When the administration of US President Donald Trump cut aid to the United Nations agency responsible for Palestinian refugees by more than $200 million, there were fears it could cripple its vital work. But that was simply a portent of what was to come.
Seven days later, it has yanked the rug from under the feet of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) altogether by pulling the plug on any funding, a move which is not only morally reprehensible but deeply damaging to any hopes of a solution in the Arab-Israeli conflict. UNRWA provides a lifeline to about five million Palestinians with education, healthcare and basic services.
The Trump administration blamed the organisation's "irredeemably flawed" finances but this is merely a facade for an entirely political decision. Like the move of the US embassy to Jerusalem in December and the declaration it was "Israel's capital", this follows a string of moves in which Mr Trump has clearly aligned his interests with those of Israel. America has sought to use its aid as a bargaining chip to blackmail them into accepting its long-awaited peace deal. But having nailed its colours to the mast in favour of Israel, the US can no longer claim to be an honest broker.
As a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said, the decision was “a flagrant assault against the Palestinian people”.
The timing of this decision is particularly disgraceful as tens of thousands of Palestinian children returned to UN-run schools last week, with each day of teaching made more precious by funding cuts. With 711 schools for 526,000 students, the UNRWA does not just operate in the occupied territories but also in Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. It is the birthright of every child to have an education, something Mr Trump is now denying them.
Israel, meanwhile, has made no gestures in service of peace, approving plans last month to build more than 1,000 new illegal settlement homes in the West Bank.
As the most generous donor, the US has traditionally contributed more than $360m a year to UNRWA. The financial void its withdrawal will create will need to be filled by others. In April, the UAE and Saudi Arabia pledged $50m each while Germany vowed to increase its contribution on Friday.
Yet funding from elsewhere will not exculpate the US for its ruinous decision to further imperil some of the region’s most vulnerable people.
At every turn the Trump administration has sided with Israel, with palpable consequences for Palestinian lives. On the day of the US embassy relocation, Israel responded to protestors with live ammunition, killing 58, according to Gaza health ministry and wounding 2,700. In denying transformative programmes to millions of Palestinians, Friday's decision to halt funding to the UNRWA is both heartless and devastating to any hopes for peace.
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.
Saturday's results
Women's third round
- 14-Garbine Muguruza Blanco (Spain) beat Sorana Cirstea (Romania) 6-2, 6-2
- Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia) beat Lesia Tsurenko (Ukraine) 6-2, 6-1
- 7-Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) beat Polona Hercog (Slovenia) 6-4. 6-0
- Coco Vandeweghe (USA) beat Alison Riske (USA) 6-2, 6-4
- 9-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) beat 19-Timea Bacsinszky (Switzerland) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
- Petra Martic (Croatia) beat Zarina Diyas (Kazakhstan) 7-6, 6-1
- Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia) beat Lesia Tsurenko (Ukraine) 6-2, 6-1
- 7-Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) beat Polona Hercog (Slovenia) 6-4, 6-0
Men's third round
- 13-Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) beat Dudi Sela (Israel) 6-1, 6-1 -- retired
- Sam Queery (United States) beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) 6-2, 3-6, 7-6, 1-6, 7-5
- 6-Milos Raonic (Canada) beat 25-Albert Ramos (Spain) 7-6, 6-4, 7-5
- 10-Alexander Zverev (Germany) beat Sebastian Ofner (Austria) 6-4, 6-4, 6-2
- 11-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) beat David Ferrer (Spain) 6-3, 6-4, 6-3
- Adrian Mannarino (France) beat 15-Gael Monfils (France) 7-6, 4-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Empire of Enchantment: The Story of Indian Magic
John Zubrzycki, Hurst Publishers
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8
Power: 503hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 685Nm at 2,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Price: from Dh850,000
On sale: now
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
The specs: 2018 Dodge Durango SRT
Price, base / as tested: Dh259,000
Engine: 6.4-litre V8
Power: 475hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 640Nm @ 4,300rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.7L / 100km
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
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Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now
