Israel will respond to the attack on the occupied Golan Heights by targeting Hezbollah’s infrastructure in Lebanon in an attempt to push the Iran-backed militia away from its northern border, an Israeli official told UK media on Sunday.
Chairman of Israel’s foreign affairs and defence committee, Yuli Edelstein, said Israel “will have to react” to Saturday’s attack on a football field in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, which killed 12 children from the Syrian Druze community.
"It's terrible to mourn 12 young children but, at the same time, it leads us to the obvious conclusion,” he told Sky News on Sunday.
"We can't live here peacefully, develop our country, strike new peace accords with our neighbours as long as we will be threatened by Hezbollah in the north and Hamas in the south and by Iranians running this whole show.”
The Israeli military announced it had retaliated with strikes on seven Hezbollah targets “deep inside Lebanese territory” on Sunday morning.
Hezbollah denies it launched Saturday's attack - but claimed four others fired into Israeli territory at the same time.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the group would "pay a heavy price" for Saturday's attack, amid fears that all-out war between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah could trigger a wider regional conflict.
Yet Mr Edelstein insisted that any retaliatory operation would not be “in terms of revenge” but as part of an effort to “continue destroying the infrastructure” of Hezbollah in the south of Lebanon.
"We will have to react not to react in terms of revenge, but to react in terms of getting rid of that danger and bringing back dozens of thousands of Israeli citizens who right now can't be in their homes now in northern border, and had to be evacuated to the centre of the country," he said.
The attack came days after Israel’s education minister announced that schools along the country’s northern border would not re-open in September, prompting speculation that Israel was planning further operations in southern Lebanon.
Israel’s first aim would be to push Hezbollah away from its northern border, Mr Edelstein added, but he did not rule out any attempts to “get rid” of the organisation altogether.
“It should be part of the effort to get rid of Hezbollah on our border, to get them as far away as possible or even to get rid of the terrorist organisation altogether,” he said.
The escalation comes as the UK is expected to review the legality of arms sales to Israel, in a series of decisions that mark a shift in the new Labour government's approach to the conflict.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the UK would be dropping its challenge to the International Criminal Court Prosecutor's request for the arrest warrant of Mr Netanyahu on Friday, and UK funding to UNRWA was restored in July, reversing key Conservative policies on the conflict.
Mr Edelstein said the decision to drop the UK's challenge to the ICC was "very disappointing" and a "strategic mistake". "If you can do it to Israel, you can do it to any other democracy in the world defending itself from terrorist attacks," he said.
Western Clubs Champions League:
- Friday, Sep 8 - Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Bahrain
- Friday, Sep 15 – Kandy v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
- Friday, Sep 22 – Kandy v Bahrain
Company Profile
Company name: NutriCal
Started: 2019
Founder: Soniya Ashar
Based: Dubai
Industry: Food Technology
Initial investment: Self-funded undisclosed amount
Future plan: Looking to raise fresh capital and expand in Saudi Arabia
Total Clients: Over 50
Meydan race card
6.30pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,600m
7.05pm: Handicap Dh 185,000 2,000m
7.40pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap Dh 190,000 1,400m
8.50pm: Handicap Dh 175,000 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap Dh 175,000 1,200m
10pm: Handicap Dh 165,000 1,600m
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Dunki
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The specs
Engine: 2.5-litre, turbocharged 5-cylinder
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 400hp
Torque: 500Nm
Price: Dh300,000 (estimate)
On sale: 2022
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
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Jurassic%20Park
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more from Janine di Giovanni
Specs
Engine: 3.0L twin-turbo V6
Gearbox: 10-speed automatic
Power: 405hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 562Nm at 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.2L/100km
Price: From Dh292,845 (Reserve); from Dh320,145 (Presidential)
On sale: Now
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
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About Okadoc
Date started: Okadoc, 2018
Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Healthcare
Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth
Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February
Investors: Undisclosed
Company%20profile
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Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."