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Former Palestinian foreign minister Nasser Al Qudwa has outlined details of a proposal for peace in Gaza that he drew up with former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert.
The plan is meant to act as a “vision” to overcome the main obstacles to a two-state solution, and contains suggestions previously discussed or agreed on by key players in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Mr Al Qudwa told The National.
It includes creating a demilitarised Palestinian state with only an internal policing system, a five-nation trusteeship of Old Jerusalem and an Arab peacekeeping force in Gaza after the war ends.
“We're not reinventing the wheel,” Mr Al Qudwa said.
Mr Olmert had first suggested coming up with a plan similar to one he presented to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in 2008, including the five-nation trusteeship of Old Jerusalem, Mr Al Qudwa said.
“These are talks for people in power. We never claimed to be in a position of authority. This plan is coming from a real place of wanting the bloodshed to end and of wanting a real solution to be reached,” he told The National.
In 2021, Mr Al Qudwa, the nephew of late Palestinian president Yasser Arafat, was expelled from the ruling Fatah party, led by Mr Abbas, over political differences. He later joined forces with prominent Palestinian politician Marwan Barghouti, now serving a life sentence in an Israeli prison, who planned to run against Mr Abbas in elections that fell apart.
Other elements of the proposal include Israel's annexation of 4.4 per cent of Palestinian land in exchange for a safe corridor that connects the occupied West Bank to Gaza.
“We didn’t specify what these areas are because we’re not in a position of power and this matter requires detailed negotiations. The exchange needs to be equal in value,” Mr Al Qudwa said.
Online conversations
Talks about a joint proposal began during an “online exchange of messages” after a conversation with Mr Olmert and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman two months ago, Mr Al Qudwa said.
Details, such as which states would be part of the trusteeship of Old Jerusalem and which Arab countries would be involved in peacekeeping in Gaza, would be ironed out later in “detailed discussions”.
The plan was initially supposed to be presented to key Arab states for their input before being made public, Mr Al Qudwa said. “But it was leaked by Palestinian parties seeking to undermine it,” he added.
Despite this, Mr Al Qudwa and Mr Olmert are working to gather public and state support for their plan. But several obstacles stand in the way – primarily Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who rejects a peace plan based on a two-state solution.
“There are no magical solutions. We agree that we're in a very bad place – especially our people in Gaza,” Mr Al Qudwa said.
In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Mr Olmert emphasised the need to move past the current conflict.
“This is the time for moving away from the bleeding of this terrible confrontation that we had into a direction that may offer a new horizon, and that's what we're trying to do,” he said.
In May, Hamas agreed to a US proposal to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, where nearly 41,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 94,000 injured since the war began in October last year.
The UN-approved plan includes Israel's complete withdrawal from Gaza in exchange for the release of the remaining hostages by Hamas – but Mr Netanyahu has insisted that Israeli troops remain in parts of Gaza, including the Rafah border crossing and Salah Al Din corridor, despite US opposition.
Mr Al Qudwa said Mr Netanyahu has a vested interest in preventing peace.
“Netanyahu knows exactly that the continuation of this war means that he continues to remain in power. Otherwise, if it stopped, he might go to jail,” he said, referring to corruption charges facing the Israeli Prime Minister.
“So this is a matter of life and death for him – and he’s in the position of higher power.”
Mr Olmert criticised Mr Netanyahu's leadership.
“The ultimate test of great leadership is the ability to do the opposite of what you've promised when the situation demands it,” he said.
“This is not what Netanyahu will do. He is not a great leader. He is not Churchill, not Roosevelt, and not even Chamberlain.”
Mr Al Qudwa said his role is not to ensure or guarantee the implementation of the peace proposal, but to advocate for it and do what he can to make it happen.
“We have a saying in Palestine: 'We don't wash the dead and guarantee their entry to heaven. We merely wash them.'”
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Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Company Profile
Company name: Fine Diner
Started: March, 2020
Co-founders: Sami Elayan, Saed Elayan and Zaid Azzouka
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and food delivery
Initial investment: Dh75,000
Investor: Dtec Startupbootcamp
Future plan: Looking to raise $400,000
Total sales: Over 1,000 deliveries in three months
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Director: Akarsh Khurana
Starring: Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar
Rating: 4/5
Company%20Profile
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How to come clean about financial infidelity
- Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
- Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help.
- Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
- Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
- Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported.
Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Company%20Profile
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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.
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Price, base / as tested: Dh94,600 / Dh159,700
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Power: 252hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 353Nm @ 2,500rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.4L / 100km
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Started: 2020
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Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre V6
Power: 295hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 355Nm at 5,200rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
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Price: Dh179,999-plus
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Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
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Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
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Power: 400hp
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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.
