Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Nine UN member states voted on Friday against supporting Palestine's bid for full membership in the world body, including the United States.
Most of these countries also voted against Palestine being granted non-member observer state status in 2012.
United States
The US, Israel's strongest ally at the UN, had declared earlier on Friday that it would vote against the resolution in the General Assembly.
Before the vote, Nate Evans, spokesman for the US mission to the UN said Washington would be voting “no” on the resolution and encouraged other member states to do the same.
He added that, “should the General Assembly adopt this resolution and refer the Palestinian membership application back to the Security Council, we expect a similar outcome to what occurred in April”.
On April 18, the US vetoed a Security Council resolution that would have approved Palestine's bid for full membership.
Israel
Israel has consistently voted against Palestine's membership in the UN.
In 2012, it voted, along with the US, against it receiving observer status in the world body.
Before Friday's vote, Israel's ambassador Gilad Erdan physically fed a copy of the UN Charter into a shredder to illustrate what he said was the General Assembly's disregard for the document.
And Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said after the vote that the decision was a “prize for Hamas”.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic has historically been more pro-Israel and pro-US.
Its UN representative told the 193 member states after the vote on Friday that the people in the region deserve the prospect of a peaceful solution that will permanently resolve the conflict.
Jakub Kulhanek said that UN membership will not bring peace and prosperity to Palestinians, adding that this can only be done at the negotiating table, where all parties will need to “make difficult political decisions and compromises – and that is actually what we should all strive for”.
He encouraged the region to “embark on a path of co-operation including through the Abraham Accords to foster a better future for the Middle East”.
Hungary
Along with the Czech Republic, Hungary is one of Israel's closest allies in Europe.
Viktor Orban, the Hungarian Prime Minister, has had a close relationship with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu for many years.
In October, Hungary voted against a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
Argentina
Argentina has historically strong relations with both Israel and Arab countries, and it recognised the State of Palestine as “free and independent”, “within the borders existing in 1967" in 2010.
New President Javier Milei visited Israel in February and has pledged to move his nation’s embassy to Jerusalem, indicating a significant change in Buenos Aires's foreign policy, following years of supporting Arab nations.
Mr Milei has also announced that his government will declare Hamas a proscribed terrorist group, noting that Argentine citizens were among the hundreds of people taken hostage by the group on October 7.
Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Palau and Nauru
The Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, and Palau are small Pacific island states and have historically aligned their votes closely with the US.
In 2010, for example, Micronesia voted in agreement with the US 47 times and diverged only three times.
Palau's voting record has aligned with that of the US about 96.5 per cent of the time.
Richard Gowan, UN director for International Crisis Group, told The National this group of hard “no” voters is “mostly predictable”.
He pointed out that what was striking is that a number of US allies, like Australia, that might have not supported this resolution six months ago, decided to do so on Friday.
“I do think the prolonged war in Gaza has shifted the overall mood in the UN about the need to get to a two-state solution.”
Results
6.30pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group Three US$200,000 (Turf) 2,000m; Winner: Ghaiyyath, William Buick (jockey), Charlie Appleby (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Cliffs Of Capri, Tadhg O’Shea, Jamie Osborne.
7.40pm: UAE Oaks Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.15pm: Zabeel Mile Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Zakouski, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
8.50pm: Meydan Sprint Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: Waady, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
RESULTS
5pm Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner Thabet Al Reef, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)
5.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Blue Diamond, Pat Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Hameem, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6.30pm Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Shoja’A Muscat, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7pm Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Heros De Lagarde, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m
Winner Good Tidings, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
Jewel of the Expo 2020
252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome
13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas
550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome
724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses
Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa
Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site
The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants
Al Wasl means connection in Arabic
World’s largest 360-degree projection surface
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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Results
5.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Al Battar, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer).
6.05pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: Good Fighter, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
6.40pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Way Of Wisdom, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
7.15pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 2,200m; Winner: Immortalised, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
7.50pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Franz Kafka, James Doyle, Simon Crisford.
8.25pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Mayadeen, Connor Beasley, Doug Watson.
9pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Chiefdom, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
The specs: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor
Price, base / as tested Dh220,000 / Dh320,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission 10-speed automatic
Power 421hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 678Nm @ 3,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.1L / 100km
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Super Saturday results
4pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 | US$350,000 | (Dirt) | 1,200m
Winner: Drafted, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer).
4.35pm: Al Bastakiya Listed | $300,000 | (D) | 1,900m
Winner: Divine Image, Brett Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 | $350,000 | (Turf) | 1,200m
Winner: Blue Point, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 | $350,000 | (D) | 1,600m
Winner: Muntazah, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
6.20pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 | $300,000 | (T) | 2,410m
Winner: Old Persian, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 | $600,000 | (D) | 2,000m
Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
7.30pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 | $400,000 | (T) | 1,800m
Winner: Dream Castle, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
Essentials
The flights
Etihad (etihad.ae) and flydubai (flydubai.com) fly direct to Baku three times a week from Dh1,250 return, including taxes.
The stay
A seven-night “Fundamental Detox” programme at the Chenot Palace (chenotpalace.com/en) costs from €3,000 (Dh13,197) per person, including taxes, accommodation, 3 medical consultations, 2 nutritional consultations, a detox diet, a body composition analysis, a bio-energetic check-up, four Chenot bio-energetic treatments, six Chenot energetic massages, six hydro-aromatherapy treatments, six phyto-mud treatments, six hydro-jet treatments and access to the gym, indoor pool, sauna and steam room. Additional tests and treatments cost extra.
PROFILE BOX
Company name: Overwrite.ai
Founder: Ayman Alashkar
Started: Established in 2020
Based: Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai
Sector: PropTech
Initial investment: Self-funded by founder
Funding stage: Seed funding, in talks with angel investors
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh234,000 - Dh329,000
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