Ramallah // While Israel buzzes with campaign talk and debate about its upcoming election, Palestinians in the West Bank are showing little interest in whether Benjamin Netanyahu is reelected or toppled on March 17.
After 48 years of occupation overseen by both right and left-wing governments in Israel, Palestinians are not expecting salvation to come from the Israeli ballot box – in this case from the somewhat more moderate Isaac Herzog, who is challenging Mr Netanyahu in what promises to be a close contest.
“Netanyahu goes, the other comes, what’s the difference?’’ asked Mahmoud Abboud, 45, who runs a butcher shop near bustling Manara Square.
“Will there be something new? It’s the same thing. All of them are against us. They want the land without the people.”
Across town, at the Stars Cafe in the upscale Plaza Mall, Amjad Casas, CEO of a consulting and investment service, is not optimistic either.
Between puffs of shisha, he says: “We think the players in Israel these days are not interested in peace and Palestinian rights. The political map and environment is going to the right more. I think Herzog is almost the same as Netanyahu.”
While Israelis are asking themselves whom to vote for, West Bankers face a more daunting question as the poorer, weaker party in this conflict: how to continue feeding their families and running their businesses in the face of the latest crippling Israeli economic sanction.
In early January, in response to a Palestinian bid to join the International Criminal Court, Mr Netanyahu’s government began withholding the monthly tax revenues it collects that is meant to be transferred to the Palestinian Authority.
The funds are crucial to the PA’s ability to pay its more than 155,000 employees, who have been receiving only partial salaries since then.
The cash shortage is also tearing through the economy.
“People are buying less. I give the customers credit, but the suppliers are telling me I must pay up. I’m borrowing money from my uncle so that I don’t close,” said Nasser Abdul-Qader, who owns a mini-market. He does not think a change of government in Israel will alleviate his situation. “All are bad,” he says.
As for the possibility of resuming peace talks after the election, Mr Abdul-Qader says, “The negotiations are all lies. The occupation will continue.”
While Mr Herzog says he intends to try to “reignite” negotiations, he has sharply criticised the Palestinians for applying to the ICC and recently implied that they will have to remove the threat of Israelis being prosecuted in order for headway to be made.
“We have to be candid, the situation today between Israelis and Palestinians is not on the best of terms, unfortunately it’s one of the worst periods in our relations,” he told a press conference on Febraury 24.
Mr Herzog said that as a confidence building measure, he would freeze settlement construction in the West Bank outside of major clusters of settlements – something Mr Netanyahu has refused to do – but which still falls far short of Palestinian demands for a total cessation.
The Israeli right wing is accusing Mr Herzog’s Zionist Camp list of being soft on security and ready to endanger Israel with territorial concessions in the West Bank. But Mr Herzog says he would keep the Jordan River valley in the West Bank as Israel’s eastern security border, a formulation rejected by the Palestinians in the past.
Veteran left-wing Palestinian politician Qais Abdel-Karim Samarai says: “With Herzog there could be a change in form, but no change in content.”
The official Palestinian Authority position is that the election is an internal Israeli matter. But analysts say that some Palestinian decision makers close to president Mahmoud Abbas are quietly rooting for a Herzog victory in the hope it will lead to a restart of the peace negotiations that collapsed under Mr Netanyahu.
“Abbas believes there is no other option than negotiations and that this is the only way to reach a political settlement,” explains Khalil Shaheen, research director at Masarat think tank in Ramallah.
Other decision makers, however, according to a Palestinian official who requested anonymity, believe these talks would lead nowhere while duping the international community into complying with Israel’s policies. This latter group, the official says, is hoping for a Netanyahu victory that would spur foreign countries “to wake up and realise Israel does not want peace”.
Hossam Zumlot, a senior foreign policy adviser for Mr Abbas’s Fatah movement, said that during Mr Netanyahu’s tenure, the Palestinians made advances in gaining foreign recognition for Palestinian statehood and mustering a degree of international pressure on Israel.
“With Netanyahu, our alternative has been the international track and we achieved a great deal,” Mr Zumlot said.
“The worst of the worst scenarios for us is an Israeli government that continues the status quo while conveying to the international community it has a different agenda.”
Mr Zumlot is concerned about an Israeli government that could “continue the same policies of building settlements and keeping Gaza under siege but give lip service for the international community”.
“More international pressure on Israel is inevitable but such a government could delay its momentum,” he said.
foreign.desk@thenational.ae
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Read more about the coronavirus
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Defending champions
World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack
UAE - India ties
The UAE is India’s third-largest trade partner after the US and China
Annual bilateral trade between India and the UAE has crossed US$ 60 billion
The UAE is the fourth-largest exporter of crude oil for India
Indians comprise the largest community with 3.3 million residents in the UAE
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi first visited the UAE in August 2015
His visit on August 23-24 will be the third in four years
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visited India in February 2016
Sheikh Mohamed was the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations in January 2017
Modi will visit Bahrain on August 24-25
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
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)
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.
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
Engine: 3.6 V6
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Power: 295bhp
Torque: 353Nm
Price: Dh155,000
On sale: now
INDIA'S%20TOP%20INFLUENCERS
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The specs: 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman
Price, base / as tested Dh222,500 / Dh296,870
Engine 2.0L, flat four-cylinder
Transmission Seven-speed PDK
Power 300hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque 380hp @ 1,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.9L / 100km
RESULTS
Lightweight (female)
Sara El Bakkali bt Anisha Kadka
Bantamweight
Mohammed Adil Al Debi bt Moaz Abdelgawad
Welterweight
Amir Boureslan bt Mahmoud Zanouny
Featherweight
Mohammed Al Katheeri bt Abrorbek Madaminbekov
Super featherweight
Ibrahem Bilal bt Emad Arafa
Middleweight
Ahmed Abdolaziz bt Imad Essassi
Bantamweight (female)
Ilham Bourakkadi bt Milena Martinou
Welterweight
Mohamed Mardi bt Noureddine El Agouti
Middleweight
Nabil Ouach bt Ymad Atrous
Welterweight
Nouredine Samir bt Marlon Ribeiro
Super welterweight
Brad Stanton bt Mohamed El Boukhari
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
Engine: 80 kWh four-wheel-drive
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 402bhp
Torque: 760Nm
Price: From Dh280,000
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
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
Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELeap%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarch%202021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ziad%20Toqan%20and%20Jamil%20Khammu%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RESULT
Wolves 1 (Traore 67')
Tottenham 2 (Moura 8', Vertonghen 90 1')
Man of the Match: Adama Traore (Wolves)
The specs: 2018 Audi Q5/SQ5
Price, base: Dh183,900 / Dh249,000
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder / 3.0L, turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic / Eight-speed automatic
Power: 252hp @ 5,000rpm / 354hp @ 5,400rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,600rpm / 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy: combined 7.2L / 100km / 8.3L / 100km
