Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
Mamoud Rimouni, a juice seller, presses aged pomegranates at the entrance to Jerash's Greco-Roman ruins, north of Jordan's capital, Amman.
With few tourists and visitors, sales of his $3 juice cups remain low.
“There is not enough business to keep the stock fresh,” says Mr Rimouni.
The decline in his sales is linked to the five-month Israel-Gaza war, which has caused a sharp drop in the number of tourists visiting neighbouring Jordan.
The repercussions of the war extend beyond economics; the kingdom also struggles with political implications and fears of further destabilisation.
Jordan, like Egypt, has a significant stake in the conflict due to its political and familial links with Palestine.
Stability in Jordan, which has a peace treaty with Israel and is dependent on the US for aid and security, holds significant international weight.
This is due to the country’s position close to Israel, its long borders with the oil-rich interior of Arabia, and a ruling system seen as a bulwark against religious extremism.
But it has been the links to Palestine that have outwardly defined the politics of the kingdom since its foundation as a British protectorate in 1921.
Its demography changed after the first wave of Palestinian refugees in 1948.
A large proportion of Jordan’s population became of Palestinian origin. This rose after the 1967 Middle East War, which ushered another wave.
While Egypt is focused on preventing a long-term refugee spillover from Gaza, Jordan is more concerned about deterioration in the West Bank.
Authorities in Amman fear that the war could turn Iran-backed Hamas into the dominant power in the area, observers say.
The unresolved issue of President Mahmoud Abbas’s succession could result in a civil war, they say. This is in addition to rising Israeli violence against Palestinians in the region.
Israel's continued bombardment could lead to a renewed refugee wave, affecting an unwritten covenant in Jordan between the monarchy, led by King Abdullah, and the East Bank tribes.
These tribes, present before Jordan came into being, played a main role in its foundation.
Balancing act
A key role for the monarchy has been to maintain an equilibrium between the tribes, who underpin the security forces and the kingdom's public sector, and the Palestinian immigrants and their offspring, regarded as the driving force behind the country's economy.
A diplomat who was recently briefed by officials in Amman says King Abdullah has secured “strong American support on the need for stability in the West Bank”.
“Other than that, there is little that Jordan can do,” he says.
But in the past 48 hours, Israeli forces have killed 11 people in the West Bank, according to Palestinian officials.
Saud Sharafat, a former senior member of Jordanian Intelligence, says the best scenario Jordan can practically hope for is “for the situation in the West Bank not to explode”.
He says that some international powers do not want the complete disintegration of Hamas for fear that it could be replaced by more extreme powers.
But Jordan, he says, is wary of Hamas's expansion too close to its borders, and emboldening the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood and its sympathisers in the country.
Unlike most other Arab countries, the Muslim Brotherhood is not banned in Jordan, although a crackdown by the authorities in the last decade has made the group less vocal.
Authorities also regard a Hamas West Bank sweep politically damaging for the Palestinians, says Mr Sharafat, who heads the Shorufat Center for Globalisation and Terrorism Studies in Amman.
It would mean wiping out a diplomatically experienced Palestinian leadership, who have no qualms about direct negotiations with Israel, in case the peace process was relaunched, he says.
Despite a bleak picture west of the River Jordan, Mr Sharafat says threats related to the Gaza war on other fronts have lessened.
A US show of force after a deadly attack by pro-Iranian militia in Syria on an American base in the Jordanian desert appears to have neutralised their threat, he says.
Another issue worrying Jordan is that Israel could pierce the Arab opposition to the Gaza invasion by striking a deal with Saudi Arabia.
A normalisation of ties between the two countries has been a major goal of US policy since the Donald Trump administration.
But Saudi Arabia has made it clear that it will not proceed with the normalisation as long as the war in Gaza continues.
Ashes 2019 schedule
August 1-5: First Test, Edgbaston
August 14-18: Second Test, Lord's
August 22-26: Third Test, Headingley
September 4-8: Fourth Test, Old Trafford
September 12-16: Fifth Test, Oval
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
First-round leaderbaord
-5 C Conners (Can)
-3 B Koepka (US), K Bradley (US), V Hovland (Nor), A Wise (US), S Horsfield (Eng), C Davis (Aus);
-2 C Morikawa (US), M Laird (Sco), C Tringale (US)
Selected others: -1 P Casey (Eng), R Fowler (US), T Hatton (Eng)
Level B DeChambeau (US), J Rose (Eng)
1 L Westwood (Eng), J Spieth (US)
3 R McIlroy (NI)
4 D Johnson (US)
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
The biog
Name: Salvador Toriano Jr
Age: 59
From: Laguna, The Philippines
Favourite dish: Seabass or Fish and Chips
Hobbies: When he’s not in the restaurant, he still likes to cook, along with walking and meeting up with friends.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Aahid Al Khalediah II, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Whistle, Harry Bentley, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup - Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Alsaied, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6.30pm: Emirates Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Mumayaza, Antonio Fresu, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Emirates Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Hameem, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: President’s Cup – Group 1 (PA) Dh2,500,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle
8pm: President’s Cup – Listed (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Medahim, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last 16, second leg
Liverpool (0) v Atletico Madrid (1)
Venue: Anfield
Kick-off: Thursday, March 12, midnight
Live: On beIN Sports HD
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
The%20specs
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Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
