One could not agree more with your leader An insult to the US and those who want peace (March 17). One can only wonder if the current upheaval, as you stated, really "represents a welcome and long overdue opportunity to reorder a relationship that has profound consequences for the region".
Your leader raised many questions on how and what methods Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, would follow to overcome this "crisis". Based on past experiences, Israel, I fear to say, almost always ends with the upper hand. Why should it be different this time around?
Despite the tough and, I must say, unprecedented words by the secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, after Mr Netanyahu's government announced 1,600 new settler homes in occupied East Jerusalem while the US vice president was in the country, it is quite possible the White House rebuke will not hold.
One recalls when the only genuine Israeli peacemaker, the late Yitzhak Rabin, hurriedly dispatched his young dovish envoy, Yossi Beilin, to Washington following the signing of the Oslo Accords early in the 1990s, to brief AIPAC leaders about the peace deal. Mr Beilin's brief was clear cut: AIPAC has to think differently now and restructure the nature of its support to Israel since we have partnered for peace.
The dove envoy was, according to those who were present at the meeting, harshly scorned and sent back with a clear message: don't interfere in our domestic affairs. Rabin was killed less than a year later.
You quoted in your leader Martin Indyke, the US former envoy to Israel, warning Netanyahu's government that Israel is dependent on the US and the Israelis must remember that "America has interests (in the region), not just Israel". Again tough words coming from a man widely and significantly known as a friend of Israel, but will Mr Netanyahu listen? There are good reasons for him not to.
With the US midterm elections fast approaching, Netanyahu is likely to consider this his moment of triumph and he will ensure he does not lose it. But in the middle of all this Netanyahu and Israelis should seriously pause for a moment and re-examine their illegal behaviour as a brutal occupying power.
Mustapha Karkouti, Abu Dhabi
In response to KHDA's school fee cap makes sense (March 18), the KHDA allowed schools to increase their fees by 15 per cent last year based on achieving an excellent score from inspectors.
But at least one school increased its fees by the maximum allowed, 15 per cent, despite being downgraded later - which means the increase should not have been allowed, but the same fees remained. How does that work? Surely if fees can go up, they can come down also.
SB, Dubai
A photo The National published with the article Riots shake Jerusalem as Hamas calls for uprising (March 17) depicted a Palestinian man being pummeled by Israeli "undercover" thugs as he tries to protect himself from the blows, in front of another Palestinian enduring the same. The photo was given the most offensive description, watering down the reality of the image. It read, in case you missed it: "An undercover Israeli policeman holds a weapon as others detain a Palestinian suspect during clashes in East Jerusalem yesterday."
First off, the "undercover Israeli policeman" is brandishing a pistol that fires live ammunition. He is brandishing it against stone throwers, not just "holding" the gun. Secondly, if that is your idea of "detaining" someone, then your moral barometers have either been lost or they need an overhaul. And thirdly, the infuriating choice of the word "suspect" leaves me speechless.
Pray do tell what he is "suspected" of? Defending his land from further theft? Or maybe he is "suspected" of doing what little he can to express his indignation at a silent world that watches emasculated as Palestine is further sliced up while even the Arab world waters down the atrocities and images, thinking mostly of word counts than the weight of a subheading. Indifference is the word that comes to mind.
Rana El-Khatib, Abu Dhabi
In regards to the article Airline pair jailed over sex texting (March 17), the saying "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt" does not work in an eastern culture.
If the pen is more powerful then the sword, then it makes sense to take a tough stance. However, deportation does seem rather over the top.
JB, Britain
Wow. This is so crazy. Why would you be jailed for your private messages? Why are you reading my private messages anyway? Very sad.
Ann Martin, Abu Dhabi
The article Police use shock tactics to help curb road deaths (March 17) makes the point that enforcement and tougher measures make the biggest difference.
Explicit ads might help, but reading one woman's comments - about how she killed a jaywalker in her car, but went back to speeding - was a chilling indication of how some drivers really don't get how dangerous driving can sometimes be.
Patricia O'Beirne, Abu Dhabi
Just a bit of confusion in the article Saudi Arabia death row maid in a fight for her life (March 15). Malaysia never sends people to work overseas. Most maids are professionals.
Sally Abdullah, Abu Dhabi
The years Ramadan fell in May
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHigh%20fever%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIntense%20pain%20behind%20your%20eyes%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESevere%20headache%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ENausea%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EVomiting%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESwollen%20glands%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERash%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIf%20symptoms%20occur%2C%20they%20usually%20last%20for%20two-seven%20days%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Children who witnessed blood bath want to help others
Aged just 11, Khulood Al Najjar’s daughter, Nora, bravely attempted to fight off Philip Spence. Her finger was injured when she put her hand in between the claw hammer and her mother’s head.
As a vital witness, she was forced to relive the ordeal by police who needed to identify the attacker and ensure he was found guilty.
Now aged 16, Nora has decided she wants to dedicate her career to helping other victims of crime.
“It was very horrible for her. She saw her mum, dying, just next to her eyes. But now she just wants to go forward,” said Khulood, speaking about how her eldest daughter was dealing with the trauma of the incident five years ago. “She is saying, 'mama, I want to be a lawyer, I want to help people achieve justice'.”
Khulood’s youngest daughter, Fatima, was seven at the time of the attack and attempted to help paramedics responding to the incident.
“Now she wants to be a maxillofacial doctor,” Khulood said. “She said to me ‘it is because a maxillofacial doctor returned your face, mama’. Now she wants to help people see themselves in the mirror again.”
Khulood’s son, Saeed, was nine in 2014 and slept through the attack. While he did not witness the trauma, this made it more difficult for him to understand what had happened. He has ambitions to become an engineer.
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed