A new episode in the series of attacks on Saudi Arabia and Saudis has emerged, this time under the pretext of the war in Gaza. This time, the calls have escalated to demanding the halt of the largest and most important entertainment season in the region—a season that provides two hundred thousand direct and indirect jobs for Saudis this year. In simple terms: stop the season and keep your sons and daughters at home, while none of those raising their voices—across various Arab countries—have paused their work, lives, or leisure activities, going out to restaurants and cafes and sharing their daily activities on social media. If someone does choose to stop, that is solely their business.
The reality of the matter is that this attack is not surprising, especially since it is based on the idea of sympathizing with a just cause that mostly affects civilians and children. I say it is not surprising, but it has become objectionable to all Saudis, as no one has the right to demand they stop their work and normal lives for any reason. This did not happen even when Saudi Arabia itself spent years in a war to restore stability in Yemen. It did not happen when Saudi Arabia, like other countries in the world, lived a normal life while Riyadh was bombarded with Scud missiles in the early nineties. It did not happen when Houthi missiles and drones have flown for years; at that time, no one called for "sympathy with Saudis," nor did anyone halt their entertainment activities, nightclubs, or social gatherings in countries that have suffered devastation and corruption now characterized by those very issues.
In an article published a few days ago in the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Mr. Abdullah bin Bajad wrote: "The 'sleeping cells' of the two anti-Arab axes have mobilized in all directions, media-wise, intellectually, and through social media, creating a market for 'slogans' and 'bidding'. It has become easy for Saudis to detect the arrows of criticism directed at their country without any restraint, condemning its policies, projects, development, economy, vision, and even its entertainment."
Indeed, the entire issue is explained by the previous paragraph from Bin Bajad's article. Such attacks have no effect on Saudis over the years; they have never deterred them from achieving accomplishments one after the other, nor will they stop them from enjoying their lives. In some cases, responding to these attacks has even become part of their daily entertainment on social media. The matter is not about the Riyadh Season or Turkish Al-Sheikh, who is no more affected by such attacks than any other Saudi who is now fully aware of the objectives of these insults, who sends them, who stands behind them, and what they want to achieve.
Saudis are accustomed to rallying around their leadership and embracing its prudent policies and firm stances on such issues, just as they have become accustomed to the comfort of a decent life provided by their leadership, without diverting their attention to silly attacks that will never cease. Similarly, what the Riyadh Season creates in terms of happiness and quality of life for Saudis and residents, as well as tourists from around the world, remains unaffected. Simply put, for those who do not want the Riyadh Season... stay at home!
