AMMAN // Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, is scheduled to hold talks tonight with Omar Suleiman, the Egyptian intelligence chief, that would focus on the latest reconciliation efforts led by Cairo to end the bitter struggle between Hamas and Fatah, Mr Abbas's party.
"The [national] dialogue will be at the centre of the talks," Atta Kheiri, the Palestinian ambassador to Jordan, said.
King Abdullah of Jordan is also scheduled to meet with Mr Suleiman and the Egyptian foreign minister, Ahmed Abu Gheit, to discuss recent Middle Eastern developments.
The scheduled meetings come as Cairo tries to hammer out a final reconciliation draft, which focuses on the security situation in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, the creation of a multifaction committee to oversee preparations for new elections, and the freeing of political prisoners held by both parties.
Cairo wants to hold a national unity dialogue for all Palestinian factions this month to pave the way for signing a reconciliation pact between Hamas and Fatah. No specific date has been set for signing the Egyptian-proposed accord, which Hamas tentatively approved last week.
Mr Abbas has visited Cairo recently and held talks with Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president.
"We want to see what the Egyptians have in store for us with regards to the dialogue.
"As mediators, they also have the answers from Hamas as to when the elections will be held and if they will be delayed," Mr Kheiri said.
Some analysts said they are optimistic that Hamas and Fatah will reach an agreement, but question whether it will be actually implemented.
"Recent developments have shown that Hamas and Fatah are prepared to accept the latest Egyptian proposal.
"And it seems that Abbas will be the odd man out, which explains why Omar Suleiman wants to see him personally in Amman," said Mouin Rabbani, a senior Middle East analyst and a contributing editor at Middle East Report.
"It is increasingly likely that an agreement will be reached, but the extent to which such an agreement will be implemented is questioned."
Jordan hopes that the national reconciliation pact will mend the rift between Hamas and Fatah and strengthen the position of the Palestinian side in peace negotiations with Israel.
"We hope that a national Palestinian reconciliation takes place as it will strengthen the position of the Palestinian negotiator," Nasser Judeh, the Jordanian foreign minister, told Jordan TV on Friday night.
"This will not give Israel the pretext to say that there is no Palestinian partner that represents all Palestinians."
Jordan advocates peace efforts with Israel based on a two-state solution and is banking on the Obama administration in the United States to end the Arab-Israeli conflict and bring about peace and stability in the region, but remains deeply disappointed with Israel's intransigence over the peace process.
"It is important to take advantage of this opportunity - Arab countries are committed to peace under the 2002 Arab peace initiative that was endorsed at a Beirut summit and was reiterated further in successive Arab summits," Mr Judeh said.
He said that it is Israel that is hindering the peace efforts. "Settlements and peace contradict each other. Settlements violate international law and they are illegitimate."
Recent US administration efforts to jump-start Israeli-Palestinian peace talks have not yielded any tangible results.
"Jordan does not want to see the opportunity of peace, under US pressure, wasted. There has never been such an opportunity, not under eight years of the Bush administration and neither under Clinton's," said Nabeel Gheishan, an editor and columnist with Arab Alyawm, an independent daily newspaper based in Amman.
Israel's continued rejection of the two-state solution, a resolution that has the support of Arab states, the US administration and the international community, casts a dark shadow on Jordan and poses a threat to the sovereignty of the country, where 50 per cent of the population are of Palestinian origin.
"The Jordanians are taking the Obama administration seriously and they seem to genuinely believe that [the US president] is determined to come up with a new diplomatic initiative.
"Therefore, the key consideration for Jordan is that a Palestinian leadership needs to be in a position to engage with such an American initiative," Mr Rabbani said.
"Jordan has this perennial fear that it is going to end up being a victim of instability. Jordan may have shifted its position. It has supported Abu Mazen [Mr Abbas], who is getting weaker and weaker.
"But he is now not in a position to rout Hamas.
"The Jordanian policy is now more interested in Palestinian stability."
smaayeh@thenational.ae
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Company%20profile
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Company%20Profile
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Scoreline:
Barcelona 2
Suarez 85', Messi 86'
Atletico Madrid 0
Red card: Diego Costa 28' (Atletico)
More from Neighbourhood Watch
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
THE%20SPECS
%3Cp%3EBattery%3A%2060kW%20lithium-ion%20phosphate%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20Up%20to%20201bhp%3Cbr%3E0%20to%20100kph%3A%207.3%20seconds%3Cbr%3ERange%3A%20418km%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh149%2C900%3Cbr%3EAvailable%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
Saturday's schedule at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
GP3 race, 12:30pm
Formula 1 final practice, 2pm
Formula 1 qualifying, 5pm
Formula 2 race, 6:40pm
Performance: Sam Smith
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
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
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
Scoreline
Real Madrid 1
Ronaldo (53')
Atletico Madrid 1
Griezmann (57')
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
The biog
Born November 11, 1948
Education: BA, English Language and Literature, Cairo University
Family: Four brothers, seven sisters, two daughters, 42 and 39, two sons, 43 and 35, and 15 grandchildren
Hobbies: Reading and traveling
The specs: 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Price, base: Dh198,300
Engine: 2.0L in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 280hp @ 5,250rpm
Torque: 400Nm @ 2,250rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7L / 100km
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Honeymoonish
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How to donate
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
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SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 363hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh184,500
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Biography
Favourite book: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Holiday choice: Anything Disney-related
Proudest achievement: Receiving a presidential award for foreign services.
Family: Wife and three children.
Like motto: You always get what you ask for, the universe listens.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5