Israeli forces in a confrontation with Palestinian demonstrators, after Israelis marched to Homesh, in the occupied West Bank in April 2022. AFP
Israeli forces in a confrontation with Palestinian demonstrators, after Israelis marched to Homesh, in the occupied West Bank in April 2022. AFP
Israeli forces in a confrontation with Palestinian demonstrators, after Israelis marched to Homesh, in the occupied West Bank in April 2022. AFP
Israeli forces in a confrontation with Palestinian demonstrators, after Israelis marched to Homesh, in the occupied West Bank in April 2022. AFP

Israeli forces kill three Palestinians as US criticises settlements order


Thomas Helm
  • English
  • Arabic

Three Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in the Balata refugee camp in the West Bank early on Monday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

Another six Palestinians were injured, one of whom was in a critical condition.

Israel's military said the operation was carried out to detain terrorist suspects and three were taken into custody. It said forces destroyed an explosives laboratory and seized weapons.

The deadly raid comes after the Biden administration on Sunday said it was "deeply troubled" over an Israeli order that allows Jewish settlers to establish a permanent presence in a West Bank outpost.

The Israeli military's Central Command chief signed an order on Thursday that allows Israelis to enter the Homesh outpost area, near Nablus, The Times of Israel reported.

It paves the way for a formal settlement to be built there.

“We are deeply troubled by the Israeli government’s order that allows its citizens to establish a permanent presence in the Homesh outpost in the northern West Bank, which according to Israeli law was illegally built on private Palestinian land,” said State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.

The State Department has urged Israel to avoid actions – including formalising settler outposts – that could escalate tensions with Palestinians.

It has in the past warned Israel against outposts in Homesh.

The order is inconsistent with Israeli government commitments made in 2004 and more recently to officials in President Joe Biden's administration, Mr Miller said.

In the same statement, Mr Miller criticised Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's "provocative" visit to Al Aqsa Mosque compound on Sunday.

Israeli far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on a tour of Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City on Sunday. EPA
Israeli far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on a tour of Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City on Sunday. EPA

It is the world's third holiest site for Muslims.

Mr Ben-Gvir said Israel was “in charge” of the compound, which the US said was "inflammatory rhetoric".

The Jordanian Waqf maintains authority over Al Aqsa under a long-term arrangement endorsed by Israel for decades.

The State Department said: "This holy space should not be used for political purposes and we call on all parties to respect its sanctity.”

Jordan, along with a number of other Arab states, on Sunday condemned a meeting of the Israeli cabinet in a tunnel dug near Al Aqsa compound.

Amman said the move set a “dangerous precedent”.

Tensions over new settlements in the West Bank come as Israeli authorities also permitted the expansion of an Israeli neighbourhood in a Palestinian area that borders East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

The proposals are now subject to further planning stages.

The developments come after months of escalating violence between Israelis and Palestinians that have concerned the US and a number of other countries.

Nationalist Israelis march through the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City. Getty
Nationalist Israelis march through the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City. Getty

On Thursday, mostly far-right Israeli nationalists held a flag march that started at Damascus Gate, the main entrance to the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City.

The route took marchers through the quarter and past Al Aqsa Mosque.

Many demonstrators chanted racist slogans, including "death to Arabs" and "may your villages burn".

At least two Palestinians were injured throughout the course of the day.

Despite calls from Palestinians, many Israelis and the international community, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allowed the procession to stick to its original route, through areas of Jerusalem populated by Palestinians.

Agencies contributed to this report

The rules on fostering in the UAE

A foster couple or family must:

  • be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
  • not be younger than 25 years old
  • not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
  • be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
  • have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
  • undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
  • A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Despacito's dominance in numbers

Released: 2017

Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon

Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube

Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification

Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.

Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards

if you go

The flights

Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.

The hotel

Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.

The tour

Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Top Gun: Maverick'

Rating: 4/5

 

Directed by: Joseph Kosinski

 

Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris

 
Three ways to limit your social media use

Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.

1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.

2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information. 

3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.

Villains
Queens of the Stone Age
Matador

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
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

'The worst thing you can eat'

Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.

Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines: 

Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.

Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.

Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.

Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.

Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

A State of Passion

Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi

Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah

Rating: 4/5

Understand What Black Is

The Last Poets

(Studio Rockers)

What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
 
  • Grade 9 = above an A*
  • Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
  • Grade 7 = grade A
  • Grade 6 = just above a grade B
  • Grade 5 = between grades B and C
  • Grade 4 = grade C
  • Grade 3 = between grades D and E
  • Grade 2 = between grades E and F
  • Grade 1 = between grades F and G
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

The specs

  Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now

If you go...

Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

Updated: May 22, 2023, 9:26 AM`