Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's U-turn on participating in the international peace summit in Egypt has sparked intense speculation about what was behind his change of heart.
The Egyptian presidency made a surprise announcement that US President Donald Trump had called Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi while meeting Mr Netanyahu in Jerusalem.
The statement said it was agreed that Mr Netanyahu would attend the summit in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh to "enshrine" the ceasefire and hostage release agreement signed by Hamas and Israel last week, the first phase of Mr Trump's 20-point Gaza peace plan.
A short time later, the presidency issued a second statement, saying Mr Netanyahu would not attend the summit because of Simchat Torah, a major Jewish holiday.
But this reason for Mr Netanyahu's U-turn was less than convincing to some, who speculated that the Israeli leader wanted to distance himself from an international gathering that could bind his government to a declaration pledging full implementation of Mr Trump's plan, whose later stages provide for Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and a formal end to the two-year war.
Others suspected Mr Netanyahu's participation in the summit may have been a spur-of-the-moment idea by Mr Trump.
"It would have been a shock had he gone to Sharm El Sheikh," said Michael Hanna, director of the US programme at the International Crisis Group. "I don't think Egypt was keen on him going. It sounds very much like a Trump idea that he acted on without thinking it through.
"His decision not to go must have come as a relief to everyone. His presence would have made everything very, very awkward."
Another theory making the rounds is that many other leaders attending the summit expressed dismay to their host over the prospect of Mr Netanyahu's presence, with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatening to turn his plane back if the Israeli leader was to attend.
In reality – the theories and speculation notwithstanding – Mr Netanyahu's participation in the summit would have been problematic, particularly for Egypt and Mr El Sisi.
The Israeli Prime Minister was indicted last year by the International Criminal Court for suspected war crimes in Gaza. Moreover, he is viewed by much of the world as directly responsible for genocide in Gaza and deliberately starving many of Gaza's 2.3 million residents.
Extremist members of Mr Netanyahu's government, the most right-wing in Israel's history, publicly advocate the annexation of Gaza and the occupied West Bank, as well as the forced eviction of Palestinian residents.
Mr Netanyahu's participation would have also constituted the first public contact between him and Mr El Sisi, who has recently stepped up his criticism of Israel, accusing it of genocide and weaponising food.
Sources said Mr El Sisi has refused to take calls from Mr Netanyahu since the Gaza war began, as relations soured over the conflict raging just across Egypt's eastern border.
Egypt and Israel are bound by a US-sponsored peace treaty signed in 1979 and co-operated closely on security and counter-terrorism issues before the Gaza war. The treaty ended an enmity that began in the 1940s, with the two neighbours fighting four fully fledged wars.
Egypt's state media has demonised Mr Netanyahu since the start of the Gaza war. Anti-Israeli sentiment is widespread in Egypt, a country of 107 million whose successive governments have unfailingly championed the Palestinian cause.
Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
TICKETS
For tickets for the two-day Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) event, entitled Dubai Invasion 2019, on September 27 and 28 go to www.meraticket.com.
ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon
JOKE'S%20ON%20YOU
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Fund-raising tips for start-ups
Develop an innovative business concept
Have the ability to differentiate yourself from competitors
Put in place a business continuity plan after Covid-19
Prepare for the worst-case scenario (further lockdowns, long wait for a vaccine, etc.)
Have enough cash to stay afloat for the next 12 to 18 months
Be creative and innovative to reduce expenses
Be prepared to use Covid-19 as an opportunity for your business
* Tips from Jassim Al Marzooqi and Walid Hanna
MANDOOB
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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.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
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How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Fiorentina v Torino (8pm)
Hellas Verona v Roma (10.45pm)
Sunday
Parma v Napoli (2.30pm)
Genoa v Crotone (5pm)
Sassuolo v Cagliari (8pm)
Juventus v Sampdoria (10.45pm)
Monday
AC Milan v Bologna (10.45om)
Playing September 30
Benevento v Inter Milan (8pm)
Udinese v Spezia (8pm)
Lazio v Atalanta (10.45pm)
THE SPECS
Jaguar F-Pace SVR
Engine: 5-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 680Nm
Price: Dh465,071
Veere di Wedding
Dir: Shashanka Ghosh
Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania
Verdict: 4 Stars
The Limehouse Golem
Director: Juan Carlos Medina
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth
Three stars
Ireland (15-1):
Ireland (15-1): Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jack Conan, Sean O'Brien, Peter O'Mahony; James Ryan, Quinn Roux; Tadhg Furlong, Rory Best (capt), Cian Healy
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Ultan Dillane, Josh van der Flier, John Cooney, Joey Carbery, Jordan Larmour
Coach: Joe Schmidt (NZL)
RACE CARD
4pm Al Bastakiya – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
4.35pm Dubai City Of Gold – Group 2 (TB) $228,000 (Turf) 2,410m
5.10pm Mahab Al Shimaal – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,200m
5.45pm Burj Nahaar – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m
6.20pm Jebel Hatta – Group 1 (TB) $260,000 (T) 1,800m
6.55pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (TB) $390,000 (D) 2,000m
7.30pm Nad Al Sheba – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (T) 1,200m
