Israel will ease entry regulations for Palestinian-Americans from the Gaza Strip, an Israeli official said on Monday, aiming to secure a long-awaited visa-waiver deal with the United States.
Gazan-Americans will be allowed to travel to the occupied West Bank via shuttle bus, from where they can cross into Jordan to access international flights, the manager of Israel's visa-waiver programme, Gil Bringer, told Reuters.
Those who satisfy Israel's security criteria will be able to enter Israel on "B2" tourist visas by September 15 and fly out of its main Ben Gurion Airport, Mr Bringer added.
The US and Israel signed an agreement last month setting the conditions for the programme, under which Israeli citizens can travel to the US for 90 days without having to apply for a visa.
Gaza was not included in the initial deal.
Under the rules, US citizens travelling to Gaza are unable to fly into Israel directly, would be limited to one trip per year and would have to apply for an exit permit to leave Gaza more than a month in advance.
Israel started its pilot scheme on July 20 by loosening a ban on Palestinian-Americans entering the country.
Palestinian-Americans with relatives in Gaza have recently spoken to The National of their disappointment at being excluded from the scheme, which some analysts described as a "punitive measure".
Israel began restricting the entry of Palestinians from the occupied West Bank and Gaza and preventing them from using Ben Gurion during the Second Intifada.
Travellers of Arab and Muslim heritage are regularly profiled when entering Israel, particularly through the airport.
Palestinian-Americans travelling to the West Bank currently have to undertake a lengthy journey through Jordan to enter the occupied territory, while Gaza remains under a strict Israeli and Egyptian blockade.
The US has long hoped to join the waiver scheme, although its increasing use of deadly force in the West Bank has called into question its chances of signing a deal with Washington.
Israeli fire has killed a record number of Palestinians so far this year, with at least 211 confirmed dead, according to an AFP tally.
Most of those were killed during army raids in Jenin and Nablus, which are home to various Palestinian militant groups. A high number of children and civilians were among the victims.
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
What is graphene?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
