A member of Israel's government has been condemned by some politicians in the country after leaked video showed him telling pupils that he wished there was a button to make Palestinians “disappear on an express train to Switzerland”.
The incident has put further pressure on the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, which includes an Arab party.
Deputy religious services minister Matan Kahana was addressing high school pupils at a settlement in the occupied West Bank when he made the remarks, footage of which was given to Israeli broadcaster Kan.
Mr Kahana is a member of Mr Bennett’s right-wing Yamina party.
He said that because there was “no such button", Israelis and Palestinians would have to coexist.
”Therefore it seems we were meant to exist [together] on this land in some way,” he said.
The coalition government was created last year to force Benjamin Netanyahu out of office, but it has since struggled to overcome major policy differences.
Several defections from the coalition have left Mr Bennett’s government with a minority of representatives in the Knesset, Israel’s legislative body.
The coalition styled itself as a symbol of Arab-Israeli co-operation in a society where Israeli Jews and Palestinians often live separately and seldom interact.
The idea of forcible displacement is a sensitive subject for Palestinians, with many forced to flee their homes when the Israeli state was created in 1948 fled. More were uprooted during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War.
Mr Kahana's remarks were criticised by politician including members of the coalition.
Opposition politician Ahmad Tibi tweeted that he would make Mr Kahana “disappear from the government and the Knesset".
Michal Rozin, a member of the coalition and part of the Meretz party, said Mr Kahana's remarks were “more than intolerable".
Mr Kahana said on Twitter that some of his comments were “worded poorly".
“I referenced that both Jewish and Arab populations aren’t going anywhere. As such, we must work to live in coexistence. Our coalition is a courageous step towards this goal," he said.
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
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
The five pillars of Islam
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
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The biog
Most memorable achievement: Leading my first city-wide charity campaign in Toronto holds a special place in my heart. It was for Amnesty International’s Stop Violence Against Women program and showed me the power of how communities can come together in the smallest ways to have such wide impact.
Favourite film: Childhood favourite would be Disney’s Jungle Book and classic favourite Gone With The Wind.
Favourite book: To Kill A Mockingbird for a timeless story on justice and courage and Harry Potters for my love of all things magical.
Favourite quote: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” — Winston Churchill
Favourite food: Dim sum
Favourite place to travel to: Anywhere with natural beauty, wildlife and awe-inspiring sunsets.
