On Wednesday, The National obtained an official US document detailing the Biden administration’s plans for a "reset" in Washington’s approach to the Palestine-Israel peace process. Among its various elements, perhaps the most urgent is a commitment to $15 million in Covid-19 assistance to Palestinians, who, because of a lack of funding, have struggled to deal with the pandemic at all stages.
The document also signals how the US administration intends to rehabilitate the American, Palestinian and international preference for a two-state solution.
Realising a peace deal between Palestine and Israel was a major ambition of former president Donald Trump and his diplomatic strategy. It yielded mixed results. Mr Trump’s so-called “deal of the century”, backed by Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, notionally supported a two-state solution, but at such great cost to the Palestinian side that it was nothing short of an affront.
The Abraham Accords between the UAE and Israel, negotiated with help from Washington, were a far more productive track. They were conditional upon Mr Netanyahu agreeing to discontinue his annexation plans, preserving the contours of a future Palestinian state. They also provide both the Palestinians and Israelis with a common, trusted Arab partner. Ultimately, success for Palestinians will depend most significantly on what the US, which influences Israeli affairs like no other power in the world, can do to convince Israeli leaders that Palestine’s interests must not be ignored.
One way to do that is to demonstrate how much they matter in Washington. Mr Biden’s plan includes reversing the closure of Palestinian diplomatic offices in the US and the American consulate in Jerusalem that served the Palestinians before its merger with a new embassy. It also involves restoring robust US financial assistance for UNRWA, the UN body that supports Palestinian refugees, and Palestinian government services.
Mr Biden will also raise the issue of illegal Israeli settlements in territories on Palestinian land. This is one of the most contentious issues, and the seriousness with which Mr Biden approaches it will set the tone for the direction he wants the peace process to take.
There are other obstacles, too. Israel is currently trapped in a political quagmire, set to hold its fourth set of elections in two years. Without legislative stability in Tel Aviv, constructive dialogue with Palestine remains elusive.
In May, Palestinians will be participating in their own elections, the first in 15 years. Much of the country's youth have never before cast a ballot. The current leadership is viewed by many as bungling and incapable of standing up for its people, and hampered by a 2007 split between the militant party of Hamas, which rules Gaza, and Fatah, which rules the West Bank. While any Palestinian government will continue to be hamstrung so long as there is no sovereign Palestinian state, a new political process could be the moment a new generation of Palestinians asserts its voice.
The document detailing Mr Biden’s “reset” for Palestine suggests that his administration is putting Palestinian dignity back at the front of its regional diplomatic strategy. That is the correct approach, and it will right many wrongs. For it to really succeed, however, Israelis and Palestinians themselves, whether in peace talks or at the ballot box, must be committed to doing the same.
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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MATCH INFO
Liverpool 0
Stoke City 0
Man of the Match: Erik Pieters (Stoke)
Results
2.15pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m
Winner: Maqam, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).
2.45pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m
Winner: Mamia Al Reef, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.
3.15pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 2,000m
Winner: Jaahiz, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel.
3.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,000m
Winner: Qanoon, Szczepan Mazur, Irfan Ellahi.
4.15pm: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Cup Handicap (TB) Dh200,000 1,700m.
Winner: Philosopher, Tadhg O’Shea, Salem bin Ghadayer.
54.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m
Winner: Jap Al Yassoob, Fernando Jara, Irfan Ellahi.
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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
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
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Temple numbers
Expected completion: 2022
Height: 24 meters
Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people
Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people
First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time
First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres
Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres
Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor
if you go
The flights
Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.
The trek
Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
