TEL AVIV // A new left-wing Jewish lobbying group in Europe calling for a stop to Israeli construction in the Palestinian territories has infuriated right-wing Israelis and could step up international pressure on the country's hardline government to end its settlement activity.
JCall, which describes itself as the European J Street, the liberal, pro-Israel Jewish lobbying group that is based in Washington, was launched at the European Parliament in Brussels on Monday by unveiling a fast-growing online petition called "European Jewish Call for Reason".
According to the petition, signed by almost 4,000 European Jews, including prominent intellectuals, politicians and activists from such countries as France, Belgium, Switzerland and Italy, the Israeli government's "continuing pursuit of settlements in the West Bank and in the Arab districts of East Jerusalem is morally and politically wrong". The petition's organisers warned that such policies are feeding into the "delegitimisation process" that Israel is increasingly facing in Europe. The formation of the group, which includes some of Israel's most ardent defenders in Europe, indicates that opposition to the country's settlement activities is spreading even among Israel's Jewish backers abroad, and might threaten its relationship with European allies.
Bernard Henri-Lévy and Alain Finkielkraut, French philosophers who often speak out in support of Israel, such as during its devastating military attack on the Gaza Strip that ended in January 2009, are participants in the initiative. Others include Daniel Cohn-Bendit, an organiser of student demonstrations in the 1960s, and now at the leadership of the Greens in the European Parliament in Brussels, as well as former Israeli ambassadors to France and Germany.
Their initiative has spurred anger among right-wing Israelis.
Michael Ben Ari, a legislator from Ichud Leumi, an ultra-nationalist, pro-settler party, accused JCall's participants of anti-Semitism. He added: "Self-hate did not help the intellectuals in Nazi-era Berlin. Instead of reproaching us, it's time that they pack their belongings and immigrate to their only homeland." Otniel Schneller, a right-leaning legislator from the opposition Kadima Party, warned that the new effort could "hurt the solidarity that world Jews share with Israel". He added: "Like J Street in the US, this new organisation wants to dictate to the Israeli public its future, and is a new and dangerous phenomenon ? with their actions, they are widening the rift between European Jews and Israel."
The new group has also drawn criticism from some Jewish organisations in Europe, especially in France, home to Europe's biggest Jewish population.
Richard Prasquier, president of CRIF, the umbrella representative body of the Jewish community in France, declined to sign JCall's petition and criticised what he indicated was the group's meddling in Israel's internal affairs. In a piece published by Le Figaro newspaper, he wrote: "Do Israelis need the Jewish diaspora to know what is 'the right' decision, what should be the borders of the country that their sons and daughters are protecting?"
Prominent dovish figures in Israel, however, hailed the new bid. Yossi Sarid, a former cabinet minister, said in a column in Haaretz, a liberal Israeli newspaper, this week: "These are the people who seize every opportunity to defend Israel publicly and have remained faithful to her ? but they are now also running out of patience and their hearts are filled with sincere concern."
Michael Warschawski, founder of the Jerusalem-based Alternative Information Centre, an Israeli-Palestinian activist organisation, said the growing criticism by prominent European Jews of the Israeli government is a "strong sign" of the country's increasing isolation in the international arena. In a posting on his group's website, he added: "The question is whether or not, and when, that message will be understood by Israeli public opinion.
"For the time being it seems that public opinion in Israel is no less deaf than the government."
However, some left-wing activists in Israel and Europe criticised the fact that JCall stopped short of publicly acknowledging that Israeli settlements were illegal, according to international law and had also omitted any mention of the blockade that Israel has been imposing on the Gaza Strip, where 1.5 million Palestinians live.
JCall's leaders have stressed that they are acting in the interests of Israel, and urged the European Union to join the United States in putting pressure on the country, cautioning that "systematic support of Israeli government policy is dangerous and does not serve the true interests of the state of Israel".
David Chemla, the head of the dovish, anti-settlement group Peace Now in France, said at the press conference that the survival of Israel "as a Jewish and democratic state depends on the creation of a sovereign and viable Palestinian state".
Elie Barnavi, a former Israeli ambassador to France who is a participant in JCall, added: "It is not enough to speak about a two-state solution.
"It is also essential to implement it, and this will only begin with the end of the occupation."
@Email:foreign.desk@thenational.ae
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
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LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Celta Vigo v Villarreal (midnight kick-off UAE)
Saturday Sevilla v Real Sociedad (4pm), Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao (7.15pm), Granada v Barcelona (9.30pm), Osasuna v Real Madrid (midnight)
Sunday Levante v Eibar (4pm), Cadiz v Alaves (7.15pm), Elche v Getafe (9.30pm), Real Valladolid v Valencia (midnight)
Monday Huesca v Real Betis (midnight)
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Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
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Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder
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If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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The Kingfisher Secret
Anonymous, Penguin Books
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Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
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The Farewell
Director: Lulu Wang
Stars: Awkwafina, Zhao Shuzhen, Diana Lin, Tzi Ma
Four stars
Company Profile
Founders: Tamara Hachem and Yazid Erman
Based: Dubai
Launched: September 2019
Sector: health technology
Stage: seed
Investors: Oman Technology Fund, angel investor and grants from Sharjah's Sheraa and Ma'an Abu Dhabi
yallacompare profile
Date of launch: 2014
Founder: Jon Richards, founder and chief executive; Samer Chebab, co-founder and chief operating officer, and Jonathan Rawlings, co-founder and chief financial officer
Based: Media City, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: 120 employees
Investors: 2014: $500,000 in a seed round led by Mulverhill Associates; 2015: $3m in Series A funding led by STC Ventures (managed by Iris Capital), Wamda and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority; 2019: $8m in Series B funding with the same investors as Series A along with Precinct Partners, Saned and Argo Ventures (the VC arm of multinational insurer Argo Group)
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The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
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Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
All the Money in the World
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Charlie Plummer, Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer
Four stars
Shooting Ghosts: A U.S. Marine, a Combat Photographer, and Their Journey Back from War by Thomas J. Brennan and Finbarr O’Reilly
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Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany
Directed by: Matt Shakman
Rating: Four stars
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.
Squad: Majed Naser, Abdulaziz Sanqour, Walid Abbas, Khamis Esmail, Habib Fardan, Mohammed Marzouq (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai), Khalid Essa, Muhanad Salem, Mohammed Ahmed, Ismail Ahmed, Ahmed Barman, Amer Abdulrahman, Omar Abdulrahman (Al Ain), Ali Khaseif, Fares Juma, Mohammed Fawzi, Khalfan Mubarak, Mohammed Jamal, Ahmed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Ahmed Rashid, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Wahda), Tariq Ahmed, Mahmoud Khamis, Khalifa Mubarak, Jassim Yaqoub (Al Nasr), Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Yousef Saeed (Sharjah), Suhail Al Nubi (Baniyas)
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
England's Ashes squad
Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.
The specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: nine-speed
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh848,000
On sale: now
The biog
Age: 30
Position: Senior lab superintendent at Emirates Global Aluminium
Education: Bachelor of science in chemical engineering, post graduate degree in light metal reduction technology
Favourite part of job: The challenge, because it is challenging
Favourite quote: “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” Gandi
The Bloomberg Billionaire Index in full
1 Jeff Bezos $140 billion
2 Bill Gates $98.3 billion
3 Bernard Arnault $83.1 billion
4 Warren Buffett $83 billion
5 Amancio Ortega $67.9 billion
6 Mark Zuckerberg $67.3 billion
7 Larry Page $56.8 billion
8 Larry Ellison $56.1 billion
9 Sergey Brin $55.2 billion
10 Carlos Slim $55.2 billion
Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
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Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out
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Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last
Klopp at the Kop
Matches 68; Wins 35; Draws 19; Losses 14; Goals For 133; Goals Against 82
- Eighth place in Premier League in 2015/16
- Runners-up in Europa League in 2016
- Runners-up in League Cup in 2016
- Fourth place in Premier League in 2016/17
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
Hamilton profile
Age 32
Country United Kingdom
Grands Prix entered 198
Pole positions 67
Wins 57
Podiums 110
Points 2,423
World Championships 3
