UN peace envoy Tor Wennesland on Thursday said there were “no obstacles” to stop Palestinians from going to the polls next month for the first time in 15 years, amid growing concerns the parliamentary vote will not go ahead.
Mr Wennesland said the registration of candidate lists had been completed successfully and he urged Palestinian and Israeli officials not to obstruct voters from choosing their representatives on May 22.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is reportedly considering delaying or cancelling the vote, saying Palestinians in East Jerusalem could be disenfranchised by the Israeli authorities that control the area.
“Now that the legal registration and challenge period has concluded, there remain no key, technical obstacles to the holding of elections in a practical manner,” Mr Wennesland told a virtual UN Security Council meeting.
Mr Wennesland urged Palestinian and Israeli officials to allow all Palestinians – including those in East Jerusalem – to vote next month “free from intimidation” and not to arrest or detain any of the candidates or voters.
Mr Abbas, 86, in January called a parliamentary vote across the Palestinian territories, to be followed by a presidential ballot on July 31, saying that it was the fruit of a reconciliation deal struck last year with Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group that runs Gaza.
But Mr Abbas’s once-dominant Fatah movement faces challenges from breakaway factions and a unified Hamas, leading to speculation that the leader may once again postpone the twin votes, originally scheduled for 2010.
The polls are seen as a vital first step towards forging a united Palestinian voice in any future US-backed peace talks with Israel.
“The successful completion of inclusive Palestinian elections is a critical step towards renewing the democratic legitimacy of the Palestinian government,” said Mr Wennesland.
“These elections should also pave the way to uniting Gaza and the West Bank under a single, legitimate national authority, which would be an important step towards reconciliation and could advance Middle East peace.”
Mr Abbas has insisted the election must include voters in East Jerusalem, which Israel has occupied since 1967. The Israeli government bans Palestinian political activity in East Jerusalem and has not yet announced whether it will let voters cast ballots there.
A refusal by the Israelis could serve as a pretence for the Palestinian leadership to postpone or scrap the election, amid deep divisions within Mr Abbas’s Fatah party before a vote they could well lose to a united Hamas.
Fatah has split into three lists of candidates: One list is led by Nasser Al Kidwa, a nephew of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Mr Al Kidwa also has the backing of popular leader Marwan Barghouti, who is serving multiple life sentences in an Israeli prison.
Mohammed Dahlan, Mr Abbas’s former security chief in Gaza, is heading another rival list from exile in Abu Dhabi.
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Rating: 4/5
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Company/date started: 2015
Founder/CEO: Mohammed Toraif
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Sector: Sales, Technology, Conservation
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Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
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What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
