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The "uncommitted" movement announced on Thursday it would not be endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate for president.
“Vice President Harris's unwillingness to shift on unconditional weapons policy or to even make a clear campaign statement in support of upholding existing US and international human rights law has made it impossible for us to endorse her,” the group said in a statement.
The anti-war movement garnered about 30 delegates after earning more than 740,000 protest votes in the Democratic primaries, during which voters cast “uncommitted” ballots or left them blank to show support for a ceasefire in Gaza as well as an arms embargo on Israel.
When Ms Harris became the Democratic nominee, after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race in July, uncommitted leaders were initially optimistic that she could shift policy on Gaza. Her campaign also stepped up efforts to reach Arab and Muslim voters.
The lack of an endorsement from the uncommitted movement and potential loss of the Arab and Muslim-American vote may present a challenge for the Harris campaign as it tries to clinch swing states such as Michigan and Pennsylvania.
As the war approaches its first anniversary, more than 41,200 Palestinians have been killed, according to local authorities, and much of Gaza reduced to rubble. The war began after Hamas militants infiltrated southern Israel and killed about 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies, taking another 250 hostage.
Layla Elabed, co-director of the uncommitted movement, said it not only comprises Arab and Muslim Americans, but has grown to include labour unions, progressive groups and climate change activists.
"We need a policy shift and we need promises around a policy shift from Vice President Harris in order to be able to mobilise uncommitted voters in key swing states like Michigan to vote for her in November," Ms Elabed told The National.
"But despite all of that work, and despite the fact that we actually have an infrastructure to turn out votes, it's fallen on deaf ears."
Imposing an arms embargo on Israel is a central demand of the uncommitted movement as well as Arab-American groups and allies, who argue there is ample evidence that Israel is deliberately attacking Palestinian civilians and infrastructure in Gaza.
Ms Elabed said that the group had been told by officials that Ms Harris had moved on the Gaza issue as much as she could.
While some say Ms Harris has made it a point during her campaign to recognise Palestinian suffering, the Vice President has at times shut down anti-war protesters during campaign events and has continued to push the same Biden administration messaging, which has not moved the needle on Gaza ceasefire efforts.
The tension with the Harris campaign was on full display during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last month, when organisers refused the uncommitted movement's request to allow a Palestinian-American speaker on stage. Meanwhile, the parents of an Israeli-American hostage received a prime-time speaking slot.
Uncommitted delegates who were attending the DNC held a sit-in outside the main convention hall in protest. The leaders of the movement requested that Ms Harris meet delegates by September 15. She did not.
Ms Elabed said that while the group will not endorse Ms Harris, it continues to oppose Donald Trump, the former president and Republican nominee. It will also not recommend voting for a third-party candidate, which could give the advantage to Mr Trump.
Many Arab-American voters support Green Party candidate Jill Stein due to her pro-Palestinian stance, a poll carried out by the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee found in July.
The movement, Ms Elabed said, would continue to mobilise voters to head to the polls, as there are other important issues as well as progressive candidates on the ballot. She also said efforts would be made to continue to call on Ms Harris to adopt a different policy on Gaza.
"It was a difficult decision," Ms Elabed said, "because obviously, our movement is also committed to blocking Trump."
The statement from the movement said members would continue efforts to push “for life-saving policy change which ends the bombing of Gaza and ends US support for the Israeli military's war crimes”.
Patrick deHahn contributed to this report from New York
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
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Company Profile
Name: JustClean
Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries
Launch year: 2016
Number of employees: 130
Sector: online laundry service
Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
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Key features of new policy
Pupils to learn coding and other vocational skills from Grade 6
Exams to test critical thinking and application of knowledge
A new National Assessment Centre, PARAKH (Performance, Assessment, Review and Analysis for Holistic Development) will form the standard for schools
Schools to implement online system to encouraging transparency and accountability
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• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
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• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
Armies of Sand
By Kenneth Pollack (Oxford University Press)
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
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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
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
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Ep5: Travel and tourism
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
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The specs
Engine: 2x201bhp AC Permanent-magnetic electric
Transmission: n/a
Power: 402bhp
Torque: 659Nm
Price estimate: Dh200,000
On sale: Q3 2022
The years Ramadan fell in May
Saturday's results
West Ham 2-3 Tottenham
Arsenal 2-2 Southampton
Bournemouth 1-2 Wolves
Brighton 0-2 Leicester City
Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
Everton 0-2 Norwich City
Watford 0-3 Burnley
Manchester City v Chelsea, 9.30pm
Cherry
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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.
How Beautiful this world is!
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If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
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Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
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Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny
Four stars
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A High Court judge issued an interim order on Friday suspending a decision by Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots to direct a stop to Brexit agri-food checks at Northern Ireland ports.
Mr Justice Colton said he was making the temporary direction until a judicial review of the minister's unilateral action this week to order a halt to port checks that are required under the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Civil servants have yet to implement the instruction, pending legal clarity on their obligations, and checks are continuing.
Groom and Two Brides
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Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
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Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
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Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
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