US President Joe Biden's administration on Wednesday played down reports of major progress in its goal of establishing relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
“There's no agreed framework to codify the normalisation or any of the other security considerations that we and our friends have in the region,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on a Wednesday press call.
Another National Security Council official told The National: “Normalisation and the details of any agreement reached have to be decided by two sovereign states.”
The official added that Washington “continues to talk to our regional partners about how more progress can be made”.
The Biden administration's Middle East agenda has largely centred on integrating Israel into the region through the Abraham Accords, which in 2020 saw the establishment of relations between Israel and the UAE, as well as other Arab nations.
The White House emphasis that a deal must ultimately be agreed to between the Saudis and the Israelis came after a Wall Street Journal story on Wednesday hinted at a breakthrough between Washington and Riyadh, citing unnamed sources.
The Israeli and Saudi Arabian embassies in Washington did not comment on the article.
“Just to be blunt, I think the reporting has left some people with the impression that the discussions are farther along and closer to some sense of certainty than they actually are,” Mr Kirby added.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller seconded that claim at a Wednesday press conference.
The second NSC official told The National: “Regional integration benefits US national security interests, the interests of our regional partners, the people of the United States, and the citizens of the region.”
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan travelled to Saudi Arabia last month on a trip that Washington said focused on “strategic relations between the two countries and ways to enhance them in various fields”.
Mr Biden later confirmed that there were continuing American efforts to co-ordinate a normalisation deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel after Mr Sullivan's visit to Jeddah.
“There’s a rapprochement maybe under way,” Mr Biden said at a campaign event, but did not share any further details about his administration's efforts to bring about such deal.
Riyadh has maintained that public recognition of Israel would only come with movement to resolve the Palestinian conflict and create a two-state solution.
Yoel Guzansky, a former Israeli national security official, recently told The National that despite Mr Sullivan's recent Saudi visit, “significant challenges remain”.
Recent instability in Israel under a historically right-wing government have made some US regional experts sceptical over whether it is closer to a potential breakthrough on normalisation with Saudi Arabia.
“The scenes of chaos inside of Israel are going to put a limit on how far, I think, many of the countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, would be willing to open up to Israel,” Brian Katulis, senior fellow and vice president of policy at the Middle East Institute in Washington, told The National last month.
It “limits and constrains how far the regional normalisation and integration can go”, he added.
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
INFO
What: DP World Tour Championship
When: November 21-24
Where: Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
FIXTURES
Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)
