The asymmetrical violence against the people of Gaza has again forced regional and international players to consider what to do about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. When Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish foreign minister, and his wife visited a Gaza hospital with Arab ministers, they were confronted with the arrival of families whose loved ones had been killed by Israeli missiles.
Mr Davutoglu and the other ministers were brought to tears as they were confronted with the human costs of the conflict, and they promised to do what they could to end this tragedy.
The ceasefire on Wednesday came as the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, and the US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, visited the region. Both UN and US officials promised to work towards a political solution, not just to end the latest violence, but for the century-old Middle East conflict.
This renewed regional and international attention requires Palestinians to step up and present a more unified position regarding the formulas that are needed to help provide a political answer to the violence. Experience shows that the ceasefire reached between Israel and Hamas, with the help of Egypt, will not last if there is not a parallel movement on the political track.
The deep split between Hamas and Fatah, reflected in the larger disagreement between the Palestine Liberation Organisation and Islamist movements, has complicated the possibility of any major political breakthrough between Israel and the Palestinians. In the middle of tragedy, however, Palestinians have begun serious efforts to end their disagreements. Nabil Shaath, a Fatah leader speaking from his home in Gaza, told reporters that the crisis had brought a sense of unity never felt before.
Mr Shaath, a member of Fatah's central committee, said this unity could be felt on the ground, not just in media statements. In Ramallah, Palestinians representing Islamist and nationalist factions marched in an expression of unity.
This new-found unity will be put to the test rather quickly. The PLO's decision to go to the UN on November 29 - which is recognised as the international day for solidarity with Palestinians - will need to be seen as a move supported by all Palestinians.
Mohammed Ramahi, a Hamas legislator and spokesman for the group's parliamentary faction, has told Al Jazeera that Hamas will support the UN initiative. Others have indicated that Hamas and Fatah have agreed to move quickly to finalise the reconciliation process. Meetings are scheduled for this purpose in Egypt, which under President Mohammed Morsi and his Islamist allies has become much more active in Palestinian discussions.
For the first time in recent history Palestinians are seeing Egypt act as an ally, rather than as a mediator co-operating with Israel. This has both positive and negative connotations.
A strong supporter of Palestinian rights in Cairo is a bonus for the Palestinians, but there is concern that an exaggerated role for Egypt in Palestinian affairs might boomerang, alleviating pressure on Israel and its perceived responsibilities in Gaza.
One of the issues that both sides of the Palestinian conflict will need to discuss with their Egyptian allies is the fear expressed by some that Israel is pushing Egypt rather than the Palestinian Authority into a role of responsibility in Gaza. Israelis have long wished that Egypt would resume its pre-1967 role as caretaker of Gaza, and they wish for Jordan to do the same thing in the West Bank. These discussions are often revived when the Palestinian Authority appears weak and the political horizon of an independent contiguous Palestinian state appears distant.
The architects of the Oslo Accords designed what was referred to as a "free-passage road" connecting Gaza to the West Bank. The Protocol Concerning Safe Passage between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip was signed in Jerusalem on October 5, 1999.
Save for a short stint that lasted a few days, the safe-passage road has not been opened. Israel has not honoured its commitment, in violation of bilateral agreements as well as an agreement that former US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice and US ambassador Daniel Kurtzer produced in Jerusalem in 2005.
Israel has used one excuse after another to deny Palestinians the right to travel from one Palestinian area to another.
A unified Palestinian position to the UN on November 29 will greatly enhance the political aspirations of Palestinians and will once again bring the two-state solution to the forefront. While the war on Gaza has had tragic results in terms of human suffering, these sacrifices will not be in vain if Palestinian leaders can put aside their petty differences and unite for the sake of freedom in a democratic and independent state.
Daoud Kuttab is an award-winning Palestinian journalist from Jerusalem and the former Ferris Professor of Journalism at Princeton University in New Jersey
www.daoudkuttab.com
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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
Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'
Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.
Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.
"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.
"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.
"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."
ACL Elite (West) - fixtures
Monday, Sept 30
Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
Al Wasl v Al Ahli (8pm)
Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)
Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEducatly%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2020%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EUAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohmmed%20El%20Sonbaty%2C%20Joan%20Manuel%20and%20Abdelrahman%20Ayman%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEducation%20technology%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20size%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%242%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEnterprise%20Ireland%2C%20Egypt%20venture%2C%20Plus%20VC%2C%20HBAN%2C%20Falak%20Startups%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
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
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
Teaching in coronavirus times
