RAMALLAH // As a deadline for a decision on moving from indirect to direct talks nears, the prospects for face-to-face negotiations between the Palestinians and Israel appear as remote as ever.
Although Washington is manoeuvring behind the scenes to lay the groundwork for such talks, it seems unlikely that, absent specific commitments from Israel, the Palestine Liberation Organisation will willingly move to direct negotiations.
Mahmoud Abbas, the PLO chairman, told his Fatah faction in a behind-closed-doors meeting on Thursday that the PLO would decide by July 28 whether enough progress in indirect negotiations with Israel had been made to move to direct talks.
Specifically, the PLO is seeking US guarantees on the terms of reference for any talks and an extension, at a minimum, of the partial and temporary Israeli moratorium on settlement construction that is due to run out in September.
George Mitchell, the US Middle East peace envoy, had earlier in the week relayed a message to Mr Abbas from Barack Obama, the US president, that the terms of reference for direct talks would be the creation of a Palestinian state on territory that Israel occupied during the 1967 war.
But Mr Abbas told reporters after the Thursday meeting with Fatah's Revolutionary Council that the language used by Mr Obama's envoy "was less clear than the language that we had" during the previous US administration and the ideas put forward were "few and insufficient, and require a lot of clarification".
He had earlier told members of his Fatah movement that there had to be a clearly defined settlement construction freeze in addition to terms of references that include the 1967 borders before the PLO would go to direct negotiations.
"We are not against direct negotiations," Mr Abbas said. "If there is progress by July 28, we will present it to the Arab League. If there is no progress, we will tell the league that we will continue with the proximity talks until the end of the four-month mandate we received."
The latter certainly seems more likely as things stand. The US is clearly putting pressure on Mr Abbas to agree to direct talks, partly, say observers, in order to reach November's mid-term elections in the US with a sense that progress in peace-making is being made.
The US is also apparently offering the PLO certain sweeteners as a way to encourage Mr Abbas to enter into direct negotiations. On Friday, for example, it was announced that Washington would upgrade the status of the PLO's mission in Washington to that of a general delegation.
This has little practical implication, though it has been a long-standing request of the PLO. It is, moreover, unlikely to be enough for Palestinians to be convinced to go to direct negotiations.
Palestinians, explained one official, "do not need sweeteners from the US. We need seriousness from Israel".
The consistent message from Palestinian officials, whether those engaged directly in the proximity talks or those outside the loop, was that there has been no progress in the current round of US-mediated shuttle diplomacy. They accused Israel of being unwilling and unable to present any serious proposals in the talks, even after specific requests from the US, and say they saw no sign that this will change with direct talks.
What has changed was that after the meeting earlier this month between Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, and Mr Obama both appeared to endorse the move to direct talks, thus putting the ball in the Palestinian side of the court.
That has left Mr Abbas in a difficult position, if only because with little obvious prospect of success for negotiations, entering into them would not only be highly unpopular among Palestinians, it could be a dangerous move for the Palestinian Authority.
"Palestinians never envisioned that the PA would function permanently as a large municipality to administer the affairs of Palestinians under Israeli occupation," said George Giacaman, a Ramallah-based analyst.
Mr Giacaman said that, after 19 years of largely fruitless negotiations, "it is not possible to have another 19 years of negotiations and retain whatever credibility and legitimacy the PA has left" among Palestinians.
"Without a clear end in sight to negotiations, the PA's future could well be doomed."
Mr Giacaman pointed out that Mr Abbas may already have seen the writing on the wall when earlier this year he announced that he would not seek re-election. And if pushed against his better judgement into direct negotiations he considers futile, chances are that he will resign.
That is not likely to be the outcome sought in Washington.
okarmi@thenational.ae
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Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Results
6.30pm: The Madjani Stakes (PA) Group 3 Dh175,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Aatebat Al Khalediah, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer).
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Dubai Avenue, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: My Catch, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Dubai Creek Mile (TB) Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Golden Goal, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Coal Black Mornings
Brett Anderson
Little Brown Book Group
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
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Results
Stage 7:
1. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal - 3:18:29
2. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - same time
3. Phil Bauhaus (GER) Bahrain Victorious
4. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep
5. Cees Bol (NED) Team DSM
General Classification:
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 24:00:28
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:35
3. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:02
4. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:42
5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45
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.
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MADAME%20WEB
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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
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Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
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Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets
Tales of Yusuf Tadros
Adel Esmat (translated by Mandy McClure)
Hoopoe
