Picture this: a region engulfed in a seemingly endless cycle of violence, where the dreams of Palestinians for statehood and Israelis for peace remain entangled in a bloody web of violence, incitement and geopolitics. Hamas’s massacre of 1,200 Israelis and the taking of 250 hostages on October 7 followed by a brutal Israeli military operation in Gaza is not just another sad chapter in the long, tumultuous history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As the international community scrambles to find a way out, the situation makes one thing clear – the current diplomatic playbook is in desperate need of a rewrite.
Once upon a time, the Middle East Quartet – a grand grouping of the US, Russia, the EU and the UN established in 2002 after the Second Intifada to help mediate Middle East peace and support the Palestinian quest for statehood – stood at the centre of diplomatic efforts. In 2003, it published a three-phase roadmap, based on then US president George W Bush’s call for an independent Palestinian state living side by side with Israel. In what was effectively its last act in 2016, the Quartet published a report calling for urgent steps to “prevent entrenching a one-state reality of perpetual occupation and conflict”. It highlighted the barriers to achieving a peaceful resolution: violence, terror, incitement, Israel's settlement construction and expansion, and Hamas’s control of Gaza.
Alas, the geopolitical winds have shifted, and the Quartet's carefully orchestrated diplomatic symphony has devolved into a cacophony of discordant voices. As a result, today the stage for diplomatic discussions has been relegated to the polarised halls of the UN Security Council, where the prospects of a breakthrough are as slim as a thread. To add to the plot twist, public spats between the US and Israel have eroded Washington's once-formidable influence over its steadfast ally. The EU, a former key player in the region, has retreated to the safety of making statements, unable to define a mediating role for itself.
Enter the Arab states, the unlikely protagonists in this diplomatic drama. Egypt, Jordan, the UAE and Bahrain have relations with Israel. Qatar has played a key role in negotiating hostage release and temporary ceasefires. Saudi Arabia holds out the enticing prospect of formally establishing a relationship with Israel as an instrument of inducing policy change. All have strategic relations with the US. Thanks to these various relationships with Israel and Washington, these countries now find themselves uniquely positioned to take on a more proactive role in untangling the Gordian knot of the conflict. The UAE, for instance, because of the Abraham Accords, has been able to lead a gigantic humanitarian effort to help Palestinians, evacuate children in need of treatment, operate a field hospital and desalination facilities in Gaza, mediate an agreement on creating a Gaza aid corridor and broker two Security Council resolutions.
The Arab states' ability to wave their diplomatic wands, however, is hampered by two formidable challenges: the absence of a clear post-conflict governance roadmap for Gaza that brings it under the control of the legitimate Palestinian Authority, and the need for a competent, non-factional Palestinian government that undertakes much-needed reforms. Arab leaders have made it abundantly clear that their full-throated support for the peace process hinges on a well-defined path to Palestinian statehood. Absent a holistic approach that tackles both the immediate humanitarian crisis and Palestinians' long-term political aspirations, any diplomatic endeavour risks being reduced to a plaster on a gaping wound. Moreover, the Palestinian Authority's governance woes and the yawning chasm between the West Bank and Gaza serve as stark reminders of the uphill battle that lies ahead in presenting a united front at the negotiating table.
The path to peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a long, winding road fraught with obstacles and setbacks. But the current diplomatic gridlock is a dead-end that serves no one
Still, Arab states today have a golden opportunity to put forward a diplomatic blueprint. Here are some ideas:
They must advocate relentlessly for an ironclad commitment from the international community, Israel and the US to rally behind a two-state solution firmly rooted in existing agreements, international law and the Arab Peace Initiative. This political North Star should be underpinned by a reformed and united Palestinian Authority, capable of governing both Gaza and the West Bank.
Arab states should wield their financial might strategically, making their support for Gaza's reconstruction contingent upon measurable progress towards these goals. While continuing to extend a helping hand through vital humanitarian aid, they should make it unequivocally clear that the tap of long-term development assistance will only flow if there's a credible roadmap to Palestinian statehood.
By crafting a step-by-step plan that ties incremental advances in further regional normalisation with Israel to tangible progress on the two-state solution, Arab states can create a powerful incentive structure that compels all parties to put their best foot forward in the peace process.
The US should waste no time in joining forces with Arab leaders to refine and define joint principles and conditions for the way forward. The US Secretary of State’s elements outlined in Tokyo are a good starting point as any. A joint US-Arab proposal can lay the solid groundwork for post-conflict negotiations that also brings in more stakeholders – the EU, China, Russia and others.
Finally, to infuse the process with a much-needed sense of urgency, Arab states and the US should take the lead on an international peace conference to be held before the end of 2024. It would serve as a clarion call, reaffirming the international community's unwavering commitment to the two-state solution, unveiling the jointly crafted principles and driving home the inextricable link between Gaza's reconstruction and the establishment of a workable political framework.
Let's face it – the path to peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a long, winding road fraught with obstacles and setbacks. But the current diplomatic gridlock is a dead-end that serves no one. By championing a comprehensive, even-handed approach that tackles both immediate needs and long-term dreams, the US and the Arab states have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to breathe new life into the peace process. While the suggested steps are no magic bullet, they represent initial ideas for a pragmatic way forward.
At the end of the day, it is Israeli and Palestinian leaders who must find the courage to make painful compromises. But, by laying out a clear roadmap and putting forward the right incentives, Arab states can play a game-changing role in steering the conflict towards a resolution and a just and enduring peace that has long eluded this troubled region.
Company profile
Name: Steppi
Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic
Launched: February 2020
Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year
Employees: Five
Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings
Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Rain Management
Year started: 2017
Based: Bahrain
Employees: 100-120
Amount raised: $2.5m from BitMex Ventures and Blockwater. Another $6m raised from MEVP, Coinbase, Vision Ventures, CMT, Jimco and DIFC Fintech Fund
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The figures behind the event
1) More than 300 in-house cleaning crew
2) 165 staff assigned to sanitise public areas throughout the show
3) 1,000 social distancing stickers
4) 809 hand sanitiser dispensers placed throughout the venue
What is an ETF?
An exchange traded fund is a type of investment fund that can be traded quickly and easily, just like stocks and shares. They come with no upfront costs aside from your brokerage's dealing charges and annual fees, which are far lower than on traditional mutual investment funds. Charges are as low as 0.03 per cent on one of the very cheapest (and most popular), Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, with the maximum around 0.75 per cent.
There is no fund manager deciding which stocks and other assets to invest in, instead they passively track their chosen index, country, region or commodity, regardless of whether it goes up or down.
The first ETF was launched as recently as 1993, but the sector boasted $5.78 billion in assets under management at the end of September as inflows hit record highs, according to the latest figures from ETFGI, a leading independent research and consultancy firm.
There are thousands to choose from, with the five largest providers BlackRock’s iShares, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisers, Deutsche Bank X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
While the best-known track major indices such as MSCI World, the S&P 500 and FTSE 100, you can also invest in specific countries or regions, large, medium or small companies, government bonds, gold, crude oil, cocoa, water, carbon, cattle, corn futures, currency shifts or even a stock market crash.
The five types of long-term residential visas
Obed Suhail of ServiceMarket, an online home services marketplace, outlines the five types of long-term residential visas:
Investors:
A 10-year residency visa can be obtained by investors who invest Dh10 million, out of which 60 per cent should not be in real estate. It can be a public investment through a deposit or in a business. Those who invest Dh5 million or more in property are eligible for a five-year residency visa. The invested amount should be completely owned by the investors, not loaned, and retained for at least three years.
Entrepreneurs:
A five-year multiple entry visa is available to entrepreneurs with a previous project worth Dh0.5m or those with the approval of an accredited business incubator in the UAE.
Specialists
Expats with specialised talents, including doctors, specialists, scientists, inventors, and creative individuals working in the field of culture and art are eligible for a 10-year visa, given that they have a valid employment contract in one of these fields in the country.
Outstanding students:
A five-year visa will be granted to outstanding students who have a grade of 95 per cent or higher in a secondary school, or those who graduate with a GPA of 3.75 from a university.
Retirees:
Expats who are at least 55 years old can obtain a five-year retirement visa if they invest Dh2m in property, have savings of Dh1m or more, or have a monthly income of at least Dh20,000.
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
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
Mountain%20Boy
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PRO BASH
Thursday’s fixtures
6pm: Hyderabad Nawabs v Pakhtoon Warriors
10pm: Lahore Sikandars v Pakhtoon Blasters
Teams
Chennai Knights, Lahore Sikandars, Pakhtoon Blasters, Abu Dhabi Stars, Abu Dhabi Dragons, Pakhtoon Warriors and Hyderabad Nawabs.
Squad rules
All teams consist of 15-player squads that include those contracted in the diamond (3), platinum (2) and gold (2) categories, plus eight free to sign team members.
Tournament rules
The matches are of 25 over-a-side with an 8-over power play in which only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Teams play in a single round robin league followed by the semi-finals and final. The league toppers will feature in the semi-final eliminator.
Ad Astra
Director: James Gray
Stars: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones
Five out of five stars
Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
Results
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David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
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MATCH INFO
AC Milan v Inter, Sunday, 6pm (UAE), match live on BeIN Sports
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier
ICC Academy, November 22-28
UAE fixtures
Nov 22, v Malaysia
Nov 23, v Hong Kong
Nov 25, v Bhutan
Nov 26, v Kuwait
Nov 28, v Nepal
ICC T20I rankings
14. Nepal
17. UAE
25. Hong Kong
34. Kuwait
35. Malaysia
44. Bhutan
UAE squad
Chaya Mughal (captain), Natasha Cherriath, Samaira Dharnidharka, Kavisha Egodage, Mahika Gaur, Priyanjali Jain, Suraksha Kotte, Vaishnave Mahesh, Judit Peter, Esha Rohit, Theertha Satish, Chamani Seneviratne, Khushi Sharma, Subha Venkataraman
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
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Teaching in coronavirus times
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
