Israel has become embroiled in the UK's national politics, by courting far-right agitator Tommy Robinson and attacking a range of the Labour government's policies on Palestinian statehood, protest and migration.
Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel accused the UK’s governing Labour Party of being “complicit” in the “abuse” of British Jews, after two people were killed in a terrorist attack against a synagogue in Manchester.
The minister blamed the UK’s recent recognition of Palestine, protest and “out of control immigration” for anti-Semitism.
Ms Haskel flew into the UK for the Conservative Party conference in Manchester on Friday, a day after the attack in the English city.
Speaking at the Conservative Friends of Israel event as the party's conference opened, Ms Haskel condemned the UK government. “They have lost any moral purpose whatsoever. Labour is complicit in the appalling abuse we see across our streets and across Britain's Jewish community,” she said.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer's recognition of Palestine in September was a “grotesque betrayal of truth, of justice and of Britain's Jewish community”, she added, according to Sky News.
The Department of Communities told The National that the representation of the UK failing to contest anti-Semitism was wrong.
“Anti-Semitism has absolutely no place in our society, which is why we're taking a strong lead in tackling it in all its forms and continue to stand up against hatred and intolerance,” a government representative said. “It is entirely unacceptable that the safety of British Jews should ever be called into question.”
Ms Haskel said it was no surprise that Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy was booed when he spoke to the grieving crowd at a weekend vigil to honour the victims of the Manchester attacks.
Palestine protests
Ms Haskel also took on the government's approach to the Palestine protests, which have drawn hundreds of thousands of people to London every two weeks since October 2023.
She questioned what the government was doing about the “tsunami of Jew hatred and violence on Britain's streets that has exploded since the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust”.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced on Sunday that the UK government would introduce laws to allow police to restrict repeated protests, such as the Palestine solidarity marches.
Ms Haskel's comments echoed Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who urged the UK government to “fight the pro-Palestine marches and protests, which bear anti-Semitic traits and at times include explicit support for terror”, in the attack's aftermath on Friday.
Ms Haskel blamed Labour for allowing “out of control immigration, particularly from Islamist communities hostile to your values”.
“It is fuelling anti-Semitism on your street. It is straining your social cohesion. It is importing the demonisation of Jews and the hatred of the Middle East into British cities,” she said.
Ms Haskel also spoke at a vigil in Manchester marking two years since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. She said that she had been forced to wear a bulletproof vest before speaking, a sign of the real dangers she faced as a Jew in the UK.
Strained relations
The UK's relations with Israel have been strained after the UK government placed sanctions on Israeli far-right ministers earlier this year and recognised the Palestinian state in September.
While Israeli officials including President Isaac Herzog and former ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely insisted the UK lacked the global influence to shape the conflict, Israel has reacted with fury at the UK recognising Palestinian sovereignty.
Ms Haskel's comments came days after convicted criminal Robinson was invited to Israel by Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli – drawing criticism from the British Jewish community.
Conservatives Party MPs who have criticised the Labour government's recognition and immigration policies are wary of Israel's approach to the far-right figure − whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.
James Cleverly, who served as both home secretary and foreign secretary in the previous Tory government, said the decision was a “foolish move”, warning that Robinson was “no friend of the Jewish community … whether in the UK or anywhere else in the world”.
Rather, Robinson’s professed support for Israel was an “opportunity” for him to put out statements against Muslims in Britain, Mr Cleverly said.
“Tommy Robinson and others of his ilk are now wrapping themselves up in a pro-Jewish, pro-Israeli posture, because basically, it’s an opportunity to do what they really want to do − which is to be anti-Muslim,” Mr Cleverly said at a conference event.
He remained hopeful that many members of Israel's parliament were “uncomfortable” with Mr Chikli's invitation to Robinson. “I think it’s an error,” Mr Cleverly added.
Mr Cleverly's Former colleague Alistair Burt echoed those sentiments in comments to The National, calling for the invitation to be withdrawn. “I hope the invitation to Tommy Robinson was in the heat of the moment, and a reaction to last week's outrage in Manchester rather than a considered response,” he said. “The deep upset and anger from all friends of Israel in different political quarters, not least the Jewish community and its highest forum, the Board of Deputies, suggest this is an unwise invitation which should be withdrawn quickly.”
At a September march organised by Mr Robinson, hardline pro-Israeli campaigners were on the stage but a faction of the British crowd objected to their presence.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews, the largest representative body in the UK, condemned the invitation, describing Robinson as a “thug who represents the very worst of Britain” and accusing the minister of ignoring “the vast majority of British Jews”.
Asked whether she would also condemn the move, on Channel 4 on Saturday, Ms Haskell said: “No. People are entitled and allowed to speak out.”
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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)
AIR
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Results
5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,600m, Winner: Panadol, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)
6.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m, Winner: Mayehaab, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
6.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Monoski, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
7.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,800m, Winner: Eastern World, Royston Ffrench, Charlie Appleby
7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Madkal, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
8.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Taneen, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
Top goalscorers in Europe
34 goals - Robert Lewandowski (68 points)
34 - Ciro Immobile (68)
31 - Cristiano Ronaldo (62)
28 - Timo Werner (56)
25 - Lionel Messi (50)
*29 - Erling Haaland (50)
23 - Romelu Lukaku (46)
23 - Jamie Vardy (46)
*NOTE: Haaland's goals for Salzburg count for 1.5 points per goal. Goals for Dortmund count for two points per goal.
The%20specs
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AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch (captain), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, David Warner, Adam Zampa
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
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)
FIGHT%20CARD
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Company profile
Name: Tratok Portal
Founded: 2017
Based: UAE
Sector: Travel & tourism
Size: 36 employees
Funding: Privately funded
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
End of free parking
- paid-for parking will be rolled across Abu Dhabi island on August 18
- drivers will have three working weeks leeway before fines are issued
- areas that are currently free to park - around Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Maqta Bridge, Mussaffah Bridge and the Corniche - will now require a ticket
- villa residents will need a permit to park outside their home. One vehicle is Dh800 and a second is Dh1,200.
- The penalty for failing to pay for a ticket after 10 minutes will be Dh200
- Parking on a patch of sand will incur a fine of Dh300
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
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
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
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”.
More on Quran memorisation:
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
TECH%20SPECS%3A%20APPLE%20WATCH%20SERIES%208
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Honeymoonish
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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
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Day 3, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage, the Sri Lanka pace bowler, has had to play a lot of cricket to earn a shot at the top level. The 29-year-old debutant first played a first-class game 11 years ago. His first Test wicket was one to savour, bowling Pakistan opener Shan Masood through the gate. It set the rot in motion for Pakistan’s batting.
Stat of the day – 73 Haris Sohail took 73 balls to hit a boundary. Which is a peculiar quirk, given the aggressive intent he showed from the off. Pakistan’s batsmen were implored to attack Rangana Herath after their implosion against his left-arm spin in Abu Dhabi. Haris did his best to oblige, smacking the second ball he faced for a huge straight six.
The verdict One year ago, when Pakistan played their first day-night Test at this ground, they held a 222-run lead over West Indies on first innings. The away side still pushed their hosts relatively close on the final night. With the opposite almost exactly the case this time around, Pakistan still have to hope they can salvage a win from somewhere.
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
