Jordan’s King Abdullah II reaffirmed his support for Palestinian rights at a meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday, days after he discussed the issue with incoming US president Joe Biden.
The two men are hoping for a shift in American policy under Mr Biden to revive prospects for a two-state solution they regard as having been compromised by Mr Trump’s plan for Middle East peace.
The plan, unveiled in January, ignored Palestinian claims to East Jerusalem and other land, and the illegality of Israeli settlements in territory occupied since the 1967 war.
A Jordanian military helicopter took Mr Abbas from Ramallah to meet the king at his palace resort in Aqaba on the Red Sea, before the Palestinian leader travels to Cairo to meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Monday.
Official Jordanian media said King Abdullah told Mr Abbas that Jordan stood “with all of its capacity and abilities” behind realising a “sovereign and viable” Palestinian state on land Israel occupied in 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
“The king affirmed the existing legal and historic status of Jerusalem, emphasising the kingdom’s rejection of all unilateral arrangements that aim at changing the identity of the city and its holy places,” the Petra government news agency said.
The Trump peace plan left the old heart of East Jerusalem under Israeli occupation.
This includes Al Aqsa Mosque, one of the holiest sites in Islam, and other religious sites under Jordanian custody.
A large part of the kingdom’s 10 million population is of Palestinian origin, with relatives in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, and in Israel.
Excluding East Jerusalem from the narrow path to Palestinian statehood that Mr Trump offered has been followed by US moves privately seen by Jordanian officials as provocative.
The latest was 10 days ago when US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo became the first American foreign minister to visit an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank.
A joint statement after the meeting in Aqaba said King Abdullah and Mr Abbas “affirmed the need to stop Israeli unilateral moves that compromise the chances for peace and intensify the conflict, such as settlements and annexation of any Palestinian land”.
The Royal Palace said the meeting was attended by Jordanian and Palestinian intelligence chiefs Ahmad Husni and Majid Faraj.
The Palestinian Authority this month resumed security co-operation with Israel, after halting it to protest against Israeli plans to annex Palestinian territory.
The meeting was the first between King Abdullah and Mr Abbas since Washington brokered landmark accords in August between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain.
The Palestinian Authority opposed the deals while Jordan said they could revive Palestinian-Israeli peace talks.
Last week the king spoke with Mr Biden by phone, becoming the first Arab head of state to do so since the Democrat was elected.
A statement by Mr Biden's office said he looked forward "to working closely with King Abdullah on the many interests shared by our countries".
They include counter-terrorism and “addressing other regional security challenges, and supporting a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict".
Jordanian Prof Hassan Al Momani said it appeared that Mr Abbas wanted to hear from the king his views about the “new reality” in Washington and how to deal with the Biden administration, having hoped for the Democrats winning the November 3 elections.
Prof Al Momani, who teaches international studies at the University of Jordan, told The National that Mr Abbas's strategic position could improve with a "return to the traditional US narrative regarding the Palestinian issue".
But he said Washington had wider interests in the Middle East, which Mr Abbas might not regard as to his advantage.
“There are steps taken by Trump that Biden will aim to further, such as the establishment of relations between Israel and Gulf states,” Prof Al Momani said.
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Celta Vigo v Villarreal (midnight kick-off UAE)
Saturday Sevilla v Real Sociedad (4pm), Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao (7.15pm), Granada v Barcelona (9.30pm), Osasuna v Real Madrid (midnight)
Sunday Levante v Eibar (4pm), Cadiz v Alaves (7.15pm), Elche v Getafe (9.30pm), Real Valladolid v Valencia (midnight)
Monday Huesca v Real Betis (midnight)
So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?
Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
UAE SQUAD
Omar Abdulrahman (Al Hilal), Ali Khaseif, Ali Mabkhout, Salem Rashed, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Zayed Al Ameri, Mohammed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Khalid Essa, Ahmed Barman, Ryan Yaslam, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Habib Fardan, Tariq Ahmed, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmin (Al Wasl), Adel Al Hosani, Ali Hassan Saleh, Majed Suroor (Sharjah), Ahmed Khalil, Walid Abbas, Majed Hassan, Ismail Al Hammadi (Shabab Al Ahli), Hassan Al Muharrami, Fahad Al Dhahani (Bani Yas), Mohammed Al Shaker (Ajman)
RESULTS
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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
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
The biog
Date of birth: 27 May, 1995
Place of birth: Dubai, UAE
Status: Single
School: Al Ittihad private school in Al Mamzar
University: University of Sharjah
Degree: Renewable and Sustainable Energy
Hobby: I enjoy travelling a lot, not just for fun, but I like to cross things off my bucket list and the map and do something there like a 'green project'.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
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