "This blood is still fresh which gives the strong proof that the murders happened not very long ago; and just how the spies got in unnoticed totally baffles me. The walls of the residence are very high and the outer gates are well guarded. There are patrols almost everywhere."

Sekhmet buried her head on Seti's shoulders. "This is a dream, this cannot be happening within their Kingdom. Betrayers, enemy spies that infiltrate their residence and make an attempt on their lives…this was too much for one night." She tapped her head lightly against Seti shoulders only to feel a wave of pain run through her. She remembered her bleeding nose. She covered her face and ran off inside her chambers. 

Seti was much engulfed with defending himself and his wife that he too overlooked the two poor soldiers that lay butchered at his chamber's entrance. He approached them and knelt down looking with sympathy as they lay silently and calmly. Deep feelings of sorrow soared through him. He was lying asleep while these two brave young men met their fate. Had they died in battle it would have been for a more constructive cause. Ptah looked at Pharaoh. It was the first time that Seti revealed his sympathies to this extent to one of his subjects. His black wide eyes that knew nothing but happiness were dull. His thick black eyebrows were slanted almost tying a not. The torch light in a nearby distance reflected mildly on his bold head and figure. His healthy young figure, still excited by the duel he performed, expanded and retracted briskly at his breathing. Seti glanced at Ptah and commanded, "You have my blessings. Butcher the spy till he releases all the info we need. Then before you take any action come to me and tell me what you have found out. It is obvious that these spies had local aid and from people very close to us. No foreigners would dare perform such a feat by themselves."

Ptah clasped his hands together then yanked them apart with force. His well outlined muscles of his arms and chest showed as he motioned. He looked at Seti with a big frown on his face. His long oval face was shooting with anger. His blue eyes shot mad spears and his well outlined jaws retracted as he spoke. "I will enjoy ripping those people apart with my bare hands. Dear Pharaoh, its best that I rest here with you tonight. I would feel more assured till the morning comes. Then I will fortify the guards in your residence."

"Thank you Ptah. I'm overworked and Sekhmet needs some comforting after what happened." Pharaoh followed after his wife and closed their chamber's door.

Ptah gave orders for four guards to help him move the bodies to a nearby preparation chamber for their burial. Ptah followed the soldiers through the royal court and opened the court's big iron gate for them to exit. He then brought the two iron doors together and picked up the huge iron bar and slid it inside the rings barring the gate well. All of a sudden he froze in his place. He moved his hand at a snail's pace towards the sword handle in preparation of withdrawal. He knew that no guard would leave his post and approach him in this subtle manner. That person was so close to him that he felt his breath on the back of his neck. The poor lighting of the few torches only lit well what surrounded them and left the major area of the court gloomy. The court lighting was at its best in ceremony time. Ptah concentrated on the breathing as it was warm and touched one area of his neck. It was surely the doing of a human. He briskly withdrew his weapon and turned around striking strongly in the process. He stood on guard afterwards expecting resistance or the sound of a pained being but nothing happened. Ptah moved backwards in confusion. The last thing he expected was to strike thin air. He was sure there was somebody behind him. A fatal feeling of uneasiness stormed through him. He quickly called for his guards and formed three major search parties and searched the entire castle thoroughly. In due time he felt a bit secure as no more intruders were found. Part of the stress he felt had gone away. But there was another part of him that remained restless. He was sure somebody was there, right behind him. Who was he or… what was it?

By Marcelle Mansour

With well known poet Mrs Fatima Naoot, the recipient of Gibran Khalil Gibran Award by the Arabic Heritage League in Australia, Warm congrats to our fantastic Egyptian guest Fatima who proudly came all the way from Egypt to Australia to carry the name of Gibran. Well deserved. Appears in the photo, the well acclaimed poet Charbel Baini, al-ghorba online

It is ironic that the annual commemoration of the death of Yasser Arafat should turn into an occasion for rekindling the flames of internal strife. This was clearly the aim of last week’s bombings that targeted the homes of Fatah leaders in Gaza, as well as the podium for the commemorative ceremonies of Arafat, who strove to make Palestinian national unity one of the pillars of his political legacy.

How desperately those concerned need to be inspired by the political legacy of that great president.

During a visit to demonstrate solidarity with the West Bank village of Al-Mughayyar, where settlers, under the protective eye of occupation soldiers, set fire to a mosque, Director of the Ministry of Awqaf (Religious Endowments) Kamel Abu Aliya remarked that his ministry have documented 20 similar attacks on mosques in the West Bank since 2011.

In targeting mosques, the occupation is clearly targeting major symbols of national and popular unity. Mosques, by definition, gather people together rather than drive them apart. Inside the mosque all the factions of the national struggle that are at odds with each other assemble as one with their fellow men, in solid ranks with a single heart.

The occupation has never foregone any means at its disposal to drive a wedge into the Palestinian national ranks. This has not changed. So it is ironic that the bombings would become an occasion to present the occupation with the gift of factional polarisation and a war of words, at a time when the factions most need to be united, and that they would serve to turn the national compass away from Jerusalem, on which Arafat had set his national compass until his dying breath.

But here is another important point. Both sides of the dispute — Fatah and Hamas — have condemned the attacks, denied all charges of responsibility and insist on the need to conduct an investigation into bombings as quickly as possible.

If these two factions can agree on these points, what would keep them from agreeing to form a joint fact-finding committee that would include representatives from all other factions (most notably the Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front) and independent figures from civil society that would be committed to publishing its findings in fulfilment of the right of the Palestinian people to know the truth?

Moreover, why couldn’t the creation of a joint committee such as this become a new mechanism for enhancing national reconciliation and ending acrimonious exchanges before they spiral out of control?

In this regard, when Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says that he is not interested in “an investigation by them” — referring to Hamas, of course — but does not propose an alternative investigatory mechanism, he is not helping efforts to unearth the truth, which his people are more eager to learn than the two factions whose protracted dispute has exhausted their people.

But the most appalling irony resides in their aversion to turning the finger of accusation in the direction of the ultimate beneficiary from all this — namely, the Israeli occupation authority and its state. A focus on that beneficiary would suffice, in and of itself, to contain the dangerous repercussions of the bombings on national unity and, simultaneously, to expose the truth about the existence of parties who fear their interests would be jeopardised by the end of the rift in both the occupied West Bank and blockaded Gaza Strip.

These parties are exploited, knowingly or not, by the occupation, and collectively they form a “fifth column” that works to obstruct the process of national reconciliation in order to safeguard their interests.

But even if those who carried out the bomb attacks were Palestinian this does not obscure the identity of the first and foremost beneficiary. This, moreover, comes at a time when the occupation is escalating its aggression against the Palestinian people under occupation.

It is increasing its forces in the West Bank, intensifying its repressive measures and moving to augment its budget for settlement expansion. More significantly, the Israeli government recently approved a bill of law to extend the laws of the Israeli state to the Jewish colonies in the West Bank, as is the case in East Jerusalem and the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. In other words, we are effectively speaking of another Israeli annexation bid.

The history of dissension and strife is repeating itself. A statement by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) urges Fatah and Hamas to exercise restraint and to remain alert to the conspiracies that are being woven against the Palestinian people.

It cautions the two factions against falling into the Israeli trap of igniting Palestinian discord and urges them to give competent agencies and relevant political authorities sufficient time to unearth the threads of the crime.

Yet this statement, which applies perfectly to the current situation, was issued by the PFLP in July 2008 after four Ezz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigade members were killed in a bombing on Gaza beach. At the time, Hamas accused Fatah and the Fatah charged Hamas with carrying out an “internal purge.”

Nothing appears to have changed, apart from the fact that today Fatah accuses Hamas of planting the bombs and the latter responds that the attack was related to an internal conflict inside Fatah. In both cases, the occupation power and its government come out innocent!

That rush to judgment and finger pointing before the smoke has cleared is suspicious and raises questions regarding the political motives behind such reactions. One is reminded of a similar case of accusations that were hurled after the assassination of  former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Al-Hariri in 2005.

Before his blood had dried some fingers in Lebanon pointed to Syria, even though it was palpably evident that Damascus could not have been behind the crime as it was fully aware that it could only be harmed by the consequences.

The same applies to Hamas today. After its long political experience it would realise that it could only stand to lose from the Gaza bombings.

The hands that carried out the bombings in Gaza might be Palestinian and even Fatah or Hamas hands, but those who issued the orders could not have been Palestinian decision-makers. Anyone familiar with the history of Palestinian assassinations knows this.

The perpetrators may have been motivated by personal interests but the consequences cannot possibly serve Palestinian interests, factional or otherwise. They can only serve the occupation authority and its state, especially as the victim is certainly the Palestinian people and their national unity.

The fifth column that benefits from Palestinian division and that feels threatened by its end is still searching for opportunities to sabotage Palestinian national reconciliation. It must have seen the Gaza bombings as a perfect opportunity to fan the flames of discord, offering a service free of charge to the occupation (presuming the best possible intentions under that situation), or not free of charge (presuming the worst).

It does not take much effort to reach the above conclusion. However, building on it by containing the unpatriotic repercussions of the attacks requires great thought and effort in order to prevent outbursts of factional acrimony or to keep them contained in order to safeguard national reconciliation from collapse.

This is essential to ensure that the reconstruction of Gaza moves forward, to sustain the national unity government and to return the focus to solidifying national ranks in the face of the occupation’s ongoing aggression against the Palestinian people, their security and wellbeing and their sanctities, and behind the political battle that the Palestinian presidency is waging in the international arena.

* Nicola Nasser is a veteran Arab journalist based in Birzeit, West Bank of the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories (nassernicola@ymail.com). This article was translated from Arabic and first published by Al-Ahram Weekly on November 20, 2014.

Motion by the Hon. SHAOQUETT MOSELMANE agreed to:

(1) That this House notes that:

(a) the Council of Australian Palestinians commemorated Palestinian National Day at the New South Wales Parliament on 14 November 2014, hosted by the Hon. Peter Primrose, MLC;

(b) guest speakers included Mr Tony Issa, MP, representing the Premier, the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. John Robertson, MP, the Hon. Amanda Fazio, MLC, the Hon. Lynda Voltz, MLC, and the Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane, MLC, together with many distinguished community representatives and guests including Pakistani, Chilean and Philippine consular representatives;

(c) this commemoration coincided with the 15 November 1988 proclamation of an independent state of Palestine by the Palestine National Council [PNC] at a meeting in Algiers; 

(d) this created a remarkable opportunity for peace under the policy of a two state solution; and

(e) in this Palestinian Declaration of Independence, the PNC accepted the United Nations General Assembly's Partition Resolution 181(II) of 1947, which called for the creation of the State of Israel side-by-side with a Palestinian State, together with an international trusteeship for the City of Jerusalem.

(2) That this House notes the significance of the National Day of Palestine and congratulates the Council of Australian Palestinians on their support for a two-state solution.

I dreamt of you last night

You lit up my dream

You were dancing and laughing

Then I heard a scream

Saying that you love me

Saying it from the heart

I woke up full of tears

You ripped me all apart

Knowing that you love me

I can never say goodbye

If you move away from me one day

I'll break down and cry

All I need is you and only you

To be right here with me

We would take a walk along the waves

And watch the beautiful sea

Finding his private chambers was very easy as what was left of the sunset that seeped through the big windows lighted a portion of the stores. There were lights available but he didn't know where their switches were. As soon as he searched the wall on his right for the light switches he impulsively shook his hand as he felt something crawl on it. He brushed his denims and shirt to make sure that the bug didn't jump on them. Within seconds he turned on the light and gasped at the population of filthy big roaches that were walking on the walls and on all the furniture; sleeping was impossible. It was a five meter by five meter room with beige walls, a single bed, small round table in the middle and a small table with a small cooker on it at a far corner. One empty cupboard over the cooker was available. The bathroom was close by in another room and was occupied by its flying small tenants. These quarters were obviously uninhabited since a long time. "Why?" he wondered. There were at least five hundred tons of bulk sugar alone in the first level, the second level he would inspect shortly. 

Even if it was a hospitable room he would have to find a way accordingly to keep awake. This area was full of danger and anything could come up; theft, shootouts. As he stood at the entrance of the small room he spotted some coffee in a glass besides a coffee kettle on the small round table. It was cold but maintained a decent smell. He stirred it a little to make sure there were no pests inside then poured it in the kettle. He headed to the small cooker and within seconds the kettle was heating over the stove. 

He giggled at the idea of him drinking that coffee regardless of the roaches around it. If he hadn't enrolled in the Police Academy earlier on in his career and walked up his ladder of achievements, and taken those extensive police trainings, he would still be a wimp with a weak stomach unable to boil a glass of coffee to drink. "New York Police truly makes men." He thought. 

Soon the solution was dancing with heat in the kettle. He poured it back in the glass and took a sip. Suddenly the glass froze in his hand. Something caught his attention. It was a significant surge of cold air coming from the bathroom; it felt like a door or window that opened for a second's time then closed within the complete silence of the stores. The garage doors were firmly closed and the two wide windows in the stores shut for security reasons. The weather outside wasn't all that windy. What could it be? He walked up to the bathroom and looked around. The bathroom didn't have any windows although he was sure the current came from it. 

The Toilet facilities in front of him included a toilet seat, sink and a small square bathtub. After a moment and seeing that all was still, he decided that if it happened again he would check it out further. As he was about to turn his head he gasped with surprise. The bathtub was quivering at one of its ends up and down. "What on Earth!!!" he exclaimed. He approached it calmly and studied it. It resembled literally an unstable trap door. He lifted it on the loose side and smiled widely as a staircase was revealed. A series of lights adjacent to the staircase automatically came on as the bathtub was raised high. 

David pulled out his pistol that he kept underneath his socks at the side of his ankle, a small automatic gadget for emergencies designed especially to be hidden in small places, with an appetite for five eight millimeter steel bullets. He descended the stairs slowly, the steel steps releasing soft thuds underneath his heavy but careful footsteps. Thirty steps led him to a short corridor that had a wooden door swaying from a cool current at the end of it. He opened it. 

It led to a large circular room that was about fifty meters square. There was a long rectangular table in the center with two stools resting besides it. Two open bulk sacs filled with what seemed like sugar rested silently close to the stools. Empty transparent plastic sacks were lying carelessly on the floor. David approached the bulk sacks and checked them out. He sprinkled some of their contents on his tongue. It was cocaine. It wasn't hard to figure it out. He was in a packaging room for cocaine. 

There were at least eighty kilograms of cocaine in those sacs, enough evidence to place the general in the slammer for a life time. He was in need to reach a telephone but feared Ivan's return to the stores at any time. He could possibly wait till tomorrow and report his findings to headquarters but feared he might be tailed with spies on his way back. He was still a freshman amongst this group and will be under surveillance for a period of time. Even Tracy who moved into his apartment to avoid any suspicions around their undercover assignment wouldn't be able to move freely. The information could be sent via the codes but that wouldn't be deliverable till he met with the secret police liaison at Steak Lovers Restaurant in three days. 

He quickly began walking back towards the stairs while pondering the situation but stopped in his place. Something caught his attention. It was a big piece of paper lying peacefully on the ground underneath a transparent plastic sac. He picked it up and studied it underneath the lamp that hovered over the table. It was a map with encrypted ancient Egyptian writing. His eyes grew wide with astonishment as he read the English translation that was written underneath the carefully drawn hieroglyphics, "Death lies underneath the boiling red sands of the deserts that our god Seti conquered with his armies, his son Ramses buried what would quench the thirst of the greedy for power." 

No wonder Ivan wanted man power, and no wonder he attempted to buy his loyalty. He needed people in great need of money to work at the future digs and keep silent. "So its not all about drugs General. What are you planning to dig out of the sands?" he asked as he studied the piece of paper. Something eerie was about to go down west of the Mediterranean Sea. Who knows if the general himself might head this operation? Headquarters and Chase had to be notified. There was no way of keeping from them something like this for a long time. 

The cool surge of air returned only this time it was at the bottom of the room and flowed around his ankles. It reminded him of what drove him to this underground chamber in the first place. This room wasn't completely closed after all. There seemed to be an outside entrance. "Its true curiosity killed the cat, but I'm one tough one," he thought as he folded the paper in half, placed it in his pocket and checked out the premises. 

The room was semi circularly shaped with jagged uneven perimeters. There were no doors apparent to the room except the entrance he came in through. However he followed the currents that were cooling his ankles till he found himself facing a wall of solid brown rock. The currents were coming from a small gap almost three meters in length directly at its bottom. "A portion of that wall must budge he thought." There was a secret passage behind it. He placed the gun back inside his socks and tried to push it out of its place. It didn't move an inch.

He walked towards the table and faced the wall. His hunch was the possible presence of a lever to activate it somewhere. His eyes roamed the entire wall area without finding anything. "It had to be somewhere?" he thought with frustration as he looked towards the top edge. Within seconds he was smiling with satisfaction. It glowed in front of his eyes like a jewel. It was a T shaped steel handle. But reaching it was totally impossible without a ladder. The ceiling of the room was high and it was at the top edge of the wall. 

The entire room was empty aside its few contents meaning that the mechanism used to reach the lever was taken away after it served its purpose. Obviously someone didn't want this door to be opened at all. "Well this was about to be changed," He thought as his mind raced with potential solutions. 

Within moments he concluded that the table was the only thing to assist him for the purpose. It was approximately two meter in length and would boost him up off the grounds after a long jump allowing him to reach it. He moved the table to the proper distance required while still keeping it off of a distance from the wall, then stood at the far end of it. "If this doesn't work, nothing will."

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. On the third step of the sprint he would jump. He would have to achieve at the climax of his jump a height of one meter to reach that lever. He could do it. He just had enough faith in his fitness and was sure it would work. After some concentration his feet moved, his mind counting carefully. At the third step he was exactly at the tip of the table. He sprinted in the air as powerfully as his knees could jump and reached out towards the lever. His hands gripped the lever as he collided into the wall with a noisy thud. His body shuddered with pain as he felt the solidity of the rocks against himself. Within seconds the weight of his body pulled the lever and he allowed himself to drop. He dropped towards the floor, feet hitting the earth first then his body. He sat for a couple of seconds shaken by the stunt he just pulled till he regained his senses. The wall began swinging upwards, the top tucking inwards like a garage door. David moved out of its way and watched with amazement till it completed its mechanical movement.   

The light of the packaging room lighted the contents of the secret room to a good extent. It was not more than twenty square meters in size. It was properly ventilated with an A/C unit, explaining the source of the draft from time to time. It contained three closed boxes and one that was open. David got up and approached the open box, his body shivering from the coolness of the drafts. He gasped as he saw its contents. The antique statue that lied silently in its place on the top of a mound of hay was exquisitely valuable. He picked it up and studied it. It was an ancient Roman bust of a leader. Nevertheless history wasn't his strong point and he couldn't guess what figure it reflected. 

"Eighty kilogram of Cocaine, a secret room full of valuables, a map of some anonymous ancient site that the mafia was about to exploit, I must be in some sort of treasure adventure legend. This is just too much," he thought. The general their number one suspect might be planning a trip abroad. Action has to be taken. He moved out of the room and moved the table exactly underneath the tip of the open wall. He climbed on top and jumped grabbing the edges of the wall. It moved easily downwards with his grasp and closed. He stepped down and stormed towards the long staircase. Soon he was returning the bathtub to its place. He headed towards one of the store garage doors and unlocked the heavy lock that firmed it in its place. He raised it up and met the outside warm fresh air. 

His watch read midnight exactly. The skies were clear and its stars that surrounded the dominant full moon were shining brilliantly. A loud silence prevailed along the neighborhood he was in interrupted only with light musical echoes of a night club probably in an adjacent neighborhood. But not to his surprise of course. The midnights here were for the mafia, their connections and harlotry. People know too much to stroll the streets here after nine. Any family errands must be run before that in ample time or the chances of its owners returning hope safely would be greatly diminished.

Soon he spotted a telephone booth that was lying a small distance away with a figure in it. He hurried towards it to find a woman in a sexy revealing red dress storming out of it cursing. 

"No luck?" he asked with a big smile. She was quite an attractive lady at a height of about five feet and a half, with blond hair and a white complexion. Her black eyes widened with want as she watched him study her superb femininity that was radiating from her sexy apparel. He felt involuntarily aroused at the full cleavage line of her ample breasts as it showed underneath her slip like dress that she wore. 

The woman shot an over all glance at David's towering height. Suddenly her frown turned into a hospitable smile while her red lips moved, "Nothing public works here honey." 

David gestured her to let him pass and asked, "Mind if I try?" 

The lady moved with a sexy swagger that sent whip like stings all over David's soul as she answered, "I would have liked you to try something else."

David replied, "Some other time perhaps." As he placed some change in the telephone he heard the tick tocks of her high heels fade away. He attempted to dial the number of NYSD while regretfully thinking, "Dam that was one sexy harlot," 

The number didn't connect. The only safest means of communications messed up. Just his luck! He walked out of the booth and kicked it in frustration while a police car was passing by. It parked instantly by the pole and its officers, a male and female, stepped out of the car pulling out their weapons. "NYSD Freeze!"

"Calm down! Please! I can explain everything!"

"Keep silent and turn around!"

David did as he was told while pleading, "Don't do this; you are messing up my job as an undercover agent for NYSD!"

The woman kept her gun pointed at him while the man cuffed him, "Are you high on drugs? You will be doing time for destruction of public property and drugs if you're high. You have the right to remain silent…"

The general was passing by with two of his security cars when they spotted the arrest. All hell broke loose within seconds as the cars parked a small distance away from the police car and his security guards stepped out. They shielded themselves with the open doors of their Fords and pointed their machine guns at the cops whom did the same. David ran away from the shooting scenes towards the stores and looked as the shoot outs broke out. The air filled magnificently with wild fire power as the general's security guards showered the police car and the cops with their heavy machine guns. Fiery sparks covered the car and tore through it's doors as the cops danced from the vicious Kalashnikov bullets then dropped down dead. Rivers of blood tainted the asphalt as David stood looking with his heart pumping quickly from panic at the messy scene. Not a single soul was peeking from his balcony or apartment window despite the scene. Nothing was moving around and nothing was heard but the heavy thuds of the squad of death as it marched towards the stores. 

Suddenly a voice called in the distance. "Bring the young man to me!"

David marched back silently with his escort without saying a word towards the Mercedes Benz. The window of the back seat opened. "What were the cops doing besides my stores?"

David almost released a gasp as his eyes widened with surprise. He expected to see Ivan rather than the top authority of the mafia he was after. He was looking straight at the number one suspect in the world of mafia in the year 1960 in the US, and only thirty meters away rested criminal evidence enough to hurl him in the slammer for at least two hundred years, but to no use. 

David paused for a couple of seconds before he answered with a blank face and a stuttering tone of voice, "I can assure you…things are otherwise…They were attempting to arrest me."

"I have no room for incompetence young man within my employees."

"Ivan your executive assistance employed me only today sir." He took in a deep breath trying to press down the shots of panic that were still in control of him and continued, "I heard some shuffling outside the stores. I opened the garage to check out the perimeter when I saw a few young men tampering with the public phone. I scared them off and ran after them but one of them swore at me. I hurled a rock at him but I failed to aim correctly and ended up damaging the phone. This is when the police stopped and arrested me. I tried to explain to them sir but…"

Suddenly multiple police sirens sounded in the distances, "Get in my friend, we have a lot of talking to do. Sergei! Remove the man's handcuffs." One of the men picked up a small needle gadget from his pockets and grabbed his hands. Within seconds his hands were free. David hurried to the stores and closed its open door. He hurried back and hopped in the Benz. Within seconds the cars moved swiftly out of the area leaving behind the tormented police cars with its massacred victims on the asphalt. 

David looked at the general's face that read absolutely nothing. No feedback was apparent to even give him a hint that he bought his story or not. It was obvious to him that he was seated besides a man with unfathomable depths and character, an unpredictable human being from his steel disposition that he was in. He wasn't even moved a single bit by the fact that his men just slaughter two human lives. David gulped hard as the coming minutes will truly buy him loyalty or be his end. 

After a fifteen minute pause the General finally broke the silence and spoke, "Unfortunately Ivan suffered a fatal accident. You see David…"

David jumped in his place and gave his host a look of surprise whose face was glowing and darkening repeatedly from the neon lights that lighted the streets, "You know me then."

"Ivan gave me a telephone call a while ago and told me he employed a new store keeper and informed me of your name. He also informed me that you seemed like a trustworthy man…But…well…"

David's heart skipped a beat at the last spoken words, "But…well…" 

His heart beats raced once again wildly as the pictures of the police cops dancing from the impact of the machine gun bullets sparked in his mind. "Dear God help me," he thought.

The general resumed within seconds, "Well a very sorrowful accident happened with him and he lost his life." 

David released a sigh of relief as the general continued explaining, "You see some time ago I received a very dear friend to me. He was a high ranking general in the British army and we both go back a long way's time. We fought simultaneously in World War two. From time to time General Edward Banks practices his hobby of hunting deer and at times wild beasts within the breathtaking wilderness of Africa. Admiring my love for wildlife myself, along he comes to visit me home and brings with him two beautiful small lions. I appreciated his gift and kept them ever since. They grew up in my hospitality over the years and I just grew very fond of them…and so did Ivan. However it seems when he was dropping them their food as usual he must have fallen with the meat and the accident happened."

David shuddered involuntarily at the piece of news. "I'm very sorry for the accident sir."

The general gave David a gracious smile and replied, "Call me general."

"What about the cops your men just shot down?” 

"I’m afraid they aren’t alive to tell anyone of what went on? Our stores are closed and none of our men were ever here in the lower east side at midnight." The general gave David a very sharp look and asked, "Understood David."

David gulped hard at the shrewd tactics of the General and assured instantly, "I never saw anything General. Before Ivan sorrowfully died I gave him a promise to be faithful to my job and duties. I'm still at my word…he also said…I mean to say…" David grew hesitant and stopped speaking. 

The general noticing answered back, "Speak with no shame David."

"Well he said...I don't want you to understand me wrongly but…you see I have some financial commitments towards someone I owe money…and if I don't pay off…my wife will dump me and I will lose my home…I will extremely appreciate it if you allow me to keep my job, if not at the stores anywhere."

The general looked at David with a smile and replied, "Ivan was never totally faithful to me. You see as much as you think you are shrewd and try to double cross people, you will fall at one point and your cunningness will be disclosed." 

David gave the general a perplexed look. "I don't understand."

The general ordered the chauffeur, "Go to Arabian Evenings please. I think I'm in some mood to celebrate."

He looked at David and asked, "Are you in the mood for Arabic cuisine David?"

"I never mind food General."

"David, Ivan was my right hand in a lot of things. The least of his responsibilities were supervising the sugar shipment's arrival from the port to our stores. My work is much more sensitive than sugar shipments and I used to enjoy his acuteness and management skills. But Ivan was never aware he had a weak point. You see I graciously gave him quarters in my own villa. However he didn't know that he spoke during his sleep. I first noticed this six months ago when I walked in to wake him up during an early outing. He was yapping about how he was going to meet my partner at a rendezvous point. That was when I tailed him with one of my men to see what was this all about. I discovered a lot of things from then on. I'm at good terms with my partner but what I didn't appreciate about him was that he bought one of my men with his money to have news about me. A senator in parliament married to the daughter of an economical giant and I found a thousand ways to make his life miserable. I more or less researched an Egyptian mistress of his." 

The General released a victorious laugh and continued calmly, "As for Ivan, I still had a purpose for him but I was going to find a solution that would have quieted him down for good. I know you are probably asking yourself as to why I'm telling you all this."

David looked with an inquisitive face at the general and commented, "It crossed my mind that you have invested within our brief companionship dearly General…but I can assure you that I'm at your service and the information will be dealt with discreetly."

"David you speak like a well educated man. Your outside appearance and mean scars on your body speak otherwise."

David stuttered and cursed his mistake within himself. He replied cautiously, "I never said I'm without education. I have a college degree in fine arts. But my mother died at my early childhood years suffering from a weak heart. I grew up with my father and a stepmother. However my father owned an import & export company and supplied the US army with material from time to time. He was at Pearl Harbor in a meeting with a high ranking officer when the Japanese attacked. He died. With my father's death my stepmother soon took control of his company and bank accounts, but found no reason for me to be with her. She disowned me. I took the streets at twenty years of age and the streets raised my will as a man. Very soon I made a friend who transported dough for an Italian group. I made some money but the group soon was torn down by the NYSD's secret agents. Soon I got addicted to gambling and the casinos were a way of living to me. But things soon changed when I fell in love with Cindy my present wife. She did her best to straighten me out and she even talked to a friend that worked in one of the flower companies to find a job. It worked out for a while and I worked as a delivery man but gambling just doesn't want to leave me. I resisted the tables for two months but soon I was back. I lost all my money and furniture to games. I'm still in debt worth two hundered dollars general."

The general answered back with interest, "I will make a deal with you David. Since gambling is your life I will let you play the game of your life."

David's face beamed with interest as he asked, "How is that?"

"I need a new assistant to help out with some of the chores that Ivan used to do. I need a loyal keen minded person to help me arrange a trip to Jordan. Since you have a college degree you are the best qualified person for the job. I have reason to believe that there is an ancient Egyptian treasure buried underneath the red sands of Wadi Rum Desert in Jordan. The stakes are an even fifty fifty. Either there is something valuable down there or our financial expenses will be spent for nothing. Our adversary is fate."

The general looked inquisitively at David waiting for his answer. David knew no Gambler could beat down such an offer. It was an indirect trap. If he was to refuse, the General will know that he was lying to him. David smiled back with satisfaction and answered, "Let us play our cards and arrange for the trip. By the time we dig out the desert sands, Fate will play his deck of cards and we shall see General."

The general reached out towards his pocket and pulled out a thick bundle of greens banded together. "Here are four thousand dollars, two thousand to settle your debt problems, and two to begin covering expenses for our campaign. By the day after tomorrow I will expect you to have arranged for everything."

David took the money surprised and answered, "Yes General. I shall begin to arrange things immediately."

"By the way, dinner is on me David."

David was content at all that the general brought his story and that he was again able to sell himself to the services of the mafia. Two days from now, he will give a full report to his liaison at the restaurant then take off with the General to Jordan and to meet what lies waiting for them there.

William Kamm and his so-called “Order of St Charbel” have no connection whatsoever with the Maronite Catholic Church. He was excommunicated from the Catholic Church on 10 June 2003, and therefore cannot receive any sacraments of the Church, or exercise any ministry or function within the Church. His teachings and movement are repudiated by both the Maronite Catholic and the Roman Catholic Church.

The faithful are banned from joining or assisting, directly or indirectly, the so-called "Order of St Charbel". It is not part of the Maronite Catholic and the Roman Catholic Church, whether in Australia, Lebanon or any other part of the world. In particular, it has no connection whatsoever with the church, monastery and school of St Charbel at Punchbowl, all of which are projects of the Lebanese Maronite Order. The  so-called "Order of St Charbel" was directed to disband by the Bishop of Wollongong on 16 June 2002, after making several unsuccessful approaches to the Holy See for approval.

I urge and direct the faithful to avoid and distance themselves from this man, who has been convicted on multiple counts of moral misconduct; and to likewise avoid and distance themselves from the so-called “Order of St Charbel”.

14 November 2014

+ Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay

Maronite Bishop of Australia

BY: Bob Carr: former NSW premier and foreign minister

The Australian: November 08, 2014

PENNANT Hills Golf Club in Sydney is an unusual place for an epiphany on the changes in Israel. Still, it was there I met a Christian volunteer who went to the occupied territories to escort Palestinian children to school, to protect them from verbal and physical ­violence by Israeli settlers.

Violence against Arab kids? Christian volunteers to protect them? From Jewish settlers?

None of this was around in 1977 when I rented a room in Sydney Trades Hall and called on Bob Hawke, ACTU president, to help me launch Labor Friends of Israel.

In 1977 the Israeli occupation was 10 years old. There were 25,000 settlers. It was easy to believe the Israelis were holding the West Bank only as a bargaining chip. Arabs were terrorists.

Now the occupation has lasted 47 years. There are 500,000 settlers. Up to 60 per cent of the Israeli cabinet is on record as opposing a two-state solution. Palestinians have been part of a peace process for 25 years.

Israel has gone from secular to religious. The ultra-Orthodox and religious Zionists hold 30 of the 120 seats in the Knesset. It has gone from cosmopolitan to chauvinist, with some ministers espousing a brand of radical ­nationalism like that of France’s Le Pen or Austria’s Jorg Haider.

“The symbol of Israel used to be the kibbutz,” says a friend in the British Labour Party. “It’s now the settlement.” They have doubled in the past 54 months alone. The ­Atlantic reported the Obama ­administration is deeply offended at how the Israelis use settlements to wreck any peace deal. Settlers won’t move. The Israeli government won’t force them. So an ­indefinite occupation morphs into the extremists’ goal of a Greater Israel.

With one catch. It will have two classes of citizen.

“A term used about another country on another continent”, Ehud Barak told me when I as foreign minister discussed this very dilemma. The word is apartheid, of course, used by another former prime minister, Ehud Olmert, and the only word that can be applied if, within one nation, there is one set of laws for one race and an inferior set for the other — the other being the majority.

Barack Obama says that if settlement expansion keeps growing he can’t manage the fallout for Israel. That fallout has begun, with Sweden joining 138 nations that have already recognised Palestine and Britain’s House of Commons endorsing recognition. In the British debate, Richard Ottaway, a Conservative and long-term supporter of Israel, ­declared, “If they are losing ­people like me, they will be losing a lot of people.”

He and others in centrist politics have been sickened by religious fanatics standing on seized Palestinian land declaring that God gave them Judea and Samaria, and the Arabs are inferior anyway. Sickened by the routine violence of the settlers, serious enough to warrant front-page treatment in that voice of the US foreign policy establishment, Foreign Affairs: settlers smashing the windows of Palestinian flats to drive families out, uprooting the date and olive trees on Palestinian farms, spraying graffiti on ­churches and mosques.

In 1977 the Palestine Liberation Organisation was blowing up planes. Now for 25 years Palestinians have been committed to a neg­otiated solution, most recently to a demilitarised state with the presence of a US-led NATO force on the West Bank and East ­Jerusalem.

In 1977 when we launched Labor Friends of Israel we knew, to our disgrace, none of their narrative. Now Israeli historians — this is a measure of Israel’s openness — have gone to the archives of their army to tell the full story of how massacres were used during the foundation of Israel in 1948 to drive out 700,000 Palestinians. The credibility of historian Benny Morris is confirmed when he declares he agreed with the policy and thinks David Ben-Gurion should have gone further until there were no Palestinians left.

Where do Palestinians stand now? Gideon Levy wrote in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz that it leaves them living with mass arrests (760 in a recent sweep, 260 of them children) expulsions, demolitions. A former head of Shin Bet (Israel’s ASIO) said in the 2012 documentary The Gatekeepers that his paratrooper son invaded Nablus two or three times. He asked, “Did this bring us victory? I don’t think so.”

This week 100 ex-generals, senior police and a former head of Mossad issued a letter urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to negotiate with “moderate Arab states and with the Palestinians (in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as one)”. They know a two-state solution will not be perfect but preferable.

Permanent occupation means Israelis get cast as Afrikaners and the world will recognise Palestine and isolate Israel.

After all, the alternative would be unthinkable: to accept colonial rule with one religious and racial group enjoying the vote, the majority denied it.

From the writers of The West Wing came this. Discussing Gaza and the West Bank, a White House adviser says to another, “Revolutionaries will outlast and out-die occupiers every time.” No other colonial rule has survived, let alone with rich settlers on fortified hilltops with Los Angeles lawns, the wretched huddled in the gullies, their 12-year-old kids subject to military arrest and ­detention.

We have politely pitched the case for Palestinian statehood as creating security for Israel. But in view of the settlements and settler violence, I now pitch the case in terms of the rights of the Palestinian people, recognised in international law and every draft peace statement supported by the world for a quarter of a century.

Palestinians must commit to non-violent resistance, not a third intifada. They must build international support. They must engage with the righteous Jews who condemn the takeover of Zionism by the fanatics.

Forty years ago I signed up to be president of Labor Friends of Israel; I still count myself a friend of the liberals in that country but it serves the cause of a just peace better by me this week becoming patron of Labor Friends of Palestine.

Bob Carr is a former NSW premier and foreign minister. This is part of an address he gave to the Australian Friends of Palestine Association in Adelaide last night

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/why-im-now-a-friend-of-palestine-rather-than-israel/story-e6frg6zo-1227116367617