Jenin, December 15, 2024. The city has long been a centre of Palestinian resistance. Reuters
Jenin, December 15, 2024. The city has long been a centre of Palestinian resistance. Reuters
Jenin, December 15, 2024. The city has long been a centre of Palestinian resistance. Reuters
Jenin, December 15, 2024. The city has long been a centre of Palestinian resistance. Reuters

Palestinian Authority fighting with militants continues in rare Jenin operation


Thomas Helm
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Palestinian Authority security forces continued fighting militants in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin on Monday, amid a recent series of rare deadly raids that have sharply escalated tensions between the region’s residents and the PA.

The authority, which partially governs the West Bank, launched its largest operation in years last week to regain control of Jenin, long a centre of Palestinian resistance over which the PA has all but lost control. At least three militants have been killed, including commander Yazid Ja’aysa, as well as one civilian, with about 20 people injured.

The operation is being viewed as a pivotal test for the organisation, which has fast been losing legitimacy among its subjects, particularly in the north of the West Bank, amid accusations of widespread corruption and helplessness in the face of mounting Israeli violence, both from the military and settlers.

A protest against the Palestinian Authority's security forces in Jenin's refugee camp on December 15. Reuters
A protest against the Palestinian Authority's security forces in Jenin's refugee camp on December 15. Reuters

Jenin, and in particular its refugee camp, is a stronghold of the militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad and, to a lesser extent, Hamas. Violent raids in West Bank refugee camps are typically the preserve of Israeli security forces, whereas the PA focuses on less risky arrests and efforts to rehabilitate gunmen.

Tensions nonetheless increased last week between the PA and militants after security forces attempted to arrest Jenin residents who stole vehicles belonging to security forces. The following day, a car bomb went off next to a police station that wounded three servicemen and two civilians.

Israel has long accused Iran of funding militant activity in the occupied West Bank, where attacks against Israelis have increased in recent years. Despite a close security relationship, relations between Israel and the PA have come under strain in recent years, particularly during the far-right government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with the Palestinian side frequently accusing Israeli authorities of delegitimising it and disrupting cash transfers.

The US, which along with other Western states plays a key role in financing and training PA security forces, asked Israel to approve further American assistance amid the operation, Axios reported on Sunday.

The specs

Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors

Transmission: two-speed

Power: 671hp

Torque: 849Nm

Range: 456km

Price: from Dh437,900 

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Australia tour of Pakistan

March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi  

March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi 

March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore

March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi

March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi

April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi

April 5: T20I, Rawalpindi

It Was Just an Accident

Director: Jafar Panahi

Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

Rating: 4/5

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

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Best Agent: Jorge Mendes

Best Club : Liverpool   

 Best Coach: Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)  

 Best Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker

 Best Men’s Player: Cristiano Ronaldo

 Best Partnership of the Year Award by SportBusiness: Manchester City and SAP

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Best Revelation Player: Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid and Portugal)

Best Sporting Director: Andrea Berta (Atletico Madrid)

Best Women's Player:  Lucy Bronze

Best Young Arab Player: Achraf Hakimi

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  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
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US tops drug cost charts

The study of 13 essential drugs showed costs in the United States were about 300 per cent higher than the global average, followed by Germany at 126 per cent and 122 per cent in the UAE.

Thailand, Kenya and Malaysia were rated as nations with the lowest costs, about 90 per cent cheaper.

In the case of insulin, diabetic patients in the US paid five and a half times the global average, while in the UAE the costs are about 50 per cent higher than the median price of branded and generic drugs.

Some of the costliest drugs worldwide include Lipitor for high cholesterol. 

The study’s price index placed the US at an exorbitant 2,170 per cent higher for Lipitor than the average global price and the UAE at the eighth spot globally with costs 252 per cent higher.

High blood pressure medication Zestril was also more than 2,680 per cent higher in the US and the UAE price was 187 per cent higher than the global price.

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The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm

Transmission: eight-speed auto

Price: from Dh122,745

On sale: now

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Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale

Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni

Director: Amith Krishnan

Rating: 3.5/5

Updated: December 16, 2024, 3:01 PM`