Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the US was his country’s “best ally” following a major leak of US intelligence documents that revealed Washington had spied on its allies, including Israel.
A trove of documents surfaced in March on social media platform Discord, stunning analysts and intelligence agencies by revealing the full extent of western support for Ukraine.
Among the leaks was the claim that the US had eavesdropped on Israeli security services and heard that “senior members” of the Mossad intelligence agency were encouraging others in the organisation to join anti-government protests.
The truth is that the Mossad legal adviser said that under Israeli law, junior members of Mossad can participate in the demonstrations, not senior members
Benjamin Netanyahu,
Israeli Prime Minister
Since January, massive protests have rocked Israel as demonstrators try to put a stop to Mr Netanyahu’s proposed judicial reforms.
Critics of the government say the reforms would give the government influence over supreme court appointments and would give parliament the power to overturn supreme court rulings.
Mr Netanyahu has suspended efforts to pursue the reforms, but his government still insists they are necessary.
Last week, Mr Netanyahu tried to play down the leaks, saying that political dissent was accepted within the organisation.
“The truth is that the Mossad legal adviser said that under Israeli law, junior members of Mossad can participate in the demonstrations, not senior members,” Mr Netanyahu said.
He added that Israel's military and security services were “working hand in hand with me, as Prime Minister, to assure the security of the country”.
During an interview on NBC's Meet the Press, Mr Netanyahu called the reporting around the US classified material a “misunderstanding”.
The Prime Minister's tone was more mollifying than that of earlier statements released by his office, which initially called the reporting “mendacious and without any foundation whatsoever”.
Mr Netanyahu's reform push has prompted months of unrest and criticism from western allies, including stern words from US President Joe Biden.
Last month, the US President issued his strongest condemnation to date of Mr Netanyahu’s reform plans.
“Like many strong supporters of Israel, I'm very concerned,” he said. “And I'm concerned that they get this straight. They cannot continue down this road. And I've sort of made that clear.”
Economic concerns
In addition to shaking the foundations of Israel’s security establishment — thousands of security forces withheld their service in protest over the plans — the economy has also been dented by the upheaval.
On Sunday, credit rating agency Moody’s cut the outlook for Israel’s sovereign credit rating.
The assessment follows widespread critique from Israeli economists of Mr Netanyahu’s plans. They have said that if the Prime Minister weakens the rule of law in the country, it will spook foreign investors.
Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Sunday said Moody's decision was “not a big drama” and reiterated his stance that the government's plan to overhaul the judiciary would help the economy.
But the head of Israel's securities agency, who weighed in on the issue as she ended a five-year term on Sunday, said the downgrade was a warning that needed to be taken seriously and should push the government to rethink its plans.
Moody's Investors Service on Friday lowered Israel's outlook to stable from positive while affirming its sovereign credit rating of “A1".
Much of its report focused on a government plan to overhaul Israel's court systems.
Mr Smotrich told a session of parliament's finance committee during a debate on the 2023-24 state budget that Israel's credit outlook was previously lowered in 2020 and raised again in 2022.
“I take the opinion seriously but it's not big drama,” he said, noting Moody's also pointed to a strong economy despite the political turmoil.
“I don’t think economists are great experts on the judicial issue” and any damage to the economy would come from the “campaigns of lies” against the reforms”, he said.
Agencies contributed to this report
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
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David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
The years Ramadan fell in May
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Scorline
Iraq 1-0 UAE
Iraq Hussein 28’
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m. Winner: Majd Al Megirat, Sam Hitchcott (jockey), Ahmed Al Shehhi (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m. Winner: Dassan Da, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
6pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m. Winner: Heba Al Wathba, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m. Winner: Hameem, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m. Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Richard Mullen, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m. Winner: Harbour Spirit, Adrie de Vries, Jaber Ramadhan.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
Key 2013/14 UAE Motorsport dates
October 4: Round One of Rotax Max Challenge, Al Ain (karting)
October 1: 1 Round One of the inaugural UAE Desert Championship (rally)
November 1-3: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Formula One)
November 28-30: Dubai International Rally
January 9-11: 24Hrs of Dubai (Touring Cars / Endurance)
March 21: Round 11 of Rotax Max Challenge, Muscat, Oman (karting)
April 4-10: Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (Endurance)
