Egypt is actively working with discreet diplomacy to persuade as many Arab heads of state as possible to participate in an emergency summit scheduled for next week, sources said on Monday, exerting its regional weight to persuade the Arab League's 22 members to take a meaningful stand against US President Donald Trump's Gaza plans.
The sources, which are familiar with Cairo's diplomatic campaign and a senior Arab diplomat, said Egypt's effort is driven by its firm belief in the gravity of the situation in Gaza and that the March 4 summit has the potential to have an enduring impact on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
"Much more than in past summits, the success of this one depends on who attends. The more heads of state, the more weight the gathering's resolutions will have," said one of the sources. "With the Palestinian cause on the line this time, it's expected that most heads of state will show up."
Of particular interest to the Egyptians, they explained, was the representation at the highest level of the Gulf Co-operation Council, whose six members have close relations with the US as well as significant leverage within Washington's political establishment.
Egypt, which neighbours both Gaza and Israel, views Gaza as part of its national security sphere and has, along with Jordan, strongly opposed President Trump's plan for it to take the territory's 2.3 million residents while the US takes over the coastal enclave and turns it into the "Riviera of the Middle East".
Both Egypt and Jordan, which are longtime US allies, see the American President's plan as an unacceptable attempt to hollow out the Palestinian cause, but have been careful in their official pronouncements not to personally attack Mr Trump or speak critically about his administration. International rights groups, however, have labelled his plans as ethnic cleansing - a war crime.
Egypt, which fought four wars against Israel before the two countries signed a peace treaty in 1979, wants to see the Arab summit produce a united and strong opposition front that could persuade Mr Trump to drop his controversial vision for Gaza, said the sources and the diplomat.
Mr Trump said last week that he would not impose his plan, but reiterated his faith in his idea. “I’m not forcing it. I’m just going to sit back and recommend it,” he told Fox News Radio. "Another way to do it is with people there, but I don't think it would work. I like my plan," he added.
Domestically, it's imperative that President Abdel Fattah El Sisi's government is seen by Egyptians, who are reeling from the worst economic crisis in living memory and see the Palestinian cause as an integral part of their identity, to be standing firmly behind Palestinian rights.
Egypt also wants the summit to adopt its plan for the reconstruction of war-battered Gaza as a viable substitute for the US President's proposals. An endorsement of its plan to host an international conference on Gaza's reconstruction is another item on Egypt's wishlist, said the sources.
Egypt's plan, sources have said, envisages the creation of safe zones for Palestinians to live in while work is done. Its initial stages would focus on restoring essential services and temporary housing. It also entails the creation of an independent Palestinian agency to co-ordinate and oversee the reconstruction. Members of the agency will be technocrats who have the support of all Palestinian factions, according to the sources.
Defeating Mr Trump's plan, which has been enthusiastically embraced by Israel, will not be an easy task and could bring unwanted consequences for Egypt. The country's diplomatic effort to drum up opposition to Mr Trump's proposals is being made at a time when the country's national security is being severely tested by strife in neighbouring Sudan and Libya, and with it embroiled in a long-running and bitter dispute with Ethiopia over its vital share of water from the Nile.
Egypt, moreover, is still smarting from its worst economic crisis in decades, something that has been sowing popular discontent and drawing repeated government assurances that the worst is over. Already, the rejection by Egypt and Jordan of Mr Trump's plan has drawn a threat by the US President to halt billions of dollars in economic and military aid to the two countries.
Beside the damage to Egypt if Mr Trump follows through on his threat, the most populous Arab nation could also lose Washington's valuable support for some of its central foreign policy issues, like the water dispute with Ethiopia and efforts to end the civil war in Sudan and more than a decade of turmoil and violence in Libya.
Moreover, Egypt has since the 1980s relied heavily on US aid to modernise its military and is now annually receiving $1.3 billion worth of arms, spare parts and training. US support for Egypt's cause among international lenders like the IMF and the World Bank has also been instrumental to Cairo's efforts to overhaul its economy.
"Egypt sees keeping the Palestinians inside Gaza while the reconstruction gets under way as a matter of national security, but Trump can and will likely use America's global clout to dissuade potential donors from funding the work in Gaza," said another source. "However, Egypt and other stakeholders in the region could use the emerging fissures between the Trump administration and other world powers, like the EU, to actively participate in the reconstruction."
Separately, and perhaps just as importantly, the success of Egypt's efforts hinges on several vital variables, including reaching a permanent Gaza ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal from the territory, developments that look increasingly unlikely given the fragility of the six-week truce that went into effect on January 19.
The thorny question of who will rule postwar Gaza is another formidable challenge, with Israel saying it is not ready to tolerate either Hamas or the Palestinian Authority ruling the territory. Israel also insists on retaining a security role in postwar Gaza, creating safe zones in the territory's east and north as well as the complete dismantling of Hamas's military and governance capabilities.
The sources added that time is not on Egypt's side either. Life is proving extremely difficult in large parts of Gaza after 15 months of relentless Israeli bombardment, with thousands leaving their homes in the particularly devastated north to return to regions to which they had been displaced during the fighting.
The sources also claimed that Israel was quietly working both directly and through third parties to persuade Gaza's residents to leave and resettle abroad, with promises of job opportunities and a safer life. The campaign, they said, was being actively countered by Hamas, which continues to function as Gaza's rulers despite being significantly weakened by the war.
"The Americans and the Israelis are discussing scenarios other than the forcible eviction of Palestinians from Gaza," said the Arab diplomat. "It's been Israel's plan all along to create conditions in Gaza so unbearable that people will want to voluntarily leave."
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The five pillars of Islam
SCORES IN BRIEF
Lahore Qalandars 186 for 4 in 19.4 overs
(Sohail 100,Phil Salt 37 not out, Bilal Irshad 30, Josh Poysden 2-26)
bt Yorkshire Vikings 184 for 5 in 20 overs
(Jonathan Tattersall 36, Harry Brook 37, Gary Ballance 33, Adam Lyth 32, Shaheen Afridi 2-36).
Liverpool's all-time goalscorers
Ian Rush 346
Roger Hunt 285
Mohamed Salah 250
Gordon Hodgson 241
Billy Liddell 228
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”.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Tributes from the UAE's personal finance community
• Sebastien Aguilar, who heads SimplyFI.org, a non-profit community where people learn to invest Bogleheads’ style
“It is thanks to Jack Bogle’s work that this community exists and thanks to his work that many investors now get the full benefits of long term, buy and hold stock market investing.
Compared to the industry, investing using the common sense approach of a Boglehead saves a lot in costs and guarantees higher returns than the average actively managed fund over the long term.
From a personal perspective, learning how to invest using Bogle’s approach was a turning point in my life. I quickly realised there was no point chasing returns and paying expensive advisers or platforms. Once money is taken care off, you can work on what truly matters, such as family, relationships or other projects. I owe Jack Bogle for that.”
• Sam Instone, director of financial advisory firm AES International
"Thought to have saved investors over a trillion dollars, Jack Bogle’s ideas truly changed the way the world invests. Shaped by his own personal experiences, his philosophy and basic rules for investors challenged the status quo of a self-interested global industry and eventually prevailed. Loathed by many big companies and commission-driven salespeople, he has transformed the way well-informed investors and professional advisers make decisions."
• Demos Kyprianou, a board member of SimplyFI.org
"Jack Bogle for me was a rebel, a revolutionary who changed the industry and gave the little guy like me, a chance. He was also a mentor who inspired me to take the leap and take control of my own finances."
• Steve Cronin, founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com
"Obsessed with reducing fees, Jack Bogle structured Vanguard to be owned by its clients – that way the priority would be fee minimisation for clients rather than profit maximisation for the company.
His real gift to us has been the ability to invest in the stock market (buy and hold for the long term) rather than be forced to speculate (try to make profits in the shorter term) or even worse have others speculate on our behalf.
Bogle has given countless investors the ability to get on with their life while growing their wealth in the background as fast as possible. The Financial Independence movement would barely exist without this."
• Zach Holz, who blogs about financial independence at The Happiest Teacher
"Jack Bogle was one of the greatest forces for wealth democratisation the world has ever seen. He allowed people a way to be free from the parasitical "financial advisers" whose only real concern are the fat fees they get from selling you over-complicated "products" that have caused millions of people all around the world real harm.”
• Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.org
"In an industry that’s synonymous with greed, Jack Bogle was a lone wolf, swimming against the tide. When others were incentivised to enrich themselves, he stood by the ‘fiduciary’ standard – something that is badly needed in the financial industry of the UAE."
Things Heard & Seen
Directed by: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, James Norton
2/5
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
Match info
Premier League
Manchester United 2 (Martial 30', Lingard 69')
Arsenal 2 (Mustafi 26', Rojo 68' OG)
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Oppenheimer
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Roger Federer's 2018 record
Australian Open Champion
Rotterdam Champion
Indian Wells Runner-up
Miami Second round
Stuttgart Champion
Halle Runner-up
Wimbledon Quarter-finals
Cincinnati Runner-up
US Open Fourth round
Shanghai Semi-finals
Basel Champion
Paris Masters Semi-finals
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
The specs: 2018 Mazda CX-5
Price, base / as tested: Dh89,000 / Dh130,000
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder
Power: 188hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 251Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.1L / 100km
How they line up for Sunday's Australian Grand Prix
1 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2 Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari
3 Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari
4 Max Verstappen, Red Bull
5 Kevin Magnussen, Haas
6 Romain Grosjean, Haas
7 Nico Hulkenberg, Renault
*8 Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull
9 Carlos Sainz, Renault
10 Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
11 Fernando Alonso, McLaren
12 Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren
13 Sergio Perez, Force India
14 Lance Stroll, Williams
15 Esteban Ocon, Force India
16 Brendon Hartley, Toro Rosso
17 Marcus Ericsson, Sauber
18 Charles Leclerc, Sauber
19 Sergey Sirotkin, Williams
20 Pierre Gasly, Toro Rosso
* Daniel Ricciardo qualified fifth but had a three-place grid penalty for speeding in red flag conditions during practice
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2-litre%204-cylinder%20petrol%20(V%20Class)%3B%20electric%20motor%20with%2060kW%20or%2090kW%20powerpack%20(EQV)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20233hp%20(V%20Class%2C%20best%20option)%3B%20204hp%20(EQV%2C%20best%20option)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20350Nm%20(V%20Class%2C%20best%20option)%3B%20TBA%20(EQV)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMid-2024%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETBA%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Result
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Brraq, Ryan Curatolo (jockey), Jean-Claude Pecout (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m; Winner: Bright Melody, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
7.40pm: Meydan Classic – Listed (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Naval Crown, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m; Winner: Volcanic Sky, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Star Safari, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Zainhom, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes.
Where to stay
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now
