The Israeli government has managed to achieve something many thought to be impossible: diminishing the already slight expectations for the peace talks with the Palestinians due to begin today.
Three years after the last substantive talks collapsed primarily because Israel continued to build settlements on Palestinian territory, Israeli housing minister Uri Ariel used the lead-up to the resumption of negotiations to announce plans to build nearly 1,200 new homes on occupied land. Most of them will be in East Jerusalem, the intended Palestinian capital.
Then a day later, an Israeli television station broke the news that another 942 homes, also in East Jerusalem, had been approved in secret.
The US has considerable power to affect Israel but, as usual, lacks the political will to do so. Secretary of State John Kerry's ineffectual response demonstrated that, restating the administration's view that all settlements are illegitimate but urging the Palestinians to resume negotiations rather than reacting adversely.
The latest developments mark a change in approach for the Israeli government, which despite actively working to destroy the prospect of a viable Palestinian state by building settlements has usually been adept at portraying itself as seeking peace.
No such pretence is visible now.
When Mr Ariel announced the new homes by vowing that residential construction would continue "in the entire country", it was a moment when the government's words were finally aligned with its actions.
In the hotbed of Israeli-Palestinian politics, few such revelations happen entirely randomly. The timing of more than 2,000 new homes will have been designed to send a message to Israel's pro-settlement constituencies that releasing 26 Palestinian prisoners was not a softening of the government's approach.
So here we are again. As the parties sit down around the table today, how can even the most optimistic Palestinian harbour any hopes that Israel is truly a partner in peace with the intention to end the occupation?
And how can they take on merit the US's claim to be an honest broker rather than Israel's staunchest supporter?
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What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Results
5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,600m, Winner: Panadol, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)
6.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m, Winner: Mayehaab, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
6.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Monoski, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
7.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,800m, Winner: Eastern World, Royston Ffrench, Charlie Appleby
7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Madkal, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
8.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Taneen, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
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