Jerusalem News
Contents:
1. She made a pact with God: why the Queen is not likely to abdicate
2. British PM Affirms Opposition to ICC War-Crimes Probe Against Israel
3. China Funds Iran, Stations 5,000 Troops There
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1. She made a pact with God: why the Queen is not likely to abdicate
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/apr/11/she-made-a-pact-with-god-why-the-queen-will-not-be-abdicating?fbclid=IwAR09qCgWDKXOZjAbKbK6cdryaT4VHdrNXclEFCtI3ukw79F5BEOxGeb5KeU
[forwarded by craig White].
by
Caroline Davies
Sun 11 Apr 2021
Extracts:
The Queen, newly widowed, will find it 'difficult' without the support she has leant on over 73 years of marriage to the Duke of Edinburgh, but royal observers have dismissed any speculation that she might consider stepping down.
The former prime minister Sir John Major acknowledged that her position as monarch was 'a very lonely position'. He told BBC One's The Andrew Marr Show: 'There are a limited number of people to whom she can really open her heart, to whom she can really speak with total frankness, to whom she can say things that would be reported by other people and thought to be indelicate.'
She could 'unburden herself' on Philip. When facing 'a sea of problems', or when feeling overwhelmed and needing to share decision-making, one needed someone to understand, 'someone who can metaphorically, or in the case of Prince Philip, I think, probably literally, put their arms around you and say: 'It's not as bad as you think,'' said Major, on whom the Queen bestowed the honour of Garter Knight.
Speculation about Philip's death precipitating an abdication is unlikely to bear out, say royal experts. 'One main reason why the Queen will absolutely not abdicate is unlike other European monarchs, she is an anointed Queen,' the royal historian Hugo Vickers told the Guardian, referring to the pact she made with God during her coronation. 'And if you are an anointed Queen you do not abdicate.'
If she was unable to fulfil her constitutional duties, a regent could be appointed, as happened with George III. She also celebrates her platinum jubilee next year. 'It would be completely illogical to abdicate just before that extraordinary anniversary,' he said. 'It's a wonderful opportunity to celebrate. And I would hope she would be feeling up to that; a bit of time would have passed.
'We need the Queen, with her vast experience. And she is still absolutely fine. She is still riding, and very busily at the centre of everything, her office is still thriving. She can't go out much at the moment, but she does occasionally. She looks wonderful, so no abdicating.'
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2. British PM Affirms Opposition to ICC War-Crimes Probe Against Israel
https://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/british-pm-affirms-opposition-to-icc-war-crimes-probe-against-israel/2021/04/17/
By
JNS News Service
Extracts:
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently announced the United Kingdom�s opposition to an International Criminal Court investigation into Israel for alleged war crimes.
In an April 9 letter to the British lobby group Conservative Friends of Israel, he said while the government is one of the ICC�s �stronger supporters� and respects the independence of the court, it opposes the probe.
'We do not accept that the ICC has jurisdiction in this instance, given that Israel is not a party to the Statute of Rome and Palestine is not a sovereign state,' he wrote. 'This investigation gives the impression of being a partial and prejudicial attack on a friend and ally of the U.K.'s.'
https://www.memri.org/reports/urdu-language-daily-more-5000-chinese-troops-will-be-deployed-iran-and-military-base-will-be?fbclid=IwAR0EyTrsYdI2-x5AuG3HzuyMh34PYrLer1qJay6J4yQ0A_Hz3iNGp5X5xJg
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3. China Funds Iran, Stations 5,000 Troops There
Extracts:
On March 27, 2021, China and Iran signed an economic and security cooperation agreement according to which Beijing will invest $400 billion in Iran over the next 25 years. This is a far-reaching agreement that is certain to increase the Chinese strategic influence in the Middle East for decades to come.
The article in the Urdu daily Roznama Ummat.
The report is titled: "The Deployment Of 5,000 Chinese Troops In Iran [is] Part Of The Agreement."
"More Than 5,000 Chinese Troops Will Be Deployed In Iran, And A [Military] Base Will Be Built For Them"
....
China has also put its signature on investment projects with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, which shows that China is implementing a plan to increase its influence in the Middle East.
" .. China is going to get cheap oil from Iran which will go to China via Pakistan. Similarly, China's [investment projects] with Pakistan are, instead of financial benefits, of strategic nature.
"Pakistani experts and analysts who observe these matters deeply completely reject the general concern in Pakistan that China is now moving in the direction of Iran [thereby abandoning Pakistan]. They say that the recent pact between China and Iran for economic cooperation will not be an alternative to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and will be rather nourishing it.
"The former ambassador [Iqbal Ahmed Khan] said that China's investment in Iran is not at the cost of Pakistan. He said that America has sidelined both Pakistan and Iran, which forced us to look toward others; China's cooperation with Iran will benefit Pakistan directly. Iran's oil, which currently travels 13,000 miles to reach China, will now travel 1,500 miles through the safe passage in Pakistan to reach China..."
Source: Roznama Ummat (Pakistan), April 1, 2021.