Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
US President Donald Trump has sent shockwaves through his country and abroad, not least in the Middle East, in the first month of his second term as he has launched headlong into a bold and often controversial policy agenda.
Israel, among the US’s closest allies, is one of the few places that has overwhelmingly welcomed the new president across the political spectrum. Ultranationalist and religious ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government heralded his arrival as a divine miracle. Leading centrist opposition politicians said it was a moment to pursue major regional diplomatic initiatives in their country’s favour, including containing arch enemy Iran and normalising ties with Saudi Arabia.
The National spoke to Israeli security and policy experts to see what they think Mr Trump's first month portends for the country, where the focus of the past month has been the fragile Gaza ceasefire with Hamas.
Former Israeli ambassador to the US and deputy foreign minister Danny Ayalon was optimistic about Mr Trump's second term. “I believe that when it comes to foreign affairs, especially the Middle East and Israel, we see a much more experienced and seasoned president than he was in his first term,” he said.
“I think that this time, he has very coherent views and objectives and also has a very tight crew who see the same way as he does. So in that respect, he would like to finish what he started in the first term, particularly regarding the Abraham Accords.” The 2020 US-brokered accords established diplomatic ties between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco, but Mr Trump also wants Saudi Arabia and Israel to establish relations.
Tamir Hayman, executive director of Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security Studies and former head of Israel’s military intelligence directorate, described the Trump administration's first month as “very disruptive”.
“It seems all of the basic assumptions regarding the geopolitical solutions in the Middle East have suffered enormous disruption that could spiral things out of control if not channelled correctly, not just in Israel but across the Middle East,” Mr Hayman said. However, if managed in the right manner, there could be a “new energy boost in the region from the disruption. "There is no plan, only vision, momentum and energy, and we need to navigate it," he said.
“The good news is Saudi Arabia,” he added. “It seems like it is the most important state in the Middle East for President Trump. It seems like he is eager and willing to create a new form of relationship between Israel, the US and Saudi Arabia.”
All the experts The National spoke to agreed that one of the most complex issues facing the new administration is achieving a degree of calm in the Israel-Palestine conflict, which has been in a state of deadly and intractable escalation since the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, which triggered the Gaza war. “When it comes to Palestinians, as usual, this is the most complicated issue when it comes to the details,” Mr Ayalon said.
Talking about Mr Trump’s repeated desire to see Gazans removed from the strip to allow for reconstruction, with no apparent right of return afterwards, Mr Ayalon said it was a “very far-reaching, out-of-the box plan” that has spurred Arab states to come up with their own proposals. “I would say he's really rocking the boat, and I think in a good way,” he said. “If this chaos is instrumental, so be it.”
Lianne Pollak-David, a former member of Israeli teams negotiating with Palestinians and co-founder of the new Coalition for Regional Security, which includes more than 100 senior Israeli figures that seek to enhance Israel's security by advancing a regional deal, was keen to hear new solutions proposed by Arab states.
She said that while the relocation of Gazans willing to leave the strip should be an option in the future, Israel needs to “realise that the vast majority of the Gazans are not willing and that nobody is going to force them out".
“For that vast majority of Gazans, we need to find practical solutions, and we all are very much looking forward to hearing what will come out of the Arab League meeting expected in the beginning of March,” she said.
All three experts said Mr Trump’s single-mindedness could create difficulties for Mr Netanyahu, who leads a coalition with many ministers deeply opposed to any settlement with Palestinians, who want Israel to continue the Gaza war and to seize the moment to settle more Palestinian land. Mr Hayman said the US President was likely to pursue his aims regardless of the domestic fallout in Israel.
“I think he has only one goal: that he is the one who will bring peace to the Middle East by ensuring stability,” he said. “He’s in search of the shortest route to that vision. If the shortest route crosses the interests of ultra-right or ultra-left in Israel it doesn't really get into his calculations. He can run over the right wing if he wants to strike a deal with Saudi Arabia.
“Let’s take another example. He viewed the truce [between Israel and Hamas] as the shortest way to reach some form of stability in Gaza. If he can be convinced that the [upcoming] second phase of the deal will prolong that achievement then he will increase the pressure on Israel to make more concessions to achieve the second phase. It doesn’t matter to him that it contradicts [his far-right finance minister] Bezalel Smotrich and [National Security Minister] Itamar Ben-Gvir. He trusts Netanyahu as a shrewd politician to manage that.”
Ms Pollak-David said that given Mr Trump’s ambitions for a new regional order, “it may be that the way the Israeli political coalition is arranged today may have to change”.
“The problem right now that we have in Israel is that the current political coalition simply does not represent the sentiment of the vast majority of the public. All the polls are showing it … this is the tragedy that we have at the moment.”
Mr Hayman hoped that Israel would take seriously any initiatives put forward by the Arab world to reach a settlement if it wants to secure a new, transformative regional order. “If there’s something that I’ve learnt to appreciate after October 7, it’s declarations by Arab leaders. We’ve come to learn that statements are important in the Arab world. If someone declares his vision and main interest, he probably means it,” he said.
“From the beginning of the war, if you’ve been hearing and listening to what [Saudi Crown Prince] Mohammed bin Salman is saying, he is escalating his demands on the Palestinian component in future Israeli normalisation. He is urging a state. He is not speaking for a general vision or horizon for two states."
Mr Hayman called on Israel’s leadership to make sure the country keeps abreast of Mr Trump’s agenda. "To do that, make sure that our visions are aligned, and secondly, get a common assessment of the situation with the people in the inner circle that surround Trump,” he said.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
The story in numbers
18
This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens
450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m
73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
18,000
The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
77,400
The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study
4,926
This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee
Pearls on a Branch: Oral Tales
Najlaa Khoury, Archipelago Books
A cheaper choice
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Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
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Types of fraud
Phishing: Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
Smishing: The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
Vishing: The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
SIM swap: Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
Identity theft: Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
Prize scams: Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
* Nada El Sawy
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England Test squad
Ben Stokes (captain), Joe Root, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Jack Leach, Alex Lees, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts
'Will%20of%20the%20People'
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BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Paltan
Producer: JP Films, Zee Studios
Director: JP Dutta
Cast: Jackie Shroff, Sonu Sood, Arjun Rampal, Siddhanth Kapoor, Luv Sinha and Harshvardhan Rane
Rating: 2/5
RESULT
Leeds United 1 Manchester City 1
Leeds: Rodrigo (59')
Man City: Sterling (17')
Man of the Match: Rodrigo Moreno (Leeds)
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
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
Profile box
Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
