As civilians in Israel and Iran contend with the horrific realities of war, many trying to get out of urban centres, another group of non-combatants has nowhere to hide as nightly air strikes take their deadly toll. It was reported at the weekend that Israeli strikes in Gaza killed at least 57 people, with the Palestinian enclave’s health authorities saying at least five people were killed on Sunday near aid sites operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
These deaths are just the latest in nearly 20 months of bombardments against a territory with no sirens, air-raid shelters or even functioning infrastructure. Indeed, the continuing immiseration of more than two million people presents a very different picture of conflict to the aerial war taking place between Israel and Iran. The surprise attacks by Israel and the subsequent Iranian retaliation in many ways reflect Israel’s image of itself – that of a small country audaciously striking first at an existential threat in a hostile region.
But the region is not hostile in the way the Israeli narrative claims. Dozens of Arab and Muslim countries have repeatedly stated that they are willing to establish ties and develop security relationships with Israel in return for halting the war in Gaza, ending the military occupation of Palestinian land, finding a just solution to the Palestinian refugee issue and working towards a two-state solution.
Indeed, it is a bitter irony that a high-level UN conference on Palestinian statehood planned for this week has been postponed by its organisers because of the conflict that is being fought in the Middle East’s skies. Although derailing an international meeting on a two-state solution may suit Israeli leaders opposed to such a settlement, the fact remains that the country’s best guarantee of security is full integration into its neighbourhood through a just political settlement with the Palestinians.
Instead of establishing security, this escalation gives Tehran the excuse of self-defence with which to continue developing its nuclear programme in defiance of international opinion
But the UN conference is not the only talks process to suffer. The escalating attacks between Iran and Israel scuttled nuclear negotiations between the US and Iran that were supposed to take place last weekend in Oman. The war is also likely to produce discord rather than consensus at the G7 meeting taking place in Canada. Ali Vaez, Iran Project director at the International Crisis Group, told The National on Sunday that he did not expect the summit to yield any significant movement towards peace, in part because of the countries’ refusal to criticise or condemn Israel’s acts of aggression against Tehran.
Instead of establishing security, this escalation potentially gives Tehran the excuse of self-defence with which to continue developing its nuclear programme in defiance of international opinion. In addition, it undermines the possibility of Israeli security guarantees that would be based on its regional relationships and instead of dependency on the US. Without a political end to the Palestinian-Israel conflict, the region’s future looks like what is presently unfolding – a precarious place beset by managed conflict that threatens to break out into damaging rounds of violence. In the long run, the road to Middle East peace runs through Palestine.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
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.
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2x201bhp AC Permanent-magnetic electric
Transmission: n/a
Power: 402bhp
Torque: 659Nm
Price estimate: Dh200,000
On sale: Q3 2022
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers
1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.
More coverage from the Future Forum
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
