Israel has said it will embrace a “new rule” to protect its citizens abroad and its national security after an alleged Iranian plot against Israeli citizens overseas set off alarm bells.
At a Cabinet meeting on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett gave the warning, after what he called Iranian attempts to attack Israelis in Turkey and in various locations abroad.
“We will continue to strike those who send the terrorists … Our new rule is: whoever sends, pays,” he said, citing fears of an imminent Iranian attack.
Israel considers Iran to be its greatest enemy and it strongly opposed the 2015 deal between Iran and world powers, which eased economic sanctions in exchange for curbs on Iran’s nuclear activities.
That deal foundered when former US president Donald Trump withdrew his country in 2018. Recent efforts to revive the pact seem to have stalled.
Israel also claims that Iran might use its proxy Lebanese movement Hezbollah to draw it into another direct battle. The sides fought in 2006.
Last week, Israel's military chief of staff Aviv Kochavi told Hezbollah that overwhelming force would be used in Lebanon if another war broke out with the Iran-backed movement.
“We will deal very big strikes in the war, but we will warn the residents and allow them to leave the areas,” Mr Kochavi said.
“I say to the residents of Lebanon: I advise you to leave, not only at the beginning of the war, but from the beginning of tension and before the first shot is fired.
“I advise you to leave those areas because the attack force will be unimaginable, like you nothing you have witnessed before.”
Mr Bennett also renewed his government’s warning for the Israeli citizens to avoid flying to Turkey — especially Istanbul — at this time.
“The security services of the State of Israel are working to thwart attempted attacks before they are launched,” he said at the Cabinet meeting.
Israel issued a travel warning for Turkey last week. According to the Israeli government’s website, the level of threat was raised for Istanbul to Level 4 by the Counter-Terrorism Bureau, which is affiliated to the National Security Council.
Level 4 is the highest and means a security situation is critical. Threat levels are designed to give a broad indication of the likelihood of a terrorist attack.
The security notice excluded flights with connections in Istanbul, as long as Israelis do not leave the airport.
Turkey responded last week to the Israeli security warnings by reassuring the world that it is a safe country.
“These travel warnings are considered to be related to different international developments and motives,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.
On Sunday, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his country’s efforts in foiling reported planned terrorist attacks against Israelis in Istanbul.
“I thanked him for the efforts to thwart terrorist activities on Turkish soil,” Mr Herzog said in a message on Twitter. “I emphasised that the threat has not yet passed.”
“Our co-operation makes a great contribution to the trust being built between our countries’ governments and peoples,” Mr Herzog said.
“We agreed to continue working for peace and stability in our region by means of open and ongoing dialogue.”
Meanwhile, Israel’s Foreign Minister Yair Lapid is expected to visit Turkey on Thursday for talks with senior officials, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu visited Israel last month, as the once close military allies work to overcome years of tensions.
Diplomatic ties hit an all-time low in 2010 when Israeli commandos killed nine Turkish activists on board Turkish-owned ship the Mavi Marmara in international waters.
It was part of a group of ships attempting to break a blockade on the Gaza Strip. Israel claimed that its special forces were attacked first by the activists.
In 2016, Israel and Turkey officially announced the end of their six-year diplomatic rift.
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
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Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
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