Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Egypt is seeking US intervention to resolve its dispute with Israel over the presence of Israeli troops in the corridor of land that runs the length of the Egypt-Gaza border, analysts and sources told The National.
They said Cairo has made several presentations to senior officials from President Joe Biden's administration in recent weeks, explaining in detail the impact of Israel's capture in May of the Palestinian side of the 14-kilometre-long Gaza-Egypt border, which includes the Rafah border crossing.
Egypt's recourse to the Americans, the analysts and sources say, is in large part a response to the limited options available to Cairo to persuade the Israelis to withdraw from what is known as the Salah Al Din corridor, called the Philadelphi corridor by Israel.
It also reflects a reluctance to escalate the dispute with measures such as suspending its 1979 peace treaty with Israel or recalling its ambassador.
“Egypt does not have much in the way of recourse and Israel is not going to leave the area anytime soon,” said Michael Hanna, director of the US programme at the International Crisis Group think tank. “Diplomatic retaliation remains an option, but Egypt is loath to take that step.”
He said that the approach to the US comes at a time of heightened co-operation between Cairo and Washington towards efforts to bring about a ceasefire in the Gaza war.
“Relations between the United States and Egypt are in pretty good shape now with lots of engagement and co-operation. They are effectively on the same page,” Mr Hanna said.
“The US does not want to see a permanent occupation by Israel of the border area, but is hesitant to take action. Egypt, for its part, will be leaning harder on Washington to do so.”
However, Mr Biden's administration has been largely ineffective in its efforts to influence Israel on issues relating to the Gaza war. These include calls for Israel to exercise more flexibility in the ceasefire negotiations, drop its insistence on a postwar military presence in Gaza, and to take care to protect the lives of Palestinian civilians there. Nevertheless, Washington has continued to supply Israel with arms while expressing unwavering support for its right to defend itself.
In an effort to break the deadlock over the border, Egypt has suggested to Israel an international force in the corridor, including US personnel. Israel has rejected the proposal, according to the sources, who have knowledge of the negotiations as well as the months-long efforts to bring about a Gaza ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Egypt's close ties with the US date to the 1970s, when Cairo broke away from 20 years of alliance with the Soviet Union. Their relations have had some rocky patches, mostly over Egypt's human rights record or foreign policy, but security co-operation and US military and economic aid to Egypt never ceased.
However, the 11-month Gaza war has brought the two closer than at any time in many years. Both nations, together with Qatar, another close US ally, have been mediating between Israel and Hamas to pause the conflict and secure the release of the hostages.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Mr Biden have spoken at least half a dozen times since the war began last October. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met Mr El Sisi during most of his nine Middle East visits since then.
Mr El Sisi has also had numerous meetings with CIA director William Burns, Mr Biden's National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and with the White House's Middle East and North Africa Co-ordinator Brett McGurk, some of which were not made public.
The Egypt-Israeli dispute over the Salah Al Din corridor has become one of the main stumbling blocks to reaching a ceasefire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that keeping troops there is necessary to prevent Hamas form rearming through underground tunnels linking Gaza to Egypt. Cairo says its military destroyed the tunnels nearly a decade ago.
Egypt regards the Israeli occupation of the corridor as breaking an accord signed in 2005 that prohibits the presence of troops and heavy weapons in the area. It also insists that the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing must be run by Palestinians, although not necessarily Hamas.
The dispute has plunged Egypt-Israel relations to what is widely viewed as their lowest ebb since their milestone, US-sponsored peace treaty 45 years ago.
Mr El Sisi, the sources said, has for months refused to take any phone calls from Mr Netanyahu. The state-controlled media in Egypt has been whipping up anti-Israel sentiment over its war in Gaza. Talk show hosts accuse Mr Netanyahu of genocide against Gaza's Palestinians and prolonging the war to ensure his political survival.
The tense relations between the former foes are perpetuated in part by the enduring popular perception in Egypt of Israel as the nation's No 1 enemy, five decades after the last of their four, full-fledged wars in 1973. Fighting wars in the mostly desert Sinai Peninsula – the battlefield of all four wars against Israel – remains at the heart of the doctrine of the Egyptian military to this day.
A heavily publicised visit to the Gaza border by Egypt's Chief of Staff Gen Ahmed Khalifa last week demonstrated the schism between the two nations. The army released video of columns of armoured vehicles and light tanks a short distance from the border.
Other segments of the five-minute clip showed Gen Khalifa surrounded by commandos in full combat gear as they walked along the border fence.
The presence of tanks and commandos in an area where only lightly armed border guards are supposed to be allowed, under the provisions of the 2005 accord, constituted a clear message to Israel, the sources said.
Many Egyptians took to social media to declare the death of the 1979 peace treaty, egging their military to drive out the Israelis from the Salah Al Din corridor.
Pro-government talk show hosts and their guests feasted on the significance of Gen Khalifa's September 5 visit, explaining at length the “messages” it sent to the Israelis, but they also went out of their way to discredit any thought that the two nations were inching closer to war.
Instead, they sent a unified message to the millions of local viewers that Egypt, while not spoiling for a fight, wanted to show its eastern neighbour it was fully prepared for any eventuality.
Moreover, the visit and the intense publicity surrounding it were meant to reassure Egyptians of the preparedness of the military. “No one dares to come near us and threaten our territory. Not Israel or anyone else,” said Ahmed Mousa, one the most staunchpro-government television hosts.
“Don't follow those who are trying to escalate the situation,” said Mohammed El Ghabary, a retired army general who lectures at the Nasser Military Academy. “Neither us nor Israel will gain from an escalation.”
Another military expert, retired brigadier general Sameer Ragheb, also sought to rule out an outbreak of hostilities to settle the dispute over the Gaza border.
“Egypt is bound by the choice of peace,” he said, alluding to the 1979 peace treaty with Israel. “We say this out loud because we are an honourable and truthful nation.”
The narrator of the border visit video had a similarly assuring message, albeit delivered with the tone of absolute certainty typical of the military's media productions.
“The main mission of the armed forces is to safeguard the nation's borders … the armed forces are capable of defending those borders,” he said as a soundtrack of patriotic music grew louder.
more from Janine di Giovanni
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
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
Four reasons global stock markets are falling right now
There are many factors worrying investors right now and triggering a rush out of stock markets. Here are four of the biggest:
1. Rising US interest rates
The US Federal Reserve has increased interest rates three times this year in a bid to prevent its buoyant economy from overheating. They now stand at between 2 and 2.25 per cent and markets are pencilling in three more rises next year.
Kim Catechis, manager of the Legg Mason Martin Currie Global Emerging Markets Fund, says US inflation is rising and the Fed will continue to raise rates in 2019. “With inflationary pressures growing, an increasing number of corporates are guiding profitability expectations downwards for 2018 and 2019, citing the negative impact of rising costs.”
At the same time as rates are rising, central bankers in the US and Europe have been ending quantitative easing, bringing the era of cheap money to an end.
2. Stronger dollar
High US rates have driven up the value of the dollar and bond yields, and this is putting pressure on emerging market countries that took advantage of low interest rates to run up trillions in dollar-denominated debt. They have also suffered capital outflows as international investors have switched to the US, driving markets lower. Omar Negyal, portfolio manager of the JP Morgan Global Emerging Markets Income Trust, says this looks like a buying opportunity. “Despite short-term volatility we remain positive about long-term prospects and profitability for emerging markets.”
3. Global trade war
Ritu Vohora, investment director at fund manager M&G, says markets fear that US President Donald Trump’s spat with China will escalate into a full-blown global trade war, with both sides suffering. “The US economy is robust enough to absorb higher input costs now, but this may not be the case as tariffs escalate. However, with a host of factors hitting investor sentiment, this is becoming a stock picker’s market.”
4. Eurozone uncertainty
Europe faces two challenges right now in the shape of Brexit and the new populist government in eurozone member Italy.
Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, which has offices in Dubai, says the stand-off between between Rome and Brussels threatens to become much more serious. "As with Brexit, neither side appears willing to step back from the edge, threatening more trouble down the line.”
The European economy may also be slowing, Mr Beauchamp warns. “A four-year low in eurozone manufacturing confidence highlights the fact that producers see a bumpy road ahead, with US-EU trade talks remaining a major question-mark for exporters.”
Price, base / as tested From Dh173,775 (base model)
Engine 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo, AWD
Power 249hp at 5,500rpm
Torque 365Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Gearbox Nine-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined 7.9L/100km
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The Africa Institute 101
Housed on the same site as the original Africa Hall, which first hosted an Arab-African Symposium in 1976, the newly renovated building will be home to a think tank and postgraduate studies hub (it will offer master’s and PhD programmes). The centre will focus on both the historical and contemporary links between Africa and the Gulf, and will serve as a meeting place for conferences, symposia, lectures, film screenings, plays, musical performances and more. In fact, today it is hosting a symposium – 5-plus-1: Rethinking Abstraction that will look at the six decades of Frank Bowling’s career, as well as those of his contemporaries that invested social, cultural and personal meaning into abstraction.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
|
1.
|
United States
|
|
2.
|
China
|
|
3.
|
UAE
|
|
4.
|
Japan
|
|
5
|
Norway
|
|
6.
|
Canada
|
|
7.
|
Singapore
|
|
8.
|
Australia
|
|
9.
|
Saudi Arabia
|
|
10.
|
South Korea
|
Scoreline
Germany 2
Werner 9', Sane 19'
Netherlands 2
Promes 85', Van Dijk 90'
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESmartCrowd%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiddiq%20Farid%20and%20Musfique%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%20%2F%20PropTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24650%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2035%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%20institutional%20investors%20and%20notable%20angel%20investors%20(500%20MENA%2C%20Shurooq%2C%20Mada%2C%20Seedstar%2C%20Tricap)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed
Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.
Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.
The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.
One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.
That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Belong%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Michael%20Askew%20and%20Matthew%20Gaziano%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Technology%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%243.5%20million%20from%20crowd%20funding%20and%20angel%20investors%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
T20 World Cup Qualifier A, Muscat
Friday, February 18: 10am - Oman v Nepal, Canada v Philippines; 2pm - Ireland v UAE, Germany v Bahrain
Saturday, February 19: 10am - Oman v Canada, Nepal v Philippines; 2pm - UAE v Germany, Ireland v Bahrain
Monday, February 21: 10am - Ireland v Germany, UAE v Bahrain; 2pm - Nepal v Canada, Oman v Philippines
Tuesday, February 22: 2pm – semi-finals
Thursday, February 24: 2pm – final
UAE squad: Ahmed Raza (captain), Muhammad Waseem, Chirag Suri, Vriitya Aravind, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Raja Akifullah, Karthik Meiyappan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Zafar Farid, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Rahul Bhatia
All matches to be streamed live on icc.tv
2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Regional Qualifier
The top three teams progress to the Asia Qualifier
Final: UAE beat Qatar by nine wickets
Third-place play-off: Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by five runs
Table
1 UAE 5 5 0 10
2 Qatar 5 4 1 8
3 Saudi 5 3 2 6
4 Kuwait 5 2 3 4
5 Bahrain 5 1 4 2
6 Maldives 5 0 5 0
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
The Equaliser 2
Director Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Denzel Washington, Bill Pullman, Melissa Leo, Ashton Sanders
Three stars
