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Amos Hochstein's official job title is wordy: special presidential co-ordinator for global infrastructure and energy security.
The lengthy name gives little indication of the key role he played in US President Joe Biden's administration's push for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
For much of the past four years, Mr Hochstein has been Mr Biden's primary point man for Israel and Lebanon, helping to negotiate an agreement in 2022 that established a maritime boundary between the countries, which do not have diplomatic ties.
After October 7 last year, he shuttled between the two nations trying, unsuccessfully, to prevent a conflict from breaking out between Israel and Hezbollah. In recent months, he pushed the warring sides to agree to a ceasefire, visiting Lebanon and Israel last week to help finalise an agreement.
At first glance, Mr Hochstein might seem like an unusual choice to lead mediation efforts. He was born in Jerusalem to American parents and served in the Israeli military in the early 1990s.
He has held numerous positions in Washington, including as a congressional aide and foreign policy adviser to Democratic members of the House foreign affairs committee. During Barack Obama's administration, he rose to assistant secretary of state for energy resources.
He has also spent time as a lobbyist and executive at a liquefied natural gas company.
The father of four is often seen at international events in a well-fitting suits with slicked-back hair, working crowds with ease. It is that ability to connect that some say makes him a skilled negotiator.
“He develops trust with his interlocutors on both sides, he's had this uncanny ability to develop the trust of the Lebanese leaders, as well as the Israeli leaders,” said Edward Gabriel, president of the American Task Force on Lebanon and a former US ambassador to Morocco.
Mr Gabriel, whose organisation promotes strong relations between the US and Lebanon, said Mr Hochstein was not a “typical” negotiator and possessed an ability to hear the arguments of both sides and to cut to the chase of what they want.
“He tries to construct a win-win case,” Mr Gabriel told The National. “He's able to deliver messages as well and when he communicates, he does it with great sincerity for the job.”
Mr Hochstein also has the trust of Mr Biden, Mr Gabriel said, something that gives him influence and manoeuvrability when speaking to Israeli and Lebanese leaders.
In the past two months, Mr Hochstein worked tirelessly to secure a deal between Hezbollah and Israel that would end the fighting and lead Hezbollah to retreat to north of the Litani River, a key requirement of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
The ceasefire proposal, which was agreed to on Tuesday, calls for a two-month truce, during which Israel would withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon as Hezbollah fighters move north, while Lebanese soldiers would move into the border area.
A US-led committee would be established during that period to oversee a permanent ceasefire, which would involve UN peacekeepers in Lebanon (Unifil), Lebanese and Israeli officials, and representatives from countries including the UK and Germany, according to sources and the draft proposal seen by The National.
“I'm sure he wants to do this for the President, but he's been very smart in making sure that he works closely with the incoming administration, the [Donald] Trump administration,” Mr Gabriel said. “He has a back channel, I'm sure, to them, and it's really shown in terms of president-elect Trump, President Biden, [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and the Lebanese all coming together on this deal.”
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
PETER%20PAN%20%26%20WENDY
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HAEMOGLOBIN DISORDERS EXPLAINED
Thalassaemia is part of a family of genetic conditions affecting the blood known as haemoglobin disorders.
Haemoglobin is a substance in the red blood cells that carries oxygen and a lack of it triggers anemia, leaving patients very weak, short of breath and pale.
The most severe type of the condition is typically inherited when both parents are carriers. Those patients often require regular blood transfusions - about 450 of the UAE's 2,000 thalassaemia patients - though frequent transfusions can lead to too much iron in the body and heart and liver problems.
The condition mainly affects people of Mediterranean, South Asian, South-East Asian and Middle Eastern origin. Saudi Arabia recorded 45,892 cases of carriers between 2004 and 2014.
A World Health Organisation study estimated that globally there are at least 950,000 'new carrier couples' every year and annually there are 1.33 million at-risk pregnancies.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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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
'The Batman'
Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 4 (Messi 23' pen, 45 1', 48', Busquets 85')
Celta Vigo 1 (Olaza 42')
Sam Smith
Where: du Arena, Abu Dhabi
When: Saturday November 24
Rating: 4/5
The biog
Favourite books: 'Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Life' by Jane D. Mathews and ‘The Moment of Lift’ by Melinda Gates
Favourite travel destination: Greece, a blend of ancient history and captivating nature. It always has given me a sense of joy, endless possibilities, positive energy and wonderful people that make you feel at home.
Favourite pastime: travelling and experiencing different cultures across the globe.
Favourite quote: “In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders” - Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook.
Favourite Movie: Mona Lisa Smile
Favourite Author: Kahlil Gibran
Favourite Artist: Meryl Streep
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%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20Salha%20Al%20Busaidy%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPages%3A%20316%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPublisher%3A%20The%20Dreamwork%20Collective%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
