From right: Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, and Defence Minister Benny Gantz. EBA
From right: Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, and Defence Minister Benny Gantz. EBA
From right: Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, and Defence Minister Benny Gantz. EBA
From right: Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, and Defence Minister Benny Gantz. EBA

Iran's policy decided 'behind closed doors only', Israeli defence minister says


Ahmed Maher
  • English
  • Arabic

Israel's position on how to deal with Iranian threats is decided only behind closed doors and the final decision is taken by the government, Defence Minister Benny Gantz said.

While Israeli security services have a say on the policy for Iran, “it is the government echelon that makes the decisions,” Mr Gantz wrote on Twitter.

He said the defence establishment was dealing with the threat from Iran as the main concern for Israel's security.

“This is done in co-ordination between all the security arms, with the decisions being made by the political echelon,” Mr Gantz said. “We will continue holding open and deep dialogue behind closed doors only.”

Mr Gantz's tweet followed press reports that there was a heated debate within Israel's military and security services on the official stance on the resumption of talks between Iran and world powers.

The chiefs of military intelligence and strategic planning believe a revival of a 2015 deal that restricted Iran's nuclear programme would give Israel time to prepare an attack aimed at denying Iran the means to make a nuclear weapon, the Yedioth Ahronoth daily said on Friday.

“However, the national intelligence agency Mossad opposes a return to the tattered nuclear pact and believes that the reports [on Israeli generals favouring a bad deal] are part of a pressure campaign to sway Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, who is expected to assume the role of prime minister soon, to throw his weight behind the talks,” the Yedioth Ahronoth report said, without citing sources.

The EU and Iran agreed on Saturday to resume the nuclear negotiations that were being held in Geneva until recent months.

The administration of former US president Donald Trump abandoned the deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran.

Israel, which is not party to the talks but has opposed the 2015 deal, believes that Iran has been secretly enriching its uranium to weapons-grade level to produce nuclear weapons.

Iran insists that its nuclear programme is only for civilian purposes.

Iran has accused Israel of assassinating senior nuclear scientists and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders on its territory.

Israel has not commented on the accusations but says it is opposed Iran's nuclear, missile and drone programmes.

On Thursday, the IRGC named a new intelligence chief after a string of suspicious deaths and killings of military officers and scientists in recent months.

It did not give a reason for replacing Hossein Taeb.

The change also followed an Israeli statement that it worked with Turkish intelligence and security services to foil an alleged Iranian plot to kidnap and kill Israelis in Istanbul.

Turkish news outlets reported last week that authorities arrested at least 10 suspects in Istanbul, including five Iranians, in connection with the alleged plot.

In his tweet, Mr Gantz did not comment on the EU-Iran announcement. Nor did Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett during Sunday's Cabinet meeting, which was likely to be his last before handing over the post to Mr Lapid as part of a coalition deal.

Iran recently took an increasingly hardline stance against the UN nuclear watchdog and the US as it stepped up its enrichment programme despite concerns it was hiding some nuclear facilities.

The potential resumption of talks comes as Israel braces for another phase of political instability.

The fragile ruling coalition crumbled after losing its majority in Parliament with defections in recent weeks, prompting a decision to dissolve the chamber and hold fresh elections later this year.

The mixture of right-wing, leftist, centrist political parties along with an Arab party came together to remove Benjamin Netanyahu, the longest-serving prime minister in Israel's political history.

He had stayed in power for 12 years from 2009 after an earlier term from 1996 to 1999.

If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do

Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.

“First, are they happy with that or do they want more?” he says. “Job-seeking is a time-consuming, frustrating and long-winded affair so are they prepared to put themselves through that rigmarole? Before they consider that, they must ask their employer what is happening.”

Most employees bring up pay rise queries at their annual performance appraisal and find out what the company has in store for them from a career perspective.

Those with no formal appraisal system, Mr Greaves says, should ask HR or their line manager for an assessment.

“You want to find out how they value your contribution and where your job could go,” he says. “You’ve got to be brave enough to ask some questions and if you don’t like the answers then you have to develop a strategy or change jobs if you are prepared to go through the job-seeking process.”

For those that do reach the salary negotiation with their current employer, Mr Greaves says there is no point in asking for less than 5 per cent.

“However, this can only really have any chance of success if you can identify where you add value to the business (preferably you can put a monetary value on it), or you can point to a sustained contribution above the call of duty or to other achievements you think your employer will value.”

 

THE%20SPECS
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Bombshell

Director: Jay Roach

Stars: Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie 

Four out of five stars 

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The Details

Kabir Singh

Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series

Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga

Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa

Rating: 2.5/5 

The specs: 2018 Mazda CX-5

Price, base / as tested: Dh89,000 / Dh130,000
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder
Power: 188hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 251Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 7.1L / 100km

Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

SPECS
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Scream%20VI
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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

Where to Find Me by Alba Arikha
Alma Books 

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

PROFILE OF SWVL

Started: April 2017

Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport

Size: 450 employees

Investment: approximately $80 million

Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What went into the film

25 visual effects (VFX) studios

2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots

1,000 VFX artists

3,000 technicians

10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers

New sound technology, named 4D SRL

 

Brief scores:

​​​​​​Toss: Pakhtunkhwa Zalmi, chose to field

​Environment Agency: 193-3 (20 ov)
Ikhlaq 76 not out, Khaliya 58, Ahsan 55

Pakhtunkhwa Zalmi: 194-2 (18.3 ov)
Afridi 95 not out, Sajid 55, Rizwan 36 not out

Result: Pakhtunkhwa won by 8 wickets

Test

Director: S Sashikanth

Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan

Star rating: 2/5

How being social media savvy can improve your well being

Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.

As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.

Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.

Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.

Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.

However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.

“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.

People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.

T10 Cricket League
Sharjah Cricket Stadium
December 14- 17
6pm, Opening ceremony, followed by:
Bengal Tigers v Kerala Kings 
Maratha Arabians v Pakhtoons
Tickets available online at q-tickets.com/t10

Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi

Director: Kangana Ranaut, Krish Jagarlamudi

Producer: Zee Studios, Kamal Jain

Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Ankita Lokhande, Danny Denzongpa, Atul Kulkarni

Rating: 2.5/5

Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten

Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a  month before Reaching the Last Mile.

Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

 

The lowdown

Rating: 4/5

The specs: Audi e-tron

Price, base: From Dh325,000 (estimate)

Engine: Twin electric motors and 95kWh battery pack

Transmission: Single-speed auto

Power: 408hp

Torque: 664Nm

Range: 400 kilometres

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ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

Army of the Dead

Director: Zack Snyder

Stars: Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana de la Reguera

Three stars

Updated: June 27, 2022, 9:33 AM`