Far-right advances in the recent European election are set to strengthen relations with the Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while a weaker France may reduce further the EU's diplomatic footprint in the Middle East, observers have said.
Centrist President Emmanuel Macron had attempted a delicate balancing act of both showing solidarity with Israel while also engaging with Arab partners over measures to guarantee Palestinian rights in the region.
Few were convinced such efforts did much to influence Israeli or Palestinian leadership, but Mr Macron appeared to be one of the European leaders most willing to engage political capital in trying to solve the conflict.
With Mr Macron now busy with snap elections scheduled for June 30, he is unlikely to be as involved as before in discussions in Brussels, including EU foreign policy.
“France now has other things to worry about than the Middle East conflict, and the far right is a step away from power. That might change the balance within Europe,” said Dan Sobovitz, an Israeli Brussels-based communications specialist.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a G7 leaders summit in Italy, EU Council president Charles Michel said the impact of the European election results “must not be underestimated”.
“We have a need at the European Council to clarify what are the orientations we have in the future,” Mr Michel said, responding to a question from The National. Strategic orientations of the EU are determined by the council.
“International law, international humanitarian law, no double standards – these are fundamental principles, and I'm confident that leaders will stick to these principles.
“If we are sincere – and we are sincere – if we believe in international law, if we think that it must prevail, then we must act in consistency with our convictions.”
Political turmoil
The Rassemblement National, a French far-right party, took more than 30 per cent of the vote, way ahead of Mr Macron's centrist group at 14.6 per cent.
Mr Macron then announced snap elections for June 30 in a shock move widely viewed as a gamble to destabilise the RN, causing an open crisis within right-wing party Les Republicains.
Its president Eric Ciotti has refused to accept his exclusion from the party after calls to resign following his decision to form an alliance with the RN – a move that mainstream parties have always avoided for historic reasons linked to its anti-Semitic past.
In a press conference, Mr Macron said he wanted to avoid the RN's Marine Le Pen becoming president in 2027. He pushed back against suggestions he may step down from power should his group lose again in the legislative election at the end of the month.
“I hope that when the time comes, men and women of goodwill – who will have been able to say no to the extremes – will come together, will put themselves in a position to build a shared, sincere project that is useful to the country,” Mr Macron said.
Should the RN win again, Mr Macron will be under pressure to appoint a new prime minister either from the party or favourable to it.
This may open the door to warmer relations with the Israeli government due to RN president Jordan Bardella's pro-Israel and anti-Islam views.
The proximity between the current Israeli government and the RN is not ideological, said Mr Sobovitz, a former adviser to European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic.
Rather, “they perceive each other as having a common enemy. Islamophobia brings them together”, Mr Sobovitz told The National.
Relations have been heating up in the past years as the party attempts to break with the legacy of its founder, Holocaust denier Jean-Marie Le Pen.
Other EU countries with populist parties in power, such as Hungary and recently Poland, have also sought to strengthen ties with Israel.
Israeli attacks
Senior Israeli officials took to social media to celebrate the electoral setbacks of European leaders viewed as pro-Palestinian such as Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, a liberal, and his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez, a socialist.
Israeli Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli appeared to make fun of Mr De Croo's tears after he resigned following the European election, writing on X: “Apparently supporting terror doesn’t resonate with the Belgian people.”
Foreign Minister Israel Katz published photos of Mr Sanchez with a broken egg trickling down his face, claiming he had faced a “resounding defeat”.
Socialists in Spain came second in Sunday's vote, behind the conservatives, a notable setback compared to their 2019 landslide victory.
There was no official response to the posts, though Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares has in the past said similar attacks were “despicable” and repeated Spain's condemnation of Hamas.
They have caused shock among some for their breach of diplomatic protocol.
“It's a terrible lack of professionalism. It only isolates Israel further,” said Mr Sobovitz.
The far right's electoral gains across Europe are expected to translate into a stronger opposition role in the European Parliament, where conservatives and socialists remain the strongest blocs.
Parliament approves laws and top jobs and can also issue non-binding resolutions on international affairs that signal how the continent positions itself on certain issues, but cannot put forward legislation.
That can only be done at the level of the European Commission and the European council, where heads of state meet.
Despite some EU leaders calling for sanctions against Israel over possible human rights offences in Gaza, the council has signalled it is not interested due to a lack of consensus.
Many countries, including Germany, Hungary and the Czech Republic, reject language that may seem critical of Israel.
European Parliament election results – in pictures
The likelihood of punitive measures in the near future has further decreased as Mr Sanchez, the lead pro-Palestinian voice in the EU, appears weakened by the European election.
According to rumours in Brussels, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Parliament chief Roberta Metsola are on track for second terms.
The German and Maltese politicians travelled together to Israel after the October 7 attacks in what was widely viewed as a strong show of support for the country.
The European Council's top job could possibly go to former Portuguese prime minister Antonio Costa and the top diplomat posting to Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.
Ms Kallas has gained prominence with her anti-Russia views but has stayed quiet on the Middle East.
The top diplomat job is a tough one, with EU countries often failing to show unity on foreign policy issues, including the Gaza war.
Outgoing foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has often put out statements in his own name condemning Israeli military action when consensus could not be achieved among the bloc's 27 members.
“Populism both in Israel and in Europe is further fuelling divisions. If both Israel and Palestine perceive the new high-representative as weak, they won't listen,” said Mr Sobovitz.
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
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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South Korea
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The Two Popes
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce
Four out of five stars
CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
%3Cp%3EElena%20Rybakina%20(Kazakhstan)%3Cbr%3EOns%20Jabeur%20(Tunisia)%3Cbr%3EMaria%20Sakkari%20(Greece)%3Cbr%3EBarbora%20Krej%C4%8D%C3%ADkov%C3%A1%20(Czech%20Republic)%3Cbr%3EBeatriz%20Haddad%20Maia%20(Brazil)%3Cbr%3EJe%C4%BCena%20Ostapenko%20(Latvia)%3Cbr%3ELiudmila%20Samsonova%3Cbr%3EDaria%20Kasatkina%3Cbr%3EVeronika%20Kudermetova%3Cbr%3ECaroline%20Garcia%20(France)%3Cbr%3EMagda%20Linette%20(Poland)%3Cbr%3ESorana%20C%C3%AErstea%20(Romania)%3Cbr%3EAnastasia%20Potapova%3Cbr%3EAnhelina%20Kalinina%20(Ukraine)%3Cbr%3EJasmine%20Paolini%20(Italy)%3Cbr%3EEmma%20Navarro%20(USA)%3Cbr%3ELesia%20Tsurenko%20(Ukraine)%3Cbr%3EEmma%20Raducanu%20(Great%20Britain)%20%E2%80%93%20wildcard%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Origin
Dan Brown
Doubleday
Small%20Things%20Like%20These
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Tim%20Mielants%3Cbr%3ECast%3A%20Cillian%20Murphy%2C%20Emily%20Watson%2C%20Eileen%20Walsh%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: Automatic
Power: 530bhp
Torque: 750Nm
Price: Dh535,000
On sale: Now
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
RACE CARD
4pm Al Bastakiya – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
4.35pm Dubai City Of Gold – Group 2 (TB) $228,000 (Turf) 2,410m
5.10pm Mahab Al Shimaal – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,200m
5.45pm Burj Nahaar – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m
6.20pm Jebel Hatta – Group 1 (TB) $260,000 (T) 1,800m
6.55pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (TB) $390,000 (D) 2,000m
7.30pm Nad Al Sheba – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (T) 1,200m
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet
Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder
Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,300rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Other simple ideas for sushi rice dishes
Cheat’s nigiri
This is easier to make than sushi rolls. With damp hands, form the cooled rice into small tablet shapes. Place slices of fresh, raw salmon, mackerel or trout (or smoked salmon) lightly touched with wasabi, then press, wasabi side-down, onto the rice. Serve with soy sauce and pickled ginger.
Easy omurice
This fusion dish combines Asian fried rice with a western omelette. To make, fry cooked and cooled sushi rice with chopped vegetables such as carrot and onion and lashings of sweet-tangy ketchup, then wrap in a soft egg omelette.
Deconstructed sushi salad platter
This makes a great, fuss-free sharing meal. Arrange sushi rice on a platter or board, then fill the space with all your favourite sushi ingredients (edamame beans, cooked prawns or tuna, tempura veggies, pickled ginger and chilli tofu), with a dressing or dipping sauce on the side.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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
Final results:
Open men
Australia 94 (4) beat New Zealand 48 (0)
Plate men
England 85 (3) beat India 81 (1)
Open women
Australia 121 (4) beat South Africa 52 (0)
Under 22 men
Australia 68 (2) beat New Zealand 66 (2)
Under 22 women
Australia 92 (3) beat New Zealand 54 (1)
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Thursday (All UAE kick-off times)
Sevilla v Real Betis (midnight)
Friday
Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)
Valencia v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)
Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)
Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday
Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)
Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)
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)
The biog
First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work
Scoreline
Liverpool 3
Mane (7'), Salah (69'), Firmino (90')
Bournemouth 0
Zayed Sustainability Prize
What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
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.
BLACK%20ADAM
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if you go
The flights
The closest international airport to the TMB trail is Geneva (just over an hour’s drive from the French ski town of Chamonix where most people start and end the walk). Direct flights from the UAE to Geneva are available with Etihad and Emirates from about Dh2,790 including taxes.
The trek
The Tour du Mont Blanc takes about 10 to 14 days to complete if walked in its entirety, but by using the services of a tour operator such as Raw Travel, a shorter “highlights” version allows you to complete the best of the route in a week, from Dh6,750 per person. The trails are blocked by snow from about late October to early May. Most people walk in July and August, but be warned that trails are often uncomfortably busy at this time and it can be very hot. The prime months are June and September.
Ipaf in numbers
Established: 2008
Prize money: $50,000 (Dh183,650) for winners and $10,000 for those on the shortlist.
Winning novels: 13
Shortlisted novels: 66
Longlisted novels: 111
Total number of novels submitted: 1,780
Novels translated internationally: 66
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3ECompany%20name%3A%20CarbonSifr%3Cbr%3EStarted%3A%202022%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Onur%20Elgun%2C%20Mustafa%20Bosca%20and%20Muhammed%20Yildirim%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Climate%20tech%3Cbr%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%241%20million%20raised%20in%20seed%20funding%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
