The leader of Israel’s largest Arab party has said that he is willing to side with the main challenger to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in order to remove him from office.
Ayman Odeh, leader of the Arab Joint List coalition of Arab and left-wing parties, is open to siding with the centre-left Blue and White Party led by former Israeli military general Benny Gantz and former Finance Minister Yair Lapid in the early election scheduled for April 9.
He said that he would only support the centrist party and give it the boost of the Arab vote if it provided concessions to Israel’s sizeable Arab minority. If those demands were met, he and his party would wield the power to bring down Israel’s political stalwart, who remains embroiled in corruption allegations and is set to be indicted by the country’s attorney general.
“We hope to influence decision-making and we do not want to permit the creation of another extremist government led by Netanyahu that constantly incites against us,” he told Israeli reporters.
Mr Netanyahu has received much criticism for his rhetoric towards the Arab minority in the build-up to elections in the country in a bid to win right-wing and far-right votes in order to solidify his hold on power. He is trying to win his fifth term in office.
In 2015, he warned Jewish voters that Arabs were heading to the polls in their “droves”, a move viewed as a scare tactic to boost his position at the polls. He went on to form a coalition and win that election.
This year, he has embarked on a similar path. One of his top ministers, Miri Regev, last week said in an interview that Mr Gantz would have to turn to the Arab vote in order to defeat the incumbent prime minister. That sparked the ire of one Israeli television presented who wrote on Instagram that “the Arabs are human beings”.
In a surprising move, Mr Netanyahu addressed her statement in an Instagram response. “Dear Rotem Sela, I read what you wrote. First of all, an important correction: Israel is not a state for all its citizens. According to a basic law we passed, Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people — and the Jewish people only,” he wrote.
He was referring to the divisive law passed in July 2018 that states Israel to be the “national home of the Jewish people,” but leaving out minorities such as Arabs and the Druze who make up at least one-fifth of the country’s population of 8 million people.
Continuing, he claimed that Arab citizens have “equal rights”. He said the decision was between a right-wing government and a “left-wing government...with the support of the Arab parties” that will “undermine the security of the state and the citizens”.
Mr Odeh laid out a series of priorities and demands that would need to be met by Mr Gantz and Mr Lapid if he were to back them.
“We would be willing to recommend Gantz and Lapid to [Israeli President Reuven] Rivlin to stop the formation of a right-wing government, but they need to show us they are willing to negotiate peace with the [Ramallah-based] Palestinian leadership, support equality for all citizens including Arabs, increase budgets to the local authorities in Arab villages and cancel the nation-state law,” he said.
He added that neither Mr Gantz nor Mr Lapid had reached out to him.
At the last election in 2015, the Arab coalition refused to back Isaac Herzog, Mr Netanyahu’s challenger in that vote.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Women & Power: A Manifesto
Mary Beard
Profile Books and London Review of Books
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
The five pillars of Islam
Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
Price, base / as tested From Dh173,775 (base model)
Engine 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo, AWD
Power 249hp at 5,500rpm
Torque 365Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Gearbox Nine-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined 7.9L/100km
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
