Egypt's security agencies are in talks to halt the rocket fire from Gaza and Israel's bombardment of the enclave and defuse tensions in Jerusalem.
Egyptian security sources told The National that the mediation, which began soon after the violence in Gaza started more than a week ago, has made little headway because Israel has ruled out concessions.
The details of the mediation have not been made public, but the sources agreed to present the main elements of the discussions.
This was after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi spoke publicly for the first time about Cairo's efforts to halt the violence.
"The current situation now is that we are very urgently and very clearly seeking a return to quiet, and to end the violence and killings taking place," Mr El Sisi told reporters on Sunday night in Paris where he was attending international conferences.
Asked whether there was hope for the Egyptian mediation to succeed, he replied: “We are and will continue [our efforts]. There is always hope and it’s hoped that we can all move to end this conflict.”
On Monday night, the US for the first time stated its desire for a ceasefire to be introduced and expressed support for Cairo's efforts to bring about one.
"The president expressed his support for a ceasefire and discussed US engagement with Egypt and other partners towards that end," the White House said in a transcript of a phone call between President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Egypt was probably the most reliable mediator, the official said. “They seem most connected.”
Key negotiating points
The security sources said Cairo wants Israel to take steps to defuse tensions in Jerusalem following near-nightly clashes between protesters and police throughout Ramadan, the storming of Al Aqsa Mosque by police and the possible eviction of Palestinian families from the district of Sheikh Jarrah to make way for Jewish settlers.
Egyptian mediators are also proposing that Jordan is allowed to assume a more effective custody of the Al Aqsa Mosque and other holy Muslim sites in Jerusalem.
Jordan is the formal custodian of Al Aqsa but its influence has gradually waned as Israel became increasingly more assertive in Jerusalem, which is also home to holy Christian and Jewish sites.
Israel captured East Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed it, despite Palestinians demanding East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state. The two sides have not sat at the negotiating table for years.
The Egytion sources said Israel is reluctant to make any concessions on Jerusalem, fearing a violent backlash from religious or extremist right-wing parties in Israel.
It also did not want to allow Hamas to boast of a victory or to be seen to be rewarded for firing rockets into Israeli cities.
"Israel is in a bind this time around," one of the sources said, alluding to the fact that Hamas has targeted both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in the current bout of fighting – targets further from Gaza and less often hit.
The fighting has led foreign airlines to cancel flights to Israel and hit the country's economy.
It is the deadliest violence between Israel and Hamas since 2014 – the last time the two sides fought a major war.
At least 212 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, including 61 children and 36 women.
About 1,400 have been wounded.
About ten people have died in Israel, including eight from rocket attacks. The toll includes two children and a soldier.
The sources said Egyptian mediators – drawn from the country’s security agencies – wanted Hamas to stop firing rockets into Israel and for the latter to call off its bombardment of Gaza.
Egypt, which shares borders with both Gaza and Israel, has for years mediated between the two sides at times of tension or open hostilities.
It has also mediated in the past between Fatah, the dominant faction in the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority, and Hamas, which drove the former out of Gaza in a brief civil war in 2007.
But Israel, according to the sources, remains determined to maintain the bombardment to disable as much of Hamas' military apparatus as possible before it agrees to any ceasefire.
Egypt’s relations with both sides
Egypt’s own relations with Hamas have frequently been stormy, with both showing deep distrust of the other.
The militant group is effectively the Palestinian chapter of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamic group declared a terrorist organisation by Egypt.
In 2013, Egypt's military, led by Mr El Sisi at the time, removed from office a president who belonged to the group amid mass protests against his divisive, one-year rule.
Since then, Egypt has destroyed an elaborate, Hamas-supervised network of tunnels under its border with Gaza that had been used for years to smuggle a wide range of goods into the impoverished enclave on the Mediterranean.
In the past, Egypt has also accused Hamas of aiding militants fighting security forces in the northern part of the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula.
On the other hand, Egypt in 1979 became the first Arab nation to sign a peace treaty with Israel.
Relations between the former foes have since been dubbed a “cold peace,” although security co-operation between them have consistently been close, primarily to contain Islamist militancy in northern Sinai and to stop human trafficking into Israel.
Egyptians express support for Palestinians
The mediation comes as Egyptians sympathise with Palestinians on social media and on TV.
A tiny minority of Egyptians expressing opinions online appear to be either taking a neutral stand on the conflict or blaming Hamas for the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.
Egypt on Sunday opened the Rafah crossing between the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip a day earlier than scheduled to urgently transport the wounded from the strip for treatment in Egypt.
The crossing had been closed since Wednesday for the Eid Al Fitr holidays at the end of Ramadan although Egyptian ambulances still crossed into Gaza to bring critically wounded Palestinians for treatment.
Despacito's dominance in numbers
Released: 2017
Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon
Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube
Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification
Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.
Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
RESULTS
1.45pm: Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winners: Hyde Park, Royston Ffrench (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)
2.15pm: Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Shamikh, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard
2.45pm: Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Hurry Up, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3.15pm: Shadwell Jebel Ali Mile Group 3 (TB) Dh575,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Blown by Wind, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer
3.45pm: Handicap (TB) Dh72,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Mazagran, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
4.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh64,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner: Obeyaan, Adrie de Vries, Mujeeb Rehman
4.45pm: Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Shanaghai City, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.
What it means to be a conservationist
Who is Enric Sala?
Enric Sala is an expert on marine conservation and is currently the National Geographic Society's Explorer-in-Residence. His love of the sea started with his childhood in Spain, inspired by the example of the legendary diver Jacques Cousteau. He has been a university professor of Oceanography in the US, as well as working at the Spanish National Council for Scientific Research and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Biodiversity and the Bio-Economy. He has dedicated his life to protecting life in the oceans. Enric describes himself as a flexitarian who only eats meat occasionally.
What is biodiversity?
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, all life on earth – including in its forests and oceans – forms a “rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces”. Biodiversity on earth today is the product of four billion years of evolution and consists of many millions of distinct biological species. The term ‘biodiversity’ is relatively new, popularised since the 1980s and coinciding with an understanding of the growing threats to the natural world including habitat loss, pollution and climate change. The loss of biodiversity itself is dangerous because it contributes to clean, consistent water flows, food security, protection from floods and storms and a stable climate. The natural world can be an ally in combating global climate change but to do so it must be protected. Nations are working to achieve this, including setting targets to be reached by 2020 for the protection of the natural state of 17 per cent of the land and 10 per cent of the oceans. However, these are well short of what is needed, according to experts, with half the land needed to be in a natural state to help avert disaster.
