In a reflection of how dire the current situation in Gaza is, some dangerous fringe policies have been floated as possible ways to end the conflict. Foremost among these has been a suggestion that the Palestinian enclave’s more than two million people be displaced from their homes – some for a second time – and transferred to neighbouring Egypt.
On Tuesday, it was reported that the Israel’s Intelligence Ministry had produced a “concept paper” that contained a suggestion to push millions of Gazans to the Sinai Peninsula, a barren, mountainous territory that is home to 600,000 people. This was later played down by the Israeli government, but it is clear the proposal, or something like it, had been circulating at the highest levels. The fact that a readout of a call between US President Joe Biden and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi this week contained a commitment to ensure “that Palestinians in Gaza are not displaced to Egypt or any other nation” is revealing.
It is of major concern that an idea as illegal, impractical and immoral as population transfer even has to be rebutted, but it points to the worrying resurgence of some of the extreme thinking that has characterised the Palestinian-Israeli conflict for decades. It is not the first time that the idea of expelling a Palestinian population has been put forward. As far back as the 1930s, the idea of pushing the local population out of their towns and villages to make way for Jewish immigration was common among those who sought a Jewish state in Palestine. Sadly, that idea was embraced and followed through upon; this year is the 75th anniversary of the Nakba, the violent uprooting and dispersal of an entire society with the establishment of the state of Israel.
Undoubtedly, there were always extreme elements among Israel's political classes who argued for the further displacement of the territory’s remaining Palestinian population to other countries, heedless of Palestinian identity and demonstrable, legal ties to their land. The creeping dismemberment of the West Bank by illegal settlements, resulting in the effective hamstringing of a Palestinian state, is an example of pushing Palestinians to leave by making life intolerable for them. Some of those who created and encouraged this agenda are now in Israel’s government, as are their wild fantasies of annexing the West Bank and reoccupying Gaza. Some of the more radical among this group may well regard today’s conflict as a conduit to implement this idea. Like many bad ideas, it is facile and contains strategic mistakes.
The transfer reports have emerged as the US continues to seek options for what the future in Gaza will look like after this war. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting Israel, Jordan and Turkey this week. It is incumbent upon him to make the position of Mr Biden more visible – there is to be no expulsion of people from Gaza.
Fundamentally, the re-emergence of population transfer as a conceivable policy also repeats the historical mistake of trying to decide the Palestinians’ future against their will. This is a deadly error that lies at the heart of this most painful of conflicts. At some point this war will end; Gazans will still be in Gaza. Nothing can be solved by glib, vengeful fantasies of displacement. The harder task is to develop a way forward that will allow the two peoples at the heart of this conflict to live in peace.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
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
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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match info
Chelsea 2
Willian (13'), Ross Barkley (64')
Liverpool 0
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.
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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
Super Saturday results
4pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 | US$350,000 | (Dirt) | 1,200m
Winner: Drafted, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer).
4.35pm: Al Bastakiya Listed | $300,000 | (D) | 1,900m
Winner: Divine Image, Brett Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 | $350,000 | (Turf) | 1,200m
Winner: Blue Point, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 | $350,000 | (D) | 1,600m
Winner: Muntazah, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
6.20pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 | $300,000 | (T) | 2,410m
Winner: Old Persian, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 | $600,000 | (D) | 2,000m
Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
7.30pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 | $400,000 | (T) | 1,800m
Winner: Dream Castle, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
'HIJRAH%3A%20IN%20THE%20FOOTSTEPS%20OF%20THE%20PROPHET'
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