New York // There is little hope that the UN Security Council will vote in favour of a Palestinian draft resolution that sets a deadline for Israeli withdrawal from illegally occupied land.
But the new diplomatic opening may ease some of the pressure that has been mounting on Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.
The western-backed leader’s decade in power has failed to put the Palestinians decisively on the road to statehood and he is under intense domestic pressure to take bolder steps after the collapse of US-led negotiations with Israel earlier this year.
Thousands of Fatah supporters of Mr Abbas’s party rival, Mohammed Dahlan, protested in Gaza on Thursday, accusing Palestinian Authority leader of corruption and acquiescence to Israel.
However, the submission of the resolution on Wednesday hopes to achieve a number of short-term goals while setting the stage for negotiations over a softer version that could still trigger new talks.
The draft resolution, backed by Arab ambassadors at the United Nations and submitted by non-permanent council member Jordan, keeps the peace process issue centre stage amid the more pressing troubles plaguing the Middle East, and raises pressure for resuming talks at a time of relatively favourable conditions for the Palestinians.
While Palestinian officials initially insisted they would seek a vote on their resolution immediately, the ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, made clear yesterday that he welcomed negotiations to make the draft amenable to the US and not draw a veto.
Washington also insists that any action at the UN be postponed until after Israeli elections in March. In the meantime, the introduction of the draft ensures high-level negotiations at least until then.
“We will continue negotiating with all of them, and the Americans if they are ready and willing, so that perhaps we can succeed in having something adopted by the Security Council,” Mr Mansour said.
According to chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, US secretary of state John Kerry said that the US would veto any resolution that set a deadline for withdrawal from the Occupied Territories.
France, working with British and German diplomats, has drafted a parallel resolution that calls only for a deadline for negotiations, and continuing talks may hinge on merging the two drafts.
Some of the French elements were included in the draft submitted by the Palestinians, but the deadline for withdrawal remained.
Frustrated European countries have taken up the mantle from the US of trying to shepherd talks.
The Arab-backed Palestinian draft resolution sets a 12-month deadline for a “just, lasting and comprehensive peaceful solution that brings an end to the Israeli occupation since 1967”, the recognition of the state of Palestine with Jerusalem as a shared capital, and the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces by the end of 2017.
Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman derided the moves at the UN as a gimmick that would only exacerbate tensions, and would have no chance of success without Israel’s consent.
“It would be better if the Security Council dealt with matters truly important to the citizens of the world, such as the murderous attacks this week in Australia and Pakistan, or discuss events in Syria and Libya, and not waste time on the Palestinians’ gimmicks,” he said.
Despite the inevitable diplomatic delays, the Palestinians are hoping that a constellation of factors are aligning in their favour. They hope a renewed sense of urgency within the international community, led by Europe, which fears that an unresolved Israeli-Palestinian peace will exacerbate the violence in the region, has opened a window of rare opportunity.
Given the dismal relations between the Obama administration and Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu, whose policies the US sees as having helped torpedo its recent peace efforts, Washington may be less likely to veto any resolution that imposes conditions on Israel, as it has done repeatedly in the past. Analysts say the mood may be right for a possible abstention from voting on a resolution seen as reasonable by the White House.
A veto would also undermine any credibility the US has among European and Arab allies as an honest broker in the peace process, and would strain relations with Arab countries at a time when Washington is relying on their cooperation in the fight against ISIL.
In Europe, patience is running out at the status quo of continuously deferred statehood coupled with Israeli settlement expansion, and there is lingering anger over Israel's summer war in Gaza.
The delay in a vote while negotiations continue could also benefit the Palestinians as new – and potentially friendly – non-permanent members will be joining the 15-seat Security Council in January. Their addition could lead to a passing vote on a resolution.
But it is far from clear that all of these factors combined are enough to convince Washington to take the unprecedented step of not vetoing such a resolution. It may be content to let negotiations drag on until a new Israeli government is formed, which could take until the summer. By then, other global events could overshadow the push, and momentum may be lost.
tkhan@thenational.ae
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Her most famous song
Aghadan Alqak (Would I Ever Find You Again)?
Would I ever find you again
You, the heaven of my love, my yearning and madness;
You, the kiss to my soul, my cheer and
sadness?
Would your lights ever break the night of my eyes again?
Would I ever find you again?
This world is volume and you're the notion,
This world is night and you're the lifetime,
This world is eyes and you're the vision,
This world is sky and you're the moon time,
Have mercy on the heart that belongs to you.
Lyrics: Al Hadi Adam; Composer: Mohammed Abdel Wahab
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.”
THE%C2%A0SPECS
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Canada
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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.
WITHIN%20SAND
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Building boom turning to bust as Turkey's economy slows
Deep in a provincial region of northwestern Turkey, it looks like a mirage - hundreds of luxury houses built in neat rows, their pointed towers somewhere between French chateau and Disney castle.
Meant to provide luxurious accommodations for foreign buyers, the houses are however standing empty in what is anything but a fairytale for their investors.
The ambitious development has been hit by regional turmoil as well as the slump in the Turkish construction industry - a key sector - as the country's economy heads towards what could be a hard landing in an intensifying downturn.
After a long period of solid growth, Turkey's economy contracted 1.1 per cent in the third quarter, and many economists expect it will enter into recession this year.
The country has been hit by high inflation and a currency crisis in August. The lira lost 28 per cent of its value against the dollar in 2018 and markets are still unconvinced by the readiness of the government under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to tackle underlying economic issues.
The villas close to the town centre of Mudurnu in the Bolu region are intended to resemble European architecture and are part of the Sarot Group's Burj Al Babas project.
But the development of 732 villas and a shopping centre - which began in 2014 - is now in limbo as Sarot Group has sought bankruptcy protection.
It is one of hundreds of Turkish companies that have done so as they seek cover from creditors and to restructure their debts.
Ukraine
Capital: Kiev
Population: 44.13 million
Armed conflict in Donbass
Russia-backed fighters control territory
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Asia Cup 2018 final
Who: India v Bangladesh
When: Friday, 3.30pm, Dubai International Stadium
Watch: Live on OSN Cricket HD
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
