An Arab party and a technology millionaire more hawkish than Benjamin Netanyahu are emerging as must-have partners for the Israeli prime minister as he manoeuvres to hang on to his job after another inconclusive election.
Preying on anti-Arab sentiment was a hallmark of Mr Netanyahu’s past election campaigns.
This cycle, he changed tack and promised to address long-standing problems besetting the Arab minority that makes up a fifth of Israel’s population.
The tactic drove a wedge through a unified Arab bloc of parties and left a small Islamist faction open to cultivation.
Final results are not in yet from Tuesday's vote, but they tentatively give that breakaway faction, the United Arab List, known by its Hebrew acronym Ra'am, five of parliament's 120 seats.
With Mr Netanyahu and declared allies nine seats short of a parliamentary majority, the Arab slate and the predominantly religious-nationalist Yamina party appear to be indispensable to any government he would hope to form.
With 90 per cent of the votes in, Yamina is on track to win seven seats.
Its chairman Naftali Bennett, who has served in previous Netanyahu governments, challenged him directly in this election, but has not said whether he would join a government led by his former boss to avoid a fifth round of balloting since April 2019.
It is not clear that Mr Bennett, an opponent of Palestinian statehood, and the United Arab List would even be willing to coexist as Mr Netanyahu’s allies.
That the prime minister would have to rely on these two extremes is testament to how complicated his efforts to stay in office have become.
Retaining the premiership has been key to Mr Netanyahu’s strategy for improving his legal prospects during his corruption trial.
A sympathetic government would be able to pass legislation shielding a sitting leader from prosecution.
Individual Arab legislators joined past Israeli coalitions as members of Zionist parties, but a slate of Arab candidates has never done so because of a combination of mistrust among Jewish politicians and the unwillingness of Arab factions to serve in a Zionist government.
During the 1990s, however, Arab parties agreed to vote with minority governments to prop up leaders seeking peace with the Palestinians.
The openness of United Arab List leader Mansour Abbas to Mr Netanyahu’s overtures has made him a pariah in some Israeli Arab circles, and he was attacked at a recent anti-government protest.
He says he is trying to improve the lives of an underserved community where former political allies failed, and that is best done by working with the government.
While Israel’s Arabs are citizens with equal rights on paper, they face bias in employment, housing and public services.
Strains deepened over a 2018 law defining Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people. A recent poll by the Israel Democracy Institute showed that just over half of Jewish Israelis and three quarters of Israel’s Arab citizens oppose a coalition that relies on support from Arab parties.
It was to Mr Bennett, and not Mr Abbas, that Mr Netanyahu appealed to openly on election night when he urged other right-wing parties to join his Likud in a coalition.
Mr Bennett, 48, is a former military commando and tech entrepreneur who cofounded payment security company Cyota, which was sold for $145 million to RSA Security.
He served as Mr Netanyahu’s chief of staff from 2007 to 2008 and after breaking with him, headed the Jewish settlers’ council. He entered politics in 2012.
In Israeli terms, he is a moderate on some religious issues, such as advocating pluralistic worship and respecting gay rights.
But on major diplomatic issues, Mr Bennett takes a hard line.
He loudly opposes Palestinian statehood and advocated annexing 60 per cent of the West Bank before Mr Netanyahu made it a campaign issue.
Last year he pronounced the world to be a safer place without an Iranian scientist that Tehran accuses Israel of assassinating.
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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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
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
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The biog
Marital status: Separated with two young daughters
Education: Master's degree from American Univeristy of Cairo
Favourite book: That Is How They Defeat Despair by Salwa Aladian
Favourite Motto: Their happiness is your happiness
Goal: For Nefsy to become his legacy long after he is gon
Long Shot
Director: Jonathan Levine
Starring: Charlize Theron, Seth Rogan
Four stars
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Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)
TV: Abu Dhabi Sports
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
