On a sweltering day last July, US President Joe Biden, on his first presidential visit to Israel, made sure to seek out his old friend Benjamin Netanyahu in the crowd of Israeli delegates welcoming him to the Holy Land.
At the time, Mr Netanyahu’s political fortunes were diminished. After more than a decade in power, he was now opposition leader, having been replaced by a fragile alliance of younger leaders.
Mr Biden’s overture on the tarmac of Ben Gurion Airport appeared to be simply a recognition of their decades-long friendship.
But fast-forward six months, and perhaps it was more than that, maybe a shoring up of a key relationship.
Mr Netanyahu returned to power in November, in his record-setting sixth term as Prime Minister.
But to form a majority, he courted Israel’s extreme right and orthodox wings, forming Israel’s most far-right government to date.
“This is the most extreme right-wing and religious government in Israel's history,” said Edward Djerejian, a former US ambassador to Israel who served under Bill Clinton.
Mr Netanyahu’s allies in government include religious and political extremists who have openly expressed their desires to annex the West Bank, which would effectively end any hopes of a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.
He has given Bezalel Smotrich, who leads the Religious Zionist Party, the task of overseeing Israel’s policies in the West Bank, raising alarm bells in Washington.
Mr Smotrich, a self-declared homophobe, has long proposed annexing the West Bank, land he regards as “Judea” and “Samaria”, which he believes should belong to Israel.
Under the new government, he, will be in charge of approving building permits and settlement activities.
“They will go for de facto annexation and it's going to be settlements gone wild,” said Martin Indyk, who twice served as US ambassador to Israel in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
More than 600,000 Israelis live in about 200 settlements in the West Bank, territory that is supposed to make up a future Palestinian state, according to B'Tselem, an Israeli monitoring group.
The UN regards all settlement activity to be illegal and it has long been a thorn in the side of US-Israeli relations.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan travelled to Israel this week to “emphasise” the US commitment to a two-state solution.
Any increased settlement activity jeopardises that, and Mr Indyk believes the new government may force Mr Biden to make a tough choice.
“He's going to have to decide, does he care about a two-state solution, or does he care about the relationship with Israel, with this Israeli government,” Mr Indyk told The National.
He said “settlement activity” is the “glue” that is keeping this new Israeli government together, and he believes “there is bound to be a confrontation” over the subject with the Biden administration.
To make matters even more complicated, early indications suggest the Netanyahu government will be antagonistic towards Palestinians, not just through settlement activity.
Shortly after being named Minister of National Security this month, Itamar Ben-Gvir toured Al Aqsa Mosque compound, one of Islam's holiest sites.
Mr Ben-Gvir, who in 2007 was convicted of inciting racism over his support of a right-wing extremist movement, drew widespread condemnation from Palestinians and the international community.
Many consider such actions to be merely the beginning of an increasingly far-right and hostile government that could lead to a third intifada, or Palestinian uprising.
“The situation on the ground is, I believe, very heated and dangerous and confrontational,” said Mr Djerejian, whose diplomatic career spanned eight administrations and who is a senior fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Middle East Initiative.
“Therefore, any major spark can ignite an intifada or violence in many different forms, be it from the Palestinian side, be it from the Israeli extremists' side.”
Tension has been brewing in the West Bank for months.
In 2022, at least 150 Palestinians were killed by Israeli troops, including 33 children, making it the deadliest year in the Occupied West Bank since the UN started tracking deaths there in 2005.
Mr Indyk fears another intifada is inevitable.
“It has already been ignited,” he said. “I just think it will be different this time and it's a slow burn. But you've got all the ingredients already manifesting themselves.”
The First Intifada started in 1987 after Israeli forces killed four Palestinians in the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza.
Palestinians protested and carried out acts of civil disobedience for more than five years.
The First Intifada, which helped to galvanise Palestinians in their pursuit of statehood, ended with the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993, which created a path for a future two-state solution.
The Second Intifada began after Israel's then-prime minister Ariel Sharon visited Al Aqsa Mosque compound in September 2000.
Palestinians massed in the streets to protest against the illegal occupation.
The Second Intifada included clashes and violence that left thousands dead.
Israeli forces killed more than 3,000 Palestinians during the four years ending in 2005. More than 200 Israeli citizens were killed in Palestinian attacks, according to B’Tselem.
Mr Indyk said the coming weeks and months will be a Litmus test for how the Biden administration handles the new government.
“It's going to be all about trying to impress upon [Netanyahu] not to take provocative actions, and to prevent his far-right extremist partners from doing so,” he said.
Mr Biden and Mr Netanyhau have known each other for more than 40 years, and the US President may have to lean heavily on that long relationship to try to keep Israel in check.
Mr Sullivan’s trip is the first of what experts believe will be many attempts by the Biden administration to keep any hopes of a two-state solution alive.
“The US preference under this president is to try to resolve things quietly behind closed doors, wherever possible,” said David Makovsky, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute.
Mr Biden may have enough influence over Mr Netanyahu to keep the new government in line, Mr Indyk said, especially as the Israeli Prime Minister hopes to create formal relations with Saudi Arabia.
“He needs Biden's co-operation on Iran and on Saudi Arabia, and so that gives Biden some leverage, which he wouldn't have otherwise,” said Mr Indyk.
Perhaps Mr Biden's public recognition of his old friend on that hot summer day was more calculating than it at first seemed.
But while he may have enough capital to keep Mr Netanyahu from annexing the West Bank, it is unclear how much control Israel's new leader has over his Cabinet.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
MATCH INFO
Inter Milan v Juventus
Saturday, 10.45pm (UAE)
Watch the match on BeIN Sports
MATCH INFO
Wales 1 (Bale 45 3')
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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.
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
Rashid & Rajab
Director: Mohammed Saeed Harib
Stars: Shadi Alfons, Marwan Abdullah, Doaa Mostafa Ragab
Two stars out of five
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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SHAITTAN
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVikas%20Bahl%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAjay%20Devgn%2C%20R.%20Madhavan%2C%20Jyothika%2C%20Janaki%20Bodiwala%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Two-step truce
The UN-brokered ceasefire deal for Hodeidah will be implemented in two stages, with the first to be completed before the New Year begins, according to the Arab Coalition supporting the Yemeni government.
By midnight on December 31, the Houthi rebels will have to withdraw from the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Issa and Al Saqef, coalition officials told The National.
The second stage will be the complete withdrawal of all pro-government forces and rebels from Hodeidah city, to be completed by midnight on January 7.
The process is to be overseen by a Redeployment Co-ordination Committee (RCC) comprising UN monitors and representatives of the government and the rebels.
The agreement also calls the deployment of UN-supervised neutral forces in the city and the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure distribution of aid across the country.
FIGHT CARD
1. Featherweight 66kg
Ben Lucas (AUS) v Ibrahim Kendil (EGY)
2. Lightweight 70kg
Mohammed Kareem Aljnan (SYR) v Alphonse Besala (CMR)
3. Welterweight 77kg
Marcos Costa (BRA) v Abdelhakim Wahid (MAR)
4. Lightweight 70kg
Omar Ramadan (EGY) v Abdimitalipov Atabek (KGZ)
5. Featherweight 66kg
Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Kagimu Kigga (UGA)
6. Catchweight 85kg
Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) v Iuri Fraga (BRA)
7. Featherweight 66kg
Yousef Al Husani (UAE) v Mohamed Allam (EGY)
8. Catchweight 73kg
Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Abdipatta Abdizhali (KGZ)
9. Featherweight 66kg
Jaures Dea (CMR) v Andre Pinheiro (BRA)
10. Catchweight 90kg
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)
EMILY%20IN%20PARIS%3A%20SEASON%203
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Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.5-litre%20twin-turbo%20V6%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E456hp%20at%205%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E691Nm%20at%203%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10-speed%20auto%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E14.6L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh349%2C545%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
RACECARD
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Tank warfare
Lt Gen Erik Petersen, deputy chief of programs, US Army, has argued it took a “three decade holiday” on modernising tanks.
“There clearly remains a significant armoured heavy ground manoeuvre threat in this world and maintaining a world class armoured force is absolutely vital,” the general said in London last week.
“We are developing next generation capabilities to compete with and deter adversaries to prevent opportunism or miscalculation, and, if necessary, defeat any foe decisively.”
Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
