Palestinian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Varsen Aghabekian said the unprecedented attack on Doha last week "is part of Israel’s strategy of expansionist ideology and being capable of doing anything it wants to do and being able to do it with impunity".
Ms Aghabekian was speaking on the sidelines of a preparatory foreign ministers meeting ahead of an emergency Arab-Islamic summit to address the Israeli attack on Qatar on Monday.
"It comes as no surprise to me as a Palestinian, because that’s exactly what Israel stands for and the mentality that rules Israel today," she told The National.
Ms Aghabekian was referring to Israel's escalating attacks in the region, expanding to Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iran in recent months.
Israel has threatened to strike again to reach more Hamas targets abroad, while Qatar described the attack as state terrorism. Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman visited Washington to convey messages of disapproval regarding Israel's decision to strike a key US ally and home to the largest American base in the region.
US President Donald Trump made clear his own disapproval, saying he was "unhappy" with the attack, but Washington has not publicly expressed that Israel's actions have crossed a red line.
On Sunday, Mr Trump told reporters that "Qatar has been a very great ally. Israel and everyone else, we have to be careful. When we attack people, we have to be careful".
“Qatar has been a great ally, and they also lead a very difficult life because they’re right in the middle of everything,” he added.
Mr Trump has walked a cautious line between the two US allies in the Middle East following the Israeli strike on Qatar.
"Israel believes it’s supreme. It can do whatever it wants... and is guarded by superpowers that’ll enable it to do whatever it wishes to do," Ms Aghabekian said.
While the US remains resistant to taking serious steps to hold Israel accountable or further the rights of Palestinians, world views by prominent European states are changing. Countries like France, Finland, Belgium and Canada have said they will be among some countries recognising Palestinian statehood at an upcoming UN conference in New York this month.
"I think the European position has come a long way. It's late, but better late than never, because standing with the right of Palestinians is a legal and moral obligation for all countries," Ms Aghabekian said.
Palestine is recognised as a sovereign state by 147 out of the UN General Assembly's 193 members, and the push now for more states to recognise it demonstrates Israel's growing isolation on the world stage, the Palestinian official believes.
On Friday, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution charting the road map towards Palestinian statehood. The “New York Declaration on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the implementation of the two-state solution” sets out a 15-month plan to establish a demilitarised, sovereign Palestinian state, despite Israel's resistance.
Measures like this and others illustrate that the time is right for action, and not just words, Ms Aghabekian said. "Many were saying it’s not the right time, we need a process. But that’ll never come because Israel isn’t a two-stater. So if we have to be at the mercy of the Israelis there will never be a Palestinian state and the whole world is coming to realise that."
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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If you go:
Getting there:
Flying to Guyana requires first reaching New York with either Emirates or Etihad, then connecting with JetBlue or Caribbean Air at JFK airport. Prices start from around Dh7,000.
Getting around:
Wildlife Worldwide offers a range of Guyana itineraries, such as its small group tour, the 15-day ‘Ultimate Guyana Nature Experience’ which features Georgetown, the Iwokrama Rainforest (one of the world’s four remaining pristine tropical rainforests left in the world), the Amerindian village of Surama and the Rupununi Savannah, known for its giant anteaters and river otters; wildlifeworldwide.com
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Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
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1,942 teams
116 pitches
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Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
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Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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
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RESULTS
5pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Purebred Arabian Cup Conditions (PA) Dh 200,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner: Hameem, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)
5.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup Conditions (PA) Dh 200,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Winked, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Cup Listed (TB) Dh 380,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Boerhan, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard
6.30pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Group 3 (PA) Dh 500,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: AF Alwajel, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Jewel Crown Group 1 (PA) Dh 5,000,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Messi, Pat Dobbs, Timo Keersmaekers
7.30pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Handicap (PA) Dh 150,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Harrab, Ryan Curatolo, Jean de Roualle
8pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AF Alareeq, Connor Beasley, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
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National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
Damien McElroy: A CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence
Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground
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National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
Damien McElroy: A CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence
Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground
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Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
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The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?
Justin Thomas: Challenge the notion that 'men are from Mars, women are from Venus'
