At first glance, it could be an obscure postcard from history: a black-and-white photo shows Joe Biden with a slight smile in a striped suit, shaking hands with Anwar Sadat after the signing of the 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel in Washington.
The whole region needs a breakthrough as far as the peace process, which faced near death in the last few years
A relative obscurity outside Washington, the 36-year-old member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was witness to a US achievement that became central to Jimmy Carter’s legacy. The photo circulated in US media when Mr Biden was running for president last year.
The next Arab-Israeli treaty was between Jordan and Israel, 15 years later.
Egypt and Jordan were the only Arab countries in formal peace with their former enemy until the regional normalisation drive with Israel last year.
Regional peace redux
This week Jordan and Egypt called for a united Arab effort to help the Biden administration relaunch Palestinian-Israeli peace talks, dormant for the past seven years.
Cairo and Amman both sent last month their top security officials to Ramallah, headquarters of the Palestinian Authority, which is dominated by President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah faction.
They wanted to gauge scenarios that may result from Palestinian elections scheduled to start in May, with the possibility of a Hamas win undermining chances to restart talks with Israel.
France and Germany support the moves by Jordan and Egypt.
The four countries comprise the so-called Munich group, formed after the Munich Security Conference a year ago, to push for reactivation of the peace process.
Jordan on edge
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Al Safadi said after a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo on Tuesday that the Biden administration had sent “positive signs”.
He said Arab countries should respond with “a unified vision to relaunch serious and effective negotiations” based on the two-state solution.
"The whole region needs a breakthrough [in] the peace process, which faced near death in the last few years," Mr Al Safadi said.
The demise of prospects for a two-state solution under President Donald Trump deepened fears among Jordanian officials that the kingdom could become what they term an alternative Palestinian homeland.
A large proportion of Jordan’s 10 million inhabitants are of Palestinian descent.
With its large Palestinian component, Jordan cannot accept being party to a deal that the Palestinians refuse.
This was previously the case in 1978 when Jordan declined to participate in the Camp David accords, the precursor of the 1979 Israeli-Egyptian treaty.
Four decades later, the kingdom sought to stay away from Mr Trump’s "deal of the century", the nickname for his Middle East peace plan.
Fatah and Hamas mocked Mr Trump’s plan as ignoring the Israeli occupation and what they regard as a Palestinian right to the whole of the West Bank and the Old City in East Jerusalem.
Jordan regarded Mr Trump’s vision as supporting Israeli ambitions to annex Palestinian territory, potentially causing another Palestinian exodus, or linking West Bank areas with Jordan – in both cases a threat to its demographic balance.
The Munich group said after one if its regular meetings last year that any annexation of Palestinian territory is against international law and could “have consequences” for ties between the four countries and Israel.
With a small economy, 11 per cent the size of Israel's and being a recipient of $1.5 billion in US aid a year, Jordanian options were limited.
The departure of Mr Trump has revived the country’s role as an interlocutor, and its reputation as a key player is expected to be taken more seriously in Washington.
But Jordanian officials were cautious about showing elation in response to the election of Mr Biden in November.
International studies professor Hassan Al Momani said that although the Biden administration “has returned to the two-state narrative”, the new president “may not want to step beyond management of the conflict”
He said Jordan and Egypt want to streamline Arab priorities after the normalisation accords, and adapt them to the new administration in Washington.
“They want to create a starting point to help Biden re-engage on the peace process,” Mr Al Momani said, and that “putting the Palestinian house in order” is central to their strategy.
Egypt's Gaza dilemma
As the Trump peace plan crystalised in his last two years in office, US relations with Jordan soured, while ties between Washington and Cairo were unaffected.
Egypt, by virtue of its size and border with Gaza, regards itself as the gateway for any Palestinian-Israeli peace.
But Mr Al Momani, who teaches at Jordan University, said the nature of any future Palestinian state “is worrisome for everyone”.
"A Palestinian state can be attractive and lessen the demographic pressure on Jordan," Mr Al Momani told The National.
“But can the Palestinians produce a stable state that does not turn into another Gaza?”
For years Egyptian authorities worried about the population explosion in Gaza and rise of Hamas, and other militant groups in the strip. Hamas is supported by Iran and Qatar.
But Cairo kept open channels with Hamas, despite the group’s links to the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood.
Unlike the Brotherhood, no Arab country has labelled Hamas a terrorist organisation, yet the US and the EU list Hamas as a terrorist group.
Under Egyptian auspices, Hamas and Fatah agreed in Cairo on Tuesday on guidelines for forthcoming Palestinian elections.
The last Palestinian elections, won by Hamas 15 years ago, led to civil war after power-sharing arrangements with Fatah failed.
The war left Hamas in control of Gaza and Fatah dominating Palestinian self-rule in parts of the West Bank.
The new poll, if it takes place, would raise the credibility of the Palestinian side in any negotiations. It could boost Egypt’s position as a diplomatic player with sway across a broad spectrum of Palestinian politics.
But the election deal struck in Cairo remains vague and the Egyptian intervention carries political and foreign policy risks.
Hamas could win the poll, similar to the last one, an outcome that Egypt and Jordan do not want.
Palestinian unity?
Veteran political commentator Abdulwahab Badrakhan said Egypt should have concentrated on unifying the administration of the West Bank and Gaza, instead of elections.
He said elections in two statelets ruled by rival groups was bound to produce "a deformed outcome".
“The existing divisions and the situation on the ground open the possibility for the elections to lead to prolonged civil strife,” Mr Badrakhan said from London.
He said elections would be more convincing to the US and other powers if Egypt was able to prod Hamas and Fatah to form a single Palestinian authority.
“As much as the elections are necessary, they will not produce stability or an authority that can deal with the international community in pursuit of a solution,” he said.
Hamas is ultimately not against negotiations with Israel.
But the group has consistently warned against retreating from Palestinian demands, a position central to retaining its constituency, as well as support from Tehran.
A regional veteran
Since he became president, Mr Biden has been wearing solid colour suits. He knows many of the region’s movers and shakers personally. Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt called him a friend.
The US new secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said Mr Biden “strongly supports” the two-state solution.
Mr Blinken told CNN that it was “the only way to ensure Israel’s future as a Jewish and democratic state, and the only way to give the Palestinians a state to which they’re entitled”.
But Mr Blinken sidestepped a question about whether the US supports creation of a Palestinian capital in East Jerusalem, saying “it is the objective” of direct talks.
“We’re unfortunately away from that at this point in time,” he said.
In Carter's footsteps?
By the time Sadat and Menachem Begin signed the 1979 accord at the White House, it was largely forgotten that the three countries had committed to solve the Palestinian problem.
The 1978 Camp David Accords said Egypt, Israel, Jordan “and the representatives of the Palestinian people should participate in negotiations on the resolution of the Palestinian problem in all its aspects”.
The Palestinian Liberation Organisation rejected Camp David, seeing the accords as a sell-out by Sadat. Jordan reluctantly took a similar position and joined a decade-long Arab boycott of Egypt.
Before he hosted Sadat and Begin at Camp David, Mr Carter asked for an assessment from senior officials of what to expect.
His stalwart National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski wrote to him saying that “Begin probably believes that a failure at Camp David will hurt you and Sadat, but not him".
In the end Camp David was a win-win for the three countries. Thirteen years later the US revived the treaty’s clauses regarding the Palestinian problem by convening the Madrid Peace Conference, after the Gulf War.
The problem for Mr Biden is that unlike Mr Carter, he has to contend with a far more powerful Iran, which is willing to play the role of spoiler in a more durable peace process. Today, Tehran has a host of proxy militant groups and an array of weapons programmes, including potential nuclear devices.
In that regard, if Mr Biden wants to start a new journey for regional peace he will have to contend with Tehran as an unwelcome distraction.
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
11 cabbie-recommended restaurants and dishes to try in Abu Dhabi
Iqbal Restaurant behind Wendy’s on Hamdan Street for the chicken karahi (Dh14)
Pathemari in Navy Gate for prawn biryani (from Dh12 to Dh35)
Abu Al Nasar near Abu Dhabi Mall, for biryani (from Dh12 to Dh20)
Bonna Annee at Navy Gate for Ethiopian food (the Bonna Annee special costs Dh42 and comes with a mix of six house stews – key wet, minchet abesh, kekel, meser be sega, tibs fir fir and shiro).
Al Habasha in Tanker Mai for Ethiopian food (tibs, a hearty stew with meat, is a popular dish; here it costs Dh36.75 for lamb and beef versions)
Himalayan Restaurant in Mussaffa for Nepalese (the momos and chowmein noodles are best-selling items, and go for between Dh14 and Dh20)
Makalu in Mussaffa for Nepalese (get the chicken curry or chicken fry for Dh11)
Al Shaheen Cafeteria near Guardian Towers for a quick morning bite, especially the egg sandwich in paratha (Dh3.50)
Pinky Food Restaurant in Tanker Mai for tilapia
Tasty Zone for Nepalese-style noodles (Dh15)
Ibrahimi for Pakistani food (a quarter chicken tikka with roti costs Dh16)
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
MORE ON TURKEY'S SYRIA OFFENCE
MATCH INFO
Rajasthan Royals 158-8 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 143/7 (20 ovs)
Rajasthan Royals won by 15 runs
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
Anna and the Apocalypse
Director: John McPhail
Starring: Ella Hunt, Malcolm Cumming, Mark Benton
Three stars
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Sebastian Stefan, Sebastian Morar and Claudia Pacurar
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2014
Number of employees: 36
Sector: Logistics
Raised: $2.5 million
Investors: DP World, Prime Venture Partners and family offices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE
RESULTS
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group One (PA) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner RB Money To Burn, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner Ekhtiyaar, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Commanding, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
8.15pm Singspiel Stakes Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner Benbatl, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
8.50pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Zakouski, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
9.25pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group Two (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Kimbear, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
10pm Dubai Trophy Conditions (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Platinum Star, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
10.35pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Key Victory, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
Hamilton’s 2017
Australia - 2nd; China - 1st; Bahrain - 2nd; Russia - 4th; Spain - 1st; Monaco - 7th; Canada - 1st; Azerbaijan - 5th; Austria - 4th; Britain - 1st; Hungary - 4th; Belgium - 1st; Italy - 1st; Singapore - 1st; Malaysia - 2nd; Japan - 1st; United States - 1st; Mexico - 9th
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
The%20team
%3Cp%3E%0DFashion%20director%3A%20Sarah%20Maisey%0D%3Cbr%3EPhotographer%3A%20Greg%20Adamski%0D%3Cbr%3EHair%20and%20make-up%3A%20Ania%20Poniatowska%0D%3Cbr%3EModels%3A%20Nyajouk%20and%20Kristine%20at%20MMG%2C%20and%20Mitchell%0D%3Cbr%3EStylist%E2%80%99s%20assistants%3A%20Nihala%20Naval%20and%20Sneha%20Maria%20Siby%0D%3Cbr%3EVideographer%3A%20Nilanjana%20Gupta%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm)
Burnley v Huddersfield Town (7pm)
Everton v Bournemouth (7pm)
Manchester City v Crystal Palace (7pm)
Southampton v Manchester United (7pm)
Stoke City v Chelsea (7pm)
Swansea City v Watford (7pm)
Leicester City v Liverpool (8.30pm)
Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United (7pm)
Monday
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion (11pm)
THE BIO
BIO:
Born in RAK on December 9, 1983
Lives in Abu Dhabi with her family
She graduated from Emirates University in 2007 with a BA in architectural engineering
Her motto in life is her grandmother’s saying “That who created you will not have you get lost”
Her ambition is to spread UAE’s culture of love and acceptance through serving coffee, the country’s traditional coffee in particular.
Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
MATCH INFO
Leeds United 0
Brighton 1 (Maupay 17')
Man of the match: Ben White (Brighton)
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, semi-final result:
Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona
Liverpool win 4-3 on aggregate
Champions Legaue final: June 1, Madrid
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,470,000 (est)
Engine 6.9-litre twin-turbo W12
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 626bhp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 900Nm @ 1,350rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.0L / 100km
UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures and results:
Monday, UAE won by three wickets
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
