Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
US President Joe Biden will host a scaled-down iftar at the White House on Tuesday, sources said, after several prospective guests shunned invitations in protest against the administration's handling of the Israel-Gaza war.
Five or six people are expected to attend the “working iftar” on Tuesday, a source told The National. Several people turned down invitations to the event.
Another source said the event would be attended by Vice President Kamala Harris, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and some Muslim staff members.
The Muslim and Arab communities in the US have grown angry over the Biden administration's refusal to support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza or to put conditions on military aid to Israel.
Muslim and Arab Americans are part of Mr Biden's coalition as he seeks a second term in office. But some say they feel betrayed by a president who campaigned on promises to increase the visibility of minority groups in the US and promote peace in the Middle East.
More than 32,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, Gaza health authorities say. But the US continues to supply Israel with weapons without any conditions or efforts to monitor their use.
Despite US calls for more aid to enter the besieged Gaza Strip, starvation, malnutrition and disease are taking hold.
In recent months, those critical of Mr Biden's policies have expressed doubts about whether engaging with the administration will bring about a change in policy.
“These meetings don't really have any meaning, other than symbolism,” a third source said. “I don't think they're going to change anybody's mind by going.”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to confirm whether the event was taking place. The Gaza Palestinian American Association put out a statement condemning the event.
“We believe that by participating in this event, Arab and Muslim leaders risk sending a message of tacit endorsement of the administration's policies towards Palestine,” Reem Al Dahdah, a representative for the group, said in a statement.
Last week, the US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, shared an image on social media showing her with guests after an iftar she hosted. Some users accused her and the US of worsening the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
In Michigan, a state with a sizeable Arab and Muslim population, more than 100,000 voters cast "uncommitted" ballots in the Democratic primary election, to protest against the Biden administration's handling of the conflict.
Communities in other states, including Illinois and Wisconsin, launched similar protest vote campaigns.
For much of the past two decades, the White House has hosted yearly iftars, attended by Muslim community leaders, elected officials and staff members.
Former president Donald Trump interrupted that tradition in 2017, after he issued executive orders barring the entry of citizens from several Muslim-majority countries.
Last year, the Biden administration held a large Eid Al Fitr celebration at the White House to mark the end of Ramadan. The event included musicians who played Arabic songs.
Sources said they doubted a similar event would be held this year.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
