Blaine took Sinai and Alex to visit St Vincent in Ein Karem. The sisters at St Vincent want help with their walk in refrigerated cooler. Eran suggested we advise them from our experience. They get condensation on the floor above the walk in box. Sinai said it would be cheaper to buy another refrigerator and abandon the walk in box, because it will be too expensive to insulate the ceiling. After he called an expert friend, he said it will be cheaper to insulate the ceiling and keep the walk in box.
Linda, John and Jan Clayton, Alexis and Gary Nickel
In the evening we attended a panel discussion by University Professors on the situation in the Middle East. One said she believes anti-Semitism is still an issue to Jews and it is not getting better.
Another said US-aligned blocks have disappeared and Iran-aligned blocks remain from Arab Spring. There is an emerging Egypt-Saudi alliance. Borders are blurring between Syria, Iraq, and Lebannon and it is becoming a single conflict. Iran backs one side and a mish mash backs the other side. Israel won't be part of the emerging Egypt-Saudi alliance. Alliances will be based on common enemies.
The third said there have been significant changes in the last 3 years.
1. The public has power through social media
2. Arab alliances are fragmented.
3. Iran became a rational country and a super-power
4. There will be local solutions rather than US solutions. Israel was caught by surprise by the Kerry initiative. The US role is diminishing. Israel needs Saudi Arabia to counter Iran, but Saudi Arabia will require Israel to settle with the Palestinians first.
5. Organizations are competing with states for power (Hezbollah, etc.)
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