Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid on Tuesday unveiled a proposal for Egypt to take over management and security responsibility for the Gaza Strip for an initial period of eight years in return for massive debt relief.
Mr Lapid said Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi might be open to the proposal given his country’s mounting debt and precarious finances, which have been hammered by a drop in tourism since the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Gaza.
“Egypt's external debt is more than $155 billion. Its ability to borrow money is fading away. If President El Sisi can't subsidise pitta bread for the poor in Egypt, if he can't pay the bills for the Egyptian military, his leadership is at risk,” Mr Lapid said. “The solution is Egypt will take responsibility for the management of the Gaza Strip for eight years, with an option to extend to 15 years. At the same time, its foreign external debt will be paid off by the international community and regional allies.”
The former Israeli prime minister said he was unveiling his idea for the first time and had not spoken to the Egyptians about it. He predicted Cairo would “say no, and then yes”. Speaking at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies in Washington, Mr Lapid, 61, said his proposal envisioned Egypt running the Gaza Strip for eight years at first, with an option to extend this to 15 years.
Under the proposal, control would ultimately be handed over to a reformed Palestinian Authority. “Egypt will lead a peace force in partnership with the Gulf states and the international community for the management and rebuilding of Gaza,” he said.
President Donald Trump this month said he wanted the US to take over Gaza, displace its citizens and rebuild the battered enclave. His comments angered Arab countries, which are now working on alternative solutions. Mr Lapid noted that there is historical precedent for the plan – Egypt controlled Gaza from 1948 to 1956, and for another decade from 1957.
“Nobody's asking them to annex Gaza. We are asking them to manage Gaza for 15 years. That's a huge difference, and this is something I think they can live with, and it doesn't contradict what they want to do in the region.”
Egypt would lead a “peace force” of the Gulf states and the international community “for the management and rebuilding of Gaza”, he said, adding that “basically, Egypt needs to rule Gaza”.
“We will have to work together in preventing terror from happening, because Hamas is not going to willingly go away,” said Mr Lapid, who was caretaker prime minister of Israel for six months in 2022.
SPECS
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Short-term let permits explained
Homeowners and tenants are allowed to list their properties for rental by registering through the Dubai Tourism website to obtain a permit.
Tenants also require a letter of no objection from their landlord before being allowed to list the property.
There is a cost of Dh1,590 before starting the process, with an additional licence fee of Dh300 per bedroom being rented in your home for the duration of the rental, which ranges from three months to a year.
Anyone hoping to list a property for rental must also provide a copy of their title deeds and Ejari, as well as their Emirates ID.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
The%20Secret%20Kingdom%20
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Key recommendations
- Fewer criminals put behind bars and more to serve sentences in the community, with short sentences scrapped and many inmates released earlier.
- Greater use of curfews and exclusion zones to deliver tougher supervision than ever on criminals.
- Explore wider powers for judges to punish offenders by blocking them from attending football matches, banning them from driving or travelling abroad through an expansion of ‘ancillary orders’.
- More Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the root causes of crime such as alcohol and drug abuse – forcing repeat offenders to take part in tough treatment programmes or face prison.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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SPECS
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GULF MEN'S LEAGUE
Pool A Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Exiles, Dubai Tigers 2
Pool B Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jebel Ali Dragons, Dubai Knights Eagles, Dubai Tigers
Opening fixtures
Thursday, December 5
6.40pm, Pitch 8, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Dubai Knights Eagles
7pm, Pitch 2, Jebel Ali Dragons v Dubai Tigers
7pm, Pitch 4, Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Exiles
7pm, Pitch 5, Bahrain v Dubai Eagles 2
Recent winners
2018 Dubai Hurricanes
2017 Dubai Exiles
2016 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2015 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2014 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
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
Biography
Favourite book: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Holiday choice: Anything Disney-related
Proudest achievement: Receiving a presidential award for foreign services.
Family: Wife and three children.
Like motto: You always get what you ask for, the universe listens.
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
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