Incoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to maintain the religious 'status-quo'. AFP
Incoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to maintain the religious 'status-quo'. AFP
Incoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to maintain the religious 'status-quo'. AFP
Incoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to maintain the religious 'status-quo'. AFP

Israel's Netanyahu pledges liberal-right government, with 'beaches for everyone'


Holly Johnston
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Benjamin Netanyahu has said the incoming government will be a “liberal-right” administration as he tries to dissuade concerns that his alliance with Ultra-Orthodox and right-wing parties is veering to the extreme.

The prime minister-designate said he would maintain the religious “status-quo” following reports on leaked discussions with United Torah Judaism, which has demanded the halting of electricity generation on Shabbat and expanded gender segregation on beaches, among other restrictions.

“There is and will be electricity [production] on Shabbat. There is and will be beaches for everyone. We will maintain the status quo,” Mr Netanyahu said in parliament on Tuesday.

“We will maintain the path of the liberal right-wing.”

While still in the minority, Israel's ultra-Orthodox population is rapidly growing and is expected to make up a quarter of Israeli society by 2050, according to projections from Israel's National Economic Council. Arabs make up 20 per cent.

Although transport and commerce are halted in most cities from dusk on Friday to nightfall on Saturday, some business stay open and transport continues to run in select areas, especially in Arab-majority localities.

Electricity is also still generated but not actively used by observant Jews.

Israeli security forces remove a right-wing activist holding a megaphone and a sign reading in Hebrew "leftists are traitors" during a protest by left-wing activists against the government coalition proposed by prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu near the Knesset on Monday. AFP
Israeli security forces remove a right-wing activist holding a megaphone and a sign reading in Hebrew "leftists are traitors" during a protest by left-wing activists against the government coalition proposed by prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu near the Knesset on Monday. AFP

Members of Mr Netanyahu's Likud party told Army radio they did not expect the party head would agree to such measures.

Religious groups are a key part of the incoming government and helped to propel the veteran leader — still facing corruption charges — back into the top office after successive failed attempts to win back power.

While concern in Israel focuses on religious reform, international attention is focused on the right-wing nature of the incoming cabinet, set to be one of Israel's most hardline administrations and expected to escalate violence in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.

The year 2022 has been the deadliest in terms of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since 2005, with 216 Palestinians killed. The army says many of the dead are militants, but stone-throwing youths and others not engaged in confrontation have also been killed, including a 16-year-old girl shot on Monday.

Parts of the West Bank, including Jenin and Nablus, have had almost-daily raids since a wave of attacks by Palestinian militants, which have left 30 Israelis dead.

Mr Netanyahu himself is a staunch opponent to Palestinian statehood and has criticised outgoing prime minister Yair Lapid for his vocal support for a two-state solution.

West Bank settlements were vastly expanded under his previous terms as prime minister.

Also on Tuesday, a Netanyahu ally was temporarily elected as Knesset speaker, paving the way for rapid legislation demanded by coalition partners to be passed.

Yariv Levin is expected to call for quick laws expanding the remit of Israel's public security minister, a position to be held by notorious ultra-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, and clearing the way for Aryeh Deri — previously jailed for bribery — to head three different ministries, the Times of Israel reported.

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LA LIGA FIXTURES

Thursday (All UAE kick-off times)

Sevilla v Real Betis (midnight)

Friday

Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)

Valencia v Levante (midnight)

Saturday

Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)

Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)

Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)

Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)

Sunday

Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)

Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)

Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)

The Facility’s Versatility

Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
 
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
 
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
 
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
 
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
 
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket

THE SIXTH SENSE

Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Rating: 5/5

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Things Heard & Seen

Directed by: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini

Starring: Amanda Seyfried, James Norton

2/5

Countries recognising Palestine

France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra

 

The biog

Name: Atheja Ali Busaibah

Date of birth: 15 November, 1951

Favourite books: Ihsan Abdel Quddous books, such as “The Sun will Never Set”

Hobbies: Reading and writing poetry

Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Rating: 4/5
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Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

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Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

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Tour de France 2017: Stage 5

Vittel - La Planche de Belles Filles, 160.5km

It is a shorter stage, but one that will lead to a brutal uphill finish. This is the third visit in six editions since it was introduced to the race in 2012. Reigning champion Chris Froome won that race.

Four tips to secure IoT networks

Mohammed Abukhater, vice president at FireEye in the Middle East, said:

- Keep device software up-to-date. Most come with basic operating system, so users should ensure that they always have the latest version

- Besides a strong password, use two-step authentication. There should be a second log-in step like adding a code sent to your mobile number

- Usually smart devices come with many unnecessary features. Users should lock those features that are not required or used frequently

- Always create a different guest network for visitors

THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick

Hometown: Cologne, Germany

Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)

Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes

Favourite hobby: Football

Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk

Arrogate's winning run

1. Maiden Special Weight, Santa Anita Park, June 5, 2016

2. Allowance Optional Claiming, Santa Anita Park, June 24, 2016

3. Allowance Optional Claiming, Del Mar, August 4, 2016

4. Travers Stakes, Saratoga, August 27, 2016

5. Breeders' Cup Classic, Santa Anita Park, November 5, 2016

6. Pegasus World Cup, Gulfstream Park, January 28, 2017

7. Dubai World Cup, Meydan Racecourse, March 25, 2017

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Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder

Transmission: 7-speed auto

0-100kmh 2.3 seconds

0-200kmh 5.5 seconds

0-300kmh 11.6 seconds

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Torque: 1600Nm

Price: Dh13,400,000

On sale: now

Updated: December 13, 2022, 12:42 PM`