Ticket to Ride

In an article for Saudi Gazzette of January 2, 2018, Mr. Tariq A. Al-Maeena revendicated the right of Saudi Arabia not to grant visas to Israeli chess players: “It was indeed a great effort and went along without a hitch except for the storm raised by the non-inclusion of Israeli chess players who were denied visas to enter the country and rightly so. The Kingdom has no diplomatic relations with Israel and has no such intentions of forging relations until the Israelis agree to a fair and just peace process with the Palestinians”, he wrote. This nazi-style reprisal is hardly justifiable on the basis (or on behalf) of the cause of the Palestinian people. One could even object that not too much time ago Saudi Arabia was ready – with the blessing of U.S. President – to abandon Palestinians to their doom just to make deal with Israel against Iran, but it seems even unnecessary to be that pedantic. Indeed, no one in good faith would have done something so stupid, even because such an unforgivable political error will only end up strengthening the reactionary forces that could care less about peace and love in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia actually legitimized Trump’s and Netanyahu’s racial borders and xenophobic delirium, rejecting (instead of welcoming) seven Israeli people who, for the first time in the history of Israel-Saudi Arabia non-relations, were willing to take the step of recognizing the Kingdom. I think and I hope no one may take comfort in the fact that FIDE – in sending Jews to the ghetto in exchange for money – made an even “uglier” mistake than the Kingdom. In fact, FIDE is neither a country, nor a kingdom, and nor even a nation. It is only the parody of a fictional humanity. So it seems very sad to me the final curse delivered by Mr. Tariq A. Al-Maeena: “Shame on you Israel for crying out loud for not being invited. You do not deserve an audience in this land”. I guess I will never understand why someone wants to look like FIDE. But I feel that this must be the reason why no one would ever pay the ticket to seat and watch such irresistible showdowns.