Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
King Abdullah II of Jordan vowed on Monday to continue support for beleaguered Palestinians in Gaza as the war between Hamas and Israel raises political and economic pressures on the kingdom.
In a speech to what is mostly a staunchly loyalist parliament, which was elected in September, the king said Jordan will remain by the Palestinian people's side, having been among the first "to deliver aid by air and land to people in Gaza".
The kingdom of 11 million has a peace treaty with Israel and a defence pact with the US, on which it depends for financial and military assistance. King Abdullah, who has ruled Jordan since 1999, is the fourth monarch in the Hashemite dynasty since the kingdom was founded as a British protectorate in 1921. The monarchy has acted as a balancer between two main population components – descendants of Palestinian refugees and tribes that existed since the kingdom was founded – contributing to uninterrupted stability since the ousting of the Palestine Liberation Organisation from Jordan in a civil war in 1970.
At the beginning of the year, Jordan, along with allied countries, started delivering aid to Gaza by parachuting parcels into the strip from military planes. The kingdom has also received some wounded civilians and became an assembly point for donors and international organisations sending aid to Gaza by land. The aid is inspected for dual-purpose materials and contraband, although Israel has placed restrictions on the flows.
"Jordan has exerted tremendous efforts and Jordanians have valiantly been treating the wounded in the direst of circumstances," the king said.
In apparent reference to suggestions by ultranationalist Israeli politicians that Palestinians should be expelled from the occupied West Bank to the kingdom, thus altering the demographic balance in both areas, he said Jordan is a "state that does not risk its future" and has "a deep-rooted identity".
Jordan, he said, "will remain a country blessed with its people and land, an honest Arab homeland". A large proportion of its population are descendants of Palestinian refugees who fled their homeland when Israel was created in 1948 and when it expanded in 1967 by occupying the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
At the UN General Assembly in New York in September, King Abdullah said Jordan would not become an “alternative homeland” and any forced displacement of Palestinians would be a war crime.
He told parliament that a just peace "is the way to end the historical injustice against" Palestinians and that Jordan is committed to achieving it "despite the obstacles and the extremism of those who do not believe in peace".
The kingdom signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994. Despite strong criticism by the king of Israel's war conduct in Gaza, Jordan has abided by the treaty and the security guarantees at its core, which obliges each country to prevent threats to each other's security.
Jordanian security forces have prevented people from mounting pro-Palestinian demonstrations near the border with Israel and have placed curbs on protests elsewhere in the country, particularly near western interests. This year, infiltration attempts into Israel from Jordan have increased, although most have failed. Last month, Israeli forces shot dead two members of the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood who had tried to mount a cross-border raid near the Dead Sea.
The International Monetary Fund expects economic growth this year to fall to 2.4 per cent, from 2.6 per cent in 2023, partly because the effects of the war have hit tourism, a main foreign currency earner.
The Gaza war is seen widely as a main factor behind gains by the religious opposition in the elections to the 138-seat parliament, although pro-government tribal deputies remain dominant. All significant power in Jordan lies with the king.
The bio
Academics: Phd in strategic management in University of Wales
Number one caps: His best-seller caps are in shades of grey, blue, black and yellow
Reading: Is immersed in books on colours to understand more about the usage of different shades
Sport: Started playing polo two years ago. Helps him relax, plus he enjoys the speed and focus
Cars: Loves exotic cars and currently drives a Bentley Bentayga
Holiday: Favourite travel destinations are London and St Tropez
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Company%20Profile
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
AGL AWARDS
Golden Ball - best Emirati player: Khalfan Mubarak (Al Jazira)
Golden Ball - best foreign player: Igor Coronado (Sharjah)
Golden Glove - best goalkeeper: Adel Al Hosani (Sharjah)
Best Coach - the leader: Abdulaziz Al Anbari (Sharjah)
Fans' Player of the Year: Driss Fetouhi (Dibba)
Golden Boy - best young player: Ali Saleh (Al Wasl)
Best Fans of the Year: Sharjah
Goal of the Year: Michael Ortega (Baniyas)
What is double taxation?
- Americans living abroad file taxes with the Internal Revenue Service, which can cost hundreds of dollars to complete even though about 60 per cent do not owe taxes, according to the Taxpayer Advocate Service
- Those obligations apply to millions of Americans residing overseas – estimates range from 3.9 million to 5.5 million – including so-called "accidental Americans" who are unaware they hold dual citizenship
- The double taxation policy has been a contentious issue for decades, with many overseas Americans feeling that it punishes them for pursuing opportunities abroad
- Unlike most countries, the US follows a citizenship-based taxation system, meaning that Americans must file taxes annually, even if they do not earn any income in the US.
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The years Ramadan fell in May
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2014
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Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
Joy%20Ride%20
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Tell Me Who I Am
Director: Ed Perkins
Stars: Alex and Marcus Lewis
Four stars
Company%20profile
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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.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
