The war between Israel and Gaza has caused deep-seated divisions in the Labour Party that have lingered since the Jeremy Corbyn years to resurface at its annual conference in Liverpool.
Keir Starmer was quick to condemn Hamas’s attack on Israel and shadow cabinet members have echoed his support for Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
But while the message from Labour’s leadership is clear – Israel has every right to defend itself against terrorists – the violence has reignited conversations among party supporters on what needs to be done to address the long-term conflict.
Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said Labour would “not surrender the hope of two states living side-by-side in peace”, as he warned both Israelis and Palestinians were paying a “terrible price” after Hamas’s “indiscriminate” attacks.
Labour MP Margaret Beckett, who served as foreign secretary from 2006-07 in Tony Blair’s government, told a fringe event at the conference that numerous opportunities for peace between Israel and Palestine had been “wasted and disappeared”.
She said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was a “poisonous influence” on the Middle East peace process.
Wayne David, Labour’s shadow minister for the Middle East and North Africa, said the UK should “not turn a blind eye” to the “huge injustices committed against the Palestinian people for many years”.
Mr David told the event on Palestinian rights: “I believe that the people of Palestine should not be equated with Hamas.”
He said Israeli settlers were guilty of “terrorist activity” and that Israel’s response to Saturday's Hamas attack “must be proportionate”.
He also called for more UK aid for beleaguered Palestinians.
The event began with 30 seconds of silence to reflect on the horrors of recent days.
Host Chris Doyle, director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding, said the “horrors and loss of life” in Gaza and Israel called for a “moment for sober reflection”.
The National spoke to several people at the event to gauge the feeling as the opposition party positions itself to win the next general election.
John Healey, Labour's shadow defence minister, told the conference he was glad that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a former hostage of Iran, would be attending the event in Liverpool more than a year after she was released.
Asked by The National if the Conservative government should adopt a stronger policy towards Iran, given its backing for Hamas, Mr Healey declined to comment.
"That's a good question to try to ask David," he replied, referring to Mr Lammy.
A Labour government would adopt a stronger foreign policy compared to Rishi Sunak's administration, Mr Healey told the conference.
"With threats increasing with the war in Ukraine, security is now at the heart of every nation's interests," he said.
"And these words have special significance for Israel today.
"We condemn the attacks. We support Israel's right to defend itself and we pray all hostages return safely."
Kim Johnson, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, declined to comment on the violence unfolding.
Ms Johnson in February apologised to the House of Commons after angering politicians by calling the Israeli government “fascist” during Prime Minister’s Questions. Her apology and retraction came after she had been summoned to Labour’s chief whip to explain her remarks.
Her comments, shortly after Holocaust Memorial Day, caused a stir among Labour members and ignited fears of the party becoming mired in another anti-Semitism row.
“I will condemn the [Hamas] attacks – but that’s it,” she said when questioned by The National.
Jackie Jarvis, a supporter of One Palestine Land, a group which campaigns for a one-state solution to the Palestine-Israel conflict, stood outside the conference centre with a fellow supporter holding a Palestinian flag.
She lambasted Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, for saying “Gaza is not occupied by Israel” during an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Monday morning.
“I think that shows her level of ignorance because Gaza is a prison,” Ms Jarvis told The National. “Most of the people cannot get out easily and the few who can go out, it is very difficult for them.
“For the shadow chancellor to say such an ignorant thing in terms of her understanding of occupation is appalling.”
As she spoke a man heading towards the conference hall stopped briefly to tell her “you are a disgrace”.
She appeared unfazed but it was an indication of the deep divisions that remain in Labour on how to respond to the Palestine-Israel issue.
Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she had “no time” for people cheering for the Palestinian cause on the sidelines of the conference in Liverpool.
The senior Labour figure insisted the party was standing by the people of Israel as she faced questions about the expected appearance of the top Palestinian diplomat in the UK at the conference.
Husam Zomlot, the head of the Palestinian Mission to the United Kingdom, told CNN that “Israel knew that this was coming their way… It’s a consequence”. Ms Reeves said "she felt upset" by the comments.
Since succeeding Jeremy Corbyn as leader in 2020, Mr Starmer has worked to improve the party’s image after an anti-Semitism scandal.
However, his previous support for Mr Corbyn, who once referred to Hamas as his “friends”, has not been forgotten by many.
Katie Fallon, spokeswoman for the Campaign Against Arms Trade, told The National: “What’s happening [in Israel] is horrendous."
She said the Hamas attacks were a consequence of a “long, long legacy of injustice” for the Palestinians and argued there was no military solution to the conflict.
“Over the last 10 years there’s been a cycle of violence and Palestinians, especially children, have suffered," she said.
“It seems that every year people in Gaza are killed.
“I don’t see how this cycle is going to end. It’s relentless.
“We are seeing the same with Israel now.
“I was shocked by the magnitude of the violence [on Saturday] but desperately not surprised [by Hamas’s attack].
A middle-aged man at a stall run by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign admitted it had not been the best start to the annual Labour gathering for his group. But despite the violence in Gaza and Israel, he said many attending the conference had shown interest in his campaign.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign said Hamas’s attacks on Israeli soldiers and citizens were “a response to recent and historic violence against Palestinians by Israel”.
Labour Party conference - in pictures
A young man standing at a stall run by Labour Friends of Israel – a group that promotes support for a strong bilateral relationship between Britain and Israel – said he and his fellow activists had been warmly received by conference guests compared to recent years.
He highlighted pages listing dozens of people’s names and contact details to show the strength of support the group had received.
Asked if the continuing conflict was personal to him, he became visibly emotional as he revealed he has relatives and friends in Israel who have been affected by the violence – thankfully they were safe, he said.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
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How England have scored their set-piece goals in Russia
Three Penalties
v Panama, Group Stage (Harry Kane)
v Panama, Group Stage (Kane)
v Colombia, Last 16 (Kane)
Four Corners
v Tunisia, Group Stage (Kane, via John Stones header, from Ashley Young corner)
v Tunisia, Group Stage (Kane, via Harry Maguire header, from Kieran Trippier corner)
v Panama, Group Stage (Stones, header, from Trippier corner)
v Sweden, Quarter-Final (Maguire, header, from Young corner)
One Free-Kick
v Panama, Group Stage (Stones, via Jordan Henderson, Kane header, and Raheem Sterling, from Tripper free-kick)
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3.5/5
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Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
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WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Three ways to boost your credit score
Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:
1. Make sure you make your payments on time;
2. Limit the number of products you borrow on: the more loans and credit cards you have, the more it will affect your credit score;
3. Don't max out all your debts: how much you maximise those credit facilities will have an impact. If you have five credit cards and utilise 90 per cent of that credit, it will negatively affect your score.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, semi-final result:
Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona
Liverpool win 4-3 on aggregate
Champions Legaue final: June 1, Madrid
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
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The biog
Family: He is the youngest of five brothers, of whom two are dentists.
Celebrities he worked on: Fabio Canavaro, Lojain Omran, RedOne, Saber Al Rabai.
Where he works: Liberty Dental Clinic
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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If you go
Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.
Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com
A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com
Four-day collections of TOH
Day Indian Rs (Dh)
Thursday 500.75 million (25.23m)
Friday 280.25m (14.12m)
Saturday 220.75m (11.21m)
Sunday 170.25m (8.58m)
Total 1.19bn (59.15m)
(Figures in millions, approximate)
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
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Cutting red tape on import and export of food
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
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May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
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Key recommendations
- Fewer criminals put behind bars and more to serve sentences in the community, with short sentences scrapped and many inmates released earlier.
- Greater use of curfews and exclusion zones to deliver tougher supervision than ever on criminals.
- Explore wider powers for judges to punish offenders by blocking them from attending football matches, banning them from driving or travelling abroad through an expansion of ‘ancillary orders’.
- More Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the root causes of crime such as alcohol and drug abuse – forcing repeat offenders to take part in tough treatment programmes or face prison.
Getting there
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.
The stay
Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.
Skeleton Coast Safaris’ four-day adventure involves joining a very small group in a private plane, flying to some of the remotest areas in the world, with each night spent at a different camp. It costs from US$8,335.30 (Dh30,611); www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
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Director: James Gray
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Five out of five stars
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if you go
The flights
The closest international airport to the TMB trail is Geneva (just over an hour’s drive from the French ski town of Chamonix where most people start and end the walk). Direct flights from the UAE to Geneva are available with Etihad and Emirates from about Dh2,790 including taxes.
The trek
The Tour du Mont Blanc takes about 10 to 14 days to complete if walked in its entirety, but by using the services of a tour operator such as Raw Travel, a shorter “highlights” version allows you to complete the best of the route in a week, from Dh6,750 per person. The trails are blocked by snow from about late October to early May. Most people walk in July and August, but be warned that trails are often uncomfortably busy at this time and it can be very hot. The prime months are June and September.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
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How to become a Boglehead
Bogleheads follow simple investing philosophies to build their wealth and live better lives. Just follow these steps.
• Spend less than you earn and save the rest. You can do this by earning more, or being frugal. Better still, do both.
• Invest early, invest often. It takes time to grow your wealth on the stock market. The sooner you begin, the better.
• Choose the right level of risk. Don't gamble by investing in get-rich-quick schemes or high-risk plays. Don't play it too safe, either, by leaving long-term savings in cash.
• Diversify. Do not keep all your eggs in one basket. Spread your money between different companies, sectors, markets and asset classes such as bonds and property.
• Keep charges low. The biggest drag on investment performance is all the charges you pay to advisers and active fund managers.
• Keep it simple. Complexity is your enemy. You can build a balanced, diversified portfolio with just a handful of ETFs.
• Forget timing the market. Nobody knows where share prices will go next, so don't try to second-guess them.
• Stick with it. Do not sell up in a market crash. Use the opportunity to invest more at the lower price.
