Following the murder of Robert F Kennedy in 1968, US agencies kept a watchful eye on Middle East sentiment about his assassin, Sirhan Sirhan, the Palestinian Christian who emigrated from Jordan to the US, recently declassified documents show.
“Saudi press has followed Sirhan case almost daily with straight news coverage,” reads a telegram from the State Department concerning the man convicted of killing Mr Kennedy during his run for the Democratic presidential nomination.
“First editorial comment since verdict and sentencing appeared today … urging Arabs not to feel sad for Sirhan since grief is only for those who lose way … editorialist also argues Sirhan is 'lighting the way and defining the goal', and he concludes that dying is 'simplist duty' for the cause of freedom.”
The author of the State Department memo goes on to claim the editorial written in a Saudi newspaper is an “effort to make the best out of a bad situation”, adding that many in the kingdom had mixed feelings about Sirhan.
“They realised it was misguided and harmful to the overall Arab cause, yet like other Arabs have sought to convince themselves that Sirhan is a hero,” the memo read.
Investigations by Los Angeles police and FBI indicated speeches given by Mr Kennedy on the campaign trail in support of Israel fuelled Sirhan's motivation to assassinate him on June 6, 1968, after the senator won the California Democratic presidential primary.
“RFK must die,” Sirhan wrote repeatedly in a diary found by investigators. Friends and acquaintances said at the time that Sirhan had become obsessed with Mr Kennedy due to his stance on Israel.
Sirhan was convicted of first-degree murder.
Also included in the thousands of documents that lingered in storage for decades is a memo from the US embassy in Beirut that included a letter about Sirhan signed by the Palestinian Women's Association.
“The defendant, Sirhan Bishara Sirhan, was born in Palestine and his family was a victim of the Israeli usurper of this Arab country as a result of which immigrated to America,” the letter read.
“Robert F Kennedy and Sirhan Sirhan are both victims of intertwined factors. We hope, friend, that you would realise this fact and draw the attention of your great people to it.”
The author of the memo from the US embassy concludes that the writer of the letter hopes that Sirhan's murder of Mr Kennedy “will not prejudice the reaching of an understanding” between US citizens and Palestinians.
Another telegram from the State Department concerning support for Sirhan in Jordan laments the favourable press coverage he continued to receive, noting the “good possibility that it will succeed and convincing many Jordanians that Sirhan is in fact a hero”.
The telegram also points out the rising concern in Jordanian media that Sirhan might receive the death penalty, and that one editorial went as far as to suggest Jordanian officials convince North Vietnam's communist army to return US prisoners of war to America in exchange for guarantees that Sirhan wouldn't be executed.
Despite a preponderance of evidence, conspiracy theories have thrived for decades, with some suggesting Sirhan's innocence.
Mel Ayton, one of the foremost experts on Sirhan and Mr Kennedy's assassination, told The National the newly released documents disprove those theories, but said they would likely continue to exist.
“There's this image they keep pushing of Sirhan as a non-political patsy – that's what all the conspiracy-minded people try to say and it's completely asinine,” he said.
Sirhan's many attempts at parole have been unsuccessful. It was briefly granted by the California parole board in 2021, only for the decision to be vetoed by California Governor Gavin Newsom, who said the assassination was one of the most notorious crimes in US history.
For the 17th time since being incarcerated in 1969, Sirhan was denied a parole request in 2023. He will be eligible again in 2027.
The 81-year-old prisoner has periodically made contradictory comments about his role in Mr Kennedy's assassination. During some interviews, he claims not to remember the events, while during others he seems to express remorse for what he did.
This is the second round of documents related to the 1968 assassination of Mr Kennedy released by US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
Ms Gabbard's push to make the documents public stems from US President Donald Trump signing an executive order in January directing agencies to release previously withheld files connected to the assassination of Mr Kennedy, as well as those of his brother, former president John F Kennedy, and civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.
“More than 60,000 documents were discovered, declassified, and digitised for public viewing,” the DNI director posted to the social platform X on Wednesday.
Current US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr is the son of Robert F Kennedy.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 480hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 570Nm from 2,300-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
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ABU DHABI CARD
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'Ghostbusters: From Beyond'
Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace
Rating: 2/5
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
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ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures
October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
October 9: v Sabah FA
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
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'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Profile of VoucherSkout
Date of launch: November 2016
Founder: David Tobias
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers
Sector: Technology
Size: 18 employees
Stage: Embarking on a Series A round to raise $5 million in the first quarter of 2019 with a 20 per cent stake
Investors: Seed round was self-funded with “millions of dollars”
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
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Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: from Dh155,000
On sale: now
The biog
Age: 30
Position: Senior lab superintendent at Emirates Global Aluminium
Education: Bachelor of science in chemical engineering, post graduate degree in light metal reduction technology
Favourite part of job: The challenge, because it is challenging
Favourite quote: “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” Gandi
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying or online bullying could take many forms such as sending unkind or rude messages to someone, socially isolating people from groups, sharing embarrassing pictures of them, or spreading rumors about them.
Cyberbullying can take place on various platforms such as messages, on social media, on group chats, or games.
Parents should watch out for behavioural changes in their children.
When children are being bullied they they may be feel embarrassed and isolated, so parents should watch out for signs of signs of depression and anxiety
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 1 (Gundogan 56')
Shakhtar Donetsk 1 (Solomon 69')
Biography
Favourite Meal: Chicken Caesar salad
Hobbies: Travelling, going to the gym
Inspiration: Father, who was a captain in the UAE army
Favourite read: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter
Favourite film: The Founder, about the establishment of McDonald's
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Brief scores:
Day 1
Toss: India, chose to bat
India (1st innings): 215-2 (89 ov)
Agarwal 76, Pujara 68 not out; Cummins 2-40
Company%20profile
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PSL FINAL
Multan Sultans v Peshawar Zalmi
8pm, Thursday
Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Race card
5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; 5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; 6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (PA) 1,400m
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
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Full time contracts
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