"Motivated by security concerns, current international action towards Yemen shows rising worries that violence may expand further in a strategic area where trade routes between Europe and Asia intersect," wrote Waleed Nouyahed in an opinion piece for the Bahraini newspaper Al Wasat. "Yet this approach confirms a shortsighted view because it overlooks other local factors that have produced the crisis in the first place."
Yemen's crisis cannot be described solely as one of security. Al Qaeda has not brought in violence, rather it has taken advantage of the situation to export terrorism through local channels that are ready to assume this role. Looking at the crisis from a security perspective can be misleading and cause the West to repeat the same mistakes that have been made in Afghanistan which shares many common denominators with Yemen, mainly the rough landscape and close-knit tribal relations. As such, the cal lfor an international conference on Yemen by the British prime minister is likely to fail even though a military build up might be approved might be formed to address terrorism in this country.
In Afghanistan, the US and its allies were too concerned with security, and thus they ignored the real causes of the problem: poverty and literacy. They will repeat the mistake if they decide to engage militarily in Yemen without addressing the roots of violence.
In an opinion piece in the London-based newspaper Al Sharq al Awsat, Tariq Alhoayed called for Arab countries to focus more on settling the internal divisions among Palestinians rather than on border tunnels between Gaza and Egypt. Keeping those tunnels working, in fact, serves Hamas more than the Palestinians, and it would be better for them if the Islamic group worked hard towards surmounting its differences with other factions and building together the basis of a Palestinian state.
The necessity of keeping the tunnels open, as many Arabs demand, expresses their wish to find an exit for Hamas, which is in a deep trouble. It is unacceptable to promote these demands while Hamas is befriending Israel instead of Fatah.
Hamas went further in its efforts to deepen the state of Palestinian division when it announced its own budget worth $540 million (Dh1.983 billion), the majority of which will come from international aid. Hence a question arises: why are those countries ready to give money to Hamas amid such internal Palestinian divisions, which leads to further weakening the possibility of establishing an independent state and the chances of Palestinians in peace negotiations?
"We do not know to what extent the Israeli foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, was sincere in accusing Israeli ambassadors abroad of paying lip service to appease their host countries at the expense of Israel. But we do know how much weird and eccentric the man is," said Mazen Hammad in a comment piece for the Qatari newspaper Al Watan.
This came during his meeting with 150 Israeli diplomats where Mr Lieberman shocked his audience when he accused them for not doing enough to defend the honour of the Israelis and their state. He also shocked them when he declined to give them a chance to pose questions or answer back. Many accordingly accused him of acting in a dictatorial manner.
The diplomatic corps complained that there was no channel of communication between them and the minister.
"They described the way they were treated by Lieberman as a deliberate humiliation and they asked for a quick explanation."
They also expressed their dismay and confusion about contradicting statements of the foreign minister and the prime minister concerning negotiations with Palestinians. While Mr Nethanyahu considers the possibility of resuming peace talks, and establishing a Palestinian state, Mr Lieberman said another twenty years would be needed before it would be possible to engage in negotiations.
Dr Abdel Hamid Al Majali, in a comment article for the Jordanian newspaper Al Rai, criticised the ministry of public sector development for being inefficient. This authority, which was established in 2004, was part of a comprehensive strategy to oversee various government programmes and projects in Jordan between 2005 and 2009.
The working documents that followed the establishment of this department came to specify its duties which should focus on overhauling the public sector by restructuring its organisation and by imposing strict mechanisms of accountability.
Now that the 2005-2009 term is over, government insiders confirmed that development plans had never materialised, and therefore the public development department had failed in its institutional role as enhancer of good governance and accountability.
"This special ministry did make some efforts to introduce reform in some ministries, but its action was limited because it had no authority to impose change. In most cases, ministries and their related authorities resisted change, hence developing this sector is contingent on many organisational, social and cultural factors that go beyond the capacity of this ministry."
* Digest compiled by Mostapha Elmouloudi
melmouloudi@thenational.ae
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
More on Quran memorisation:
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The years Ramadan fell in May
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
SCORES
Multiply Titans 81-2 in 12.1 overs
(Tony de Zorzi, 34)
bt Auckland Aces 80 all out in 16 overs
(Shawn von Borg 4-15, Alfred Mothoa 2-11, Tshepo Moreki 2-16).
'The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas are Setting up a Generation for Failure'
Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt, Penguin Randomhouse
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
Racecard
6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Group 1 (PA) $55,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
6.35pm: Oud Metha Stakes Rated Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
7.10pm: Jumeirah Classic Listed (TB) $150,000 (Turf) 1,600m
7.45pm: Firebreak Stakes Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Group 2 (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,900m
8.55pm: Al Bastakiya Trial Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,900m
9.30pm: Balanchine Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
The five pillars of Islam
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
The years Ramadan fell in May
Teaching your child to save
Pre-school (three - five years)
You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.
Early childhood (six - eight years)
Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.
Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)
Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.
Young teens (12 - 14 years)
Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.
Teenage (15 - 18 years)
Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.
Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)
Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.
* JP Morgan Private Bank
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
More coverage from the Future Forum
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Formula One top 10 drivers' standings after Japan
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 306
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 247
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes 234
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull 192
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 148
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull 111
7. Sergio Perez, Force India 82
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 65
9. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 48
10. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault 34
The biog
Name: Abeer Al Shahi
Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan
Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.
Favourite activities: Bungee jumping
Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
Navdeep Suri, India's Ambassador to the UAE
There has been a longstanding need from the Indian community to have a religious premises where they can practise their beliefs. Currently there is a very, very small temple in Bur Dubai and the community has outgrown this. So this will be a major temple and open to all denominations and a place should reflect India’s diversity.
It fits so well into the UAE’s own commitment to tolerance and pluralism and coming in the year of tolerance gives it that extra dimension.
What we will see on April 20 is the foundation ceremony and we expect a pretty broad cross section of the Indian community to be present, both from the UAE and abroad. The Hindu group that is building the temple will have their holiest leader attending – and we expect very senior representation from the leadership of the UAE.
When the designs were taken to the leadership, there were two clear options. There was a New Jersey model with a rectangular structure with the temple recessed inside so it was not too visible from the outside and another was the Neasden temple in London with the spires in its classical shape. And they said: look we said we wanted a temple so it should look like a temple. So this should be a classical style temple in all its glory.
It is beautifully located - 30 minutes outside of Abu Dhabi and barely 45 minutes to Dubai so it serves the needs of both communities.
This is going to be the big temple where I expect people to come from across the country at major festivals and occasions.
It is hugely important – it will take a couple of years to complete given the scale. It is going to be remarkable and will contribute something not just to the landscape in terms of visual architecture but also to the ethos. Here will be a real representation of UAE’s pluralism.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
