A major explosion of violence in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem will erupt unless Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu backs down and removes the metal detectors installed at the entrance to Al Aqsa mosque compound, leading Palestinian analysts said on Saturday.
Given the popular outrage over the metal detectors, widely viewed by Palestinians as a step towards Israel taking control of Al Aqsa, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas should not be expected to intervene to try to limit confrontations with Israeli forces, the analysts added. They stressed that the current Palestinian rage is layered over long-standing bitterness due to the failure of the peace process and Israeli occupation practices.
"The leadership will not be able to quiet the situation because emotions are so high over Al Aqsa and there is a big failure of the peace process and all the people are affected by Israeli measures against their rights. There is so much frustration," said Talal Awkal, a columnist for the Ramallah-based Al Ayyam daily newspaper.
"I expect a popular, general intifada," he said using the term that refers to Palestinian uprisings from 1987 to 1993 and from 2000 to 2005. "In this intifada the individuals will do much more than the [Palestinian political] factions. They will take the responsibility to confront the Israelis."
Mr Awkal predicts another intifada will consist of stone-throwing and individual attacks similar to Friday night's stabbing of three settlers by a lone Palestinian who penetrated the West Bank settlement of Halamish. The assailant, 19-year-old Omar Al Abed, had been outraged over Israel's measures at Al Aqsa, according to a post he wrote on Facebook before the attack.
"Even if he was in an organisation, he didn't act according to the decision of leadership, he moved alone," Mr Awkal said. "Many persons can do it alone without being in an organisation. Many will try similar attacks."
Israeli police installed the metal detectors following a deadly attack by three Palestinian gunmen at an entrance to the mosque compound, Islam's third holiest site but also revered by Jews as Temple Mount. While Israeli authorities said this was a necessary security step, Palestinians believe the move reflects Israeli intentions to take control of the site.
Three Palestinians were killed and hundreds wounded in Jerusalem on Friday when Israeli security forces used tear gas, rubber-coated metal bullets and live fire on Palestinians protesting against the metal detectors. Violence resumed late Saturday with clashes between police and protesters.
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu upheld the decision to install the metal detectors despite the Shin Bet, Israel's internal security service, recommending they be removed.
Samir Awad, a political scientist at Bir Zeit University in the West Bank, said: "I don't know what will trigger another attack but Palestinians have had enough. The situation is going to get much worse. This time it is totally in the hands of Netanyahu. If he decides his new measures are to be implemented, he should expect another intifada. If reason prevails, there won't be one."
On Friday evening, Mr Abbas announced that the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority would sever all ties with Israel until the metal detectors are removed. Mr Awad attributed this decision to popular street pressure from Palestinians.
In Mr Awad's view, it was the intervention of Mr Abbas that prevented street violence turning into an all out uprising in 2015. But this time emotions are so charged that the Palestinian leader cannot order his security forces to block demonstrators from confronting Israeli troops, he said.
"He can't do that," Mr Awad said. "He doesn't want to be viewed as standing with Israel against his people. If Palestinian police clash with demonstrators, Abbas loses legitimacy and power and he doesn't want to be in that situation."
Instead, Mr Abbas is more likely to "intensify contacts with Jordan, Egypt and Turkey to try to bring Israel back to reason".
But Mr Awad warned: "The Palestinian street is very volatile. Things can go wrong any time. Al Aqsa is a place heavily charged with emotions, people are willing to die for it and become martyrs going to heaven. A lot of Palestinians feel they are defending Al Aqsa on behalf of all Muslims."
As Palestinians protested in Jerusalem on Friday, demonstrations were also held in solidarity by Palestinians around the world — from Kuala Lumpur to Khartoum.
Veteran Palestinian politician Qais Abdul-Karim said: "If the Netanyahu government doesn't change course, we are heading to a full explosion and a new cycle of violence unfortunately. Palestinian people are all mobilised now and completely provoked because of the Israeli measures that are insulting their dignity and religion. All kinds of popular anger is to be expected."
Mr Abdul-Karim, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, added: "Many Palestinians believe we have got to the end of the rope and the existence of the Palestinian people is in danger."
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
'Moonshot'
Director: Chris Winterbauer
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
US tops drug cost charts
The study of 13 essential drugs showed costs in the United States were about 300 per cent higher than the global average, followed by Germany at 126 per cent and 122 per cent in the UAE.
Thailand, Kenya and Malaysia were rated as nations with the lowest costs, about 90 per cent cheaper.
In the case of insulin, diabetic patients in the US paid five and a half times the global average, while in the UAE the costs are about 50 per cent higher than the median price of branded and generic drugs.
Some of the costliest drugs worldwide include Lipitor for high cholesterol.
The study’s price index placed the US at an exorbitant 2,170 per cent higher for Lipitor than the average global price and the UAE at the eighth spot globally with costs 252 per cent higher.
High blood pressure medication Zestril was also more than 2,680 per cent higher in the US and the UAE price was 187 per cent higher than the global price.
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.
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
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You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
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