France is bracing for a diplomatic clash with Israel, and its ally the US, when it establishes full recognition of Palestine at a UN summit co-chaired with Saudi Arabia in 10 days.
The stakes are high for both proponents of the move and its detractors. President Emmanuel Macron wants the recognition of Palestine by France to set the framework for a relaunch of peace negotiations. Saudi Arabia has lent its weight to bolster Palestine's sovereignty and role on the world stage.
“The intention of [Saudi Arabia's Mohammad bin Salman], as well as Mr Macron, is to move away from the logic of managing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” an Elysee source said. The shared vision of the hosts is to implement “tangible, irreversible progress, within a timetable, enabling a return to the two-state solution“.
Retaliation threats
Behind the scenes, tensions are escalating. Israel's powerful far-right is determined that there can be no state for Palestinians after the October 7 attacks – a view shared by many within the current US administration.
In a recent conversation with Mr Macron's Middle East adviser, Israel's Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer directly threatened to annex the whole of area C of the West Bank. That is the equivalent of 60 per cent of what is supposed to one day become a Palestinian state. French media also reports that Israel may move to shut down France's historic consulate in Jerusalem.
In parallel, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has backed Israel's position by denying a visa to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to attend the September 22 conference. Legal experts say this contravenes US treaty commitments and the UN Charter principle of sovereign equality of states. One option under consideration is for Mr Abbas to participate by video conference.
The view in Paris is that Israeli anger matches France's diplomatic success. The UK, Canada, Australia, Belgium, Malta and Portugal have already announced they will follow France's lead. Negotiations are continuing with Singapore, Japan and South Korea.
Israel has argued that France's initiative is useless, because facts on the ground contradict the reality of a Palestinian state. French officials respond by asking if Israeli retaliation is then justified. There is also the unspoken hope in France that future Israeli elections will pave the way for a more moderate position.
The Elysee source said they had "heard a lot" about this recognition and criticism that it is unconditional and pointed out it was "based on a number of commitments". They believed that on that basis they have "finally achieved the goal of being able to create a collective impact".
These commitments include government reforms, alongside the organisation of presidential and parliamentary elections in 2026, as laid out in a letter sent on June 9 by Mr Abbas to Mr Macron, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, and US President Donald Trump. The letter also calls for Hamas to be disarmed and its exclusion from the future governing of Gaza.
Government collapse
“US pressures are getting stronger, but Macron's gone too far to back track now,” said Olivier Da Lage of the Institute of International and Strategic Relations in Paris. “The US is unhappy with France taking the lead of the group of countries set to recognise Palestine. When Norway, Spain and Ireland did it last year, they appeared isolated. That's not the case with France now.”
The French plan is the only credible one on the table, diplomats say, dismissing leaked US administration plans to pay Palestinians to leave Gaza and build a tourism resort and technology hub. Instead, France is working with partners such as the UK on a “day after” plan that would entail an international stabilisation mission under UN supervision.
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has described these proposals as "empty words and illusions”. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Mr Macron of endangering French Jews, while others, such as Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli, have said Palestine is an imaginary state.
In a post on X on Monday, Mr Chikli mocked Mr Macron for political difficulties in France after the forced resignation of Prime Minister Francois Bayrou as the government collapsed.
Such attacks are unusually sharp for two allied nations, noted Hamza Hraoui, director of the Paris-based public affairs firm MGH Partners. “They're looking for his weak point,” Mr Hraoui told The National. “Macron's best defence is to keep the international momentum going. Saudi support for the conference is a game-changer in the region.”
With his second presidential term nearing its end, Mr Macron hopes that recognition of Palestine will become part of his foreign policy legacy – alongside France’s leading role among Europeans in hashing out security guarantees for Ukraine.
“Until he took the lead on Palestine, Macron had struggled to leave his mark on international diplomacy,” Mr Da Lage said, pointing at the President's failure to force Lebanese politicians to reform after the August 2020 port blast.
So far, much of the diplomatic sparring between France and Israel has occurred behind the scenes. Over the summer, El Al security agents in France told Israeli media they were struggling to renew their visas – a result, reportedly, of their intrusive security inspections on French diplomats flying to Israel.
For now, Mr Macron is holding back from adopting more punitive measures such as the recent decision of the Netherlands to work on banning trade with Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, or issuing a visa ban on Israeli extremist ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
But after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen endorsed such measures in her state of the union speech on Wednesday, there is an increasing likelihood that Paris may no longer view these options as taboo.
Ms von der Leyen, who announced that the Commission would suspend at least $37 million in funding for Israel, had long resisted taking measures against Israel. Israel still has strong allies in Europe, and this has blocked co-ordinated attempts at sanctions. The result is that a number of states, including France, are tempted by national measures as relations worsen.
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
Zayed Sustainability Prize
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
SPECS
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Day 1, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dimuth Karunaratne had batted with plenty of pluck, and no little skill, in getting to within seven runs of a first-day century. Then, while he ran what he thought was a comfortable single to mid-on, his batting partner Dinesh Chandimal opted to stay at home. The opener was run out by the length of the pitch.
Stat of the day - 1 One six was hit on Day 1. The boundary was only breached 18 times in total over the course of the 90 overs. When it did arrive, the lone six was a thing of beauty, as Niroshan Dickwella effortlessly clipped Mohammed Amir over the square-leg boundary.
The verdict Three wickets down at lunch, on a featherbed wicket having won the toss, and Sri Lanka’s fragile confidence must have been waning. Then Karunaratne and Chandimal's alliance of precisely 100 gave them a foothold in the match. Dickwella’s free-spirited strokeplay meant the Sri Lankans were handily placed at 227 for four at the close.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Pari
Produced by: Clean Slate Films (Anushka Sharma, Karnesh Sharma) & KriArj Entertainment
Director: Prosit Roy
Starring: Anushka Sharma, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Ritabhari Chakraborty, Rajat Kapoor, Mansi Multani
Three stars
Results:
Men's 100m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 15 sec; 2. Rheed McCracken (AUS) 15.40; 3. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 15.75. Men's 400m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 50.56; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 50.94; 3. Henry Manni (FIN) 52.24.
RESULT
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai 0 Al Ain 6
Al Ain: Caio (5', 73'), El Shahat (10'), Berg (65'), Khalil (83'), Al Ahbabi (90' 2)
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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
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The biog
Favourite car: Ferrari
Likes the colour: Black
Best movie: Avatar
Academic qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in media production from the Higher Colleges of Technology and diploma in production from the New York Film Academy
Results
- Brock Lesnar retained the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns
- Braun Strowman and Nicolas won the Raw Tag Team titles against Sheamus and Cesaro
- AJ Styles retained the WWE World Heavyweight title against Shinsuke Nakamura
- Nia Jax won the Raw Women’s title against Alexa Bliss
- Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon beat Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
- The Undertaker beat John Cena
- The Bludgeon Brothers won the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos and New Day
- Ronda Rousey and Kurt Angle beat Triple H and Stephanie McMahon
- Jinder Mahal won the United States title against Randy Orton, Rusev and Bobby Roode
- Charlotte retained the SmackDown Women’s title against Asuka
- Seth Rollins won the Intercontinental title against The Miz and Finn Balor
- Naomi won the first WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal
- Cedric Alexander won the vacant Cruiserweight title against Mustafa Ali
- Matt Hardy won the Andre the Giant Battle Royal
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
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
'Peninsula'
Stars: Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Ra
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Rating: 2/5
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Squads
Sri Lanka Tharanga (c), Mathews, Dickwella (wk), Gunathilaka, Mendis, Kapugedera, Siriwardana, Pushpakumara, Dananjaya, Sandakan, Perera, Hasaranga, Malinga, Chameera, Fernando.
India Kohli (c), Dhawan, Rohit, Rahul, Pandey, Rahane, Jadhav, Dhoni (wk), Pandya, Axar, Kuldeep, Chahal, Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar, Thakur.
Key recommendations
- Fewer criminals put behind bars and more to serve sentences in the community, with short sentences scrapped and many inmates released earlier.
- Greater use of curfews and exclusion zones to deliver tougher supervision than ever on criminals.
- Explore wider powers for judges to punish offenders by blocking them from attending football matches, banning them from driving or travelling abroad through an expansion of ‘ancillary orders’.
- More Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the root causes of crime such as alcohol and drug abuse – forcing repeat offenders to take part in tough treatment programmes or face prison.
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
THE%C2%A0SPECS
%3Cp%3EEngine%3A%204-cylinder%202.5-litre%20%2F%202-litre%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20188hp%20%2F%20248hp%0D%3Cbr%3ETorque%3A%20244Nm%20%2F%20370Nm%0D%3Cbr%3ETransmission%3A%207-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3EOn%20sale%3A%20now%0D%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh110%2C000%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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.
The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
