Israeli police prevent a Jewish worshipper from breaking through the police barrier to enter Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. AP
Israeli police prevent a Jewish worshipper from breaking through the police barrier to enter Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. AP
Israeli police prevent a Jewish worshipper from breaking through the police barrier to enter Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. AP
Israeli police prevent a Jewish worshipper from breaking through the police barrier to enter Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. AP

Israeli minister Ben-Gvir joins more than 1,000 settlers at Al Aqsa mosque compound


Nada AlTaher
  • English
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Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza

More than 1,000 Israeli settlers stormed Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem accompanied by security forces, before Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir caused further provocation when he arrived at the site to pray.

The Department of Islamic Endowments in Jerusalem said Israeli forces stationed at the gates of the courtyard prevented Muslim worshippers from entering the site, which is considered holy by Muslims, Christians and Jews and has been a focal point of tension.

“Settlers desecrated the Al Aqsa Mosque's courtyards and carried out Talmudic rituals in unprecedented scenes, with more expected to arrive in the evening,” a statement from the department said.

Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and his security, approach the entrance to Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site. AP
Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and his security, approach the entrance to Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site. AP

Mr Ben-Gvir visited the site and performed prayers alongside Yitzhak Wasserlauf, Israel's Minister for the Development of the Periphery, the Negev and Galilee.

According to an agreement between Israel and Jordan, which oversees Al Aqsa compound, Jewish worshippers are prohibited from performing prayers at the site. After Mr Ben-Gvir's visit, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the status quo at Al Aqsa “has not and will not change”.

It added that policies regarding the site were determined by the leader of the Israeli government. “The event this morning ... is an exception to the status quo,” his office said in a statement on Tuesday.

Mr Ven-Gvir's visit was roundly condemned by the international community. On Tuesday evening, the UN said the move was "unduly provocative"and the US called it "unacceptable".

"We certainly are paying close attention to actions and activities that we find to be a detraction from Israeli security, [and] a contributor to greater insecurity in the region," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said at a briefing. "Not only is it unacceptable, it detracts from what we think is a vital time, as we are working to get this ceasefire deal across the finish line."

The storming of the mosque comes amid the war in Gaza and almost near-daily Israeli raids in the occupied West Bank in recent weeks. Several arrests and attacks have taken place.

More than 10,000 Palestinians, including 700 children, have been arrested in the West Bank since October 7 and at least 22 detainees have died in Israeli custody as a result of “torture, starvation and medical neglect”, Palestinian rights groups said.

Israeli forces also carried out raids on the West Bank overnight. Mohammed Hamdan, secretary general of the ruling party Fatah in Nablus, and his brother were arrested, Wafa reported. Fatah has not yet commented on the detention.

An 18-year-old was also killed in Qalqilya by Israeli forces. Hamas claimed him as a commander. Israel carried out other raids and arrests in Al Khalil's Al Aroub refugee camp, Ramallah and Tulkarem.

In Gaza, at least 32 Palestinians were killed and 88 others were injured in Israeli strikes overnight, the ministry of health said. At least 10 people were killed in strikes on Khan Younis on Tuesday and four others, including children, were killed in attacks on Deir Al Balah.

Reem Abu Haya survived an Israeli strike that killed her entire family on August 13. She was taken to Al Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis after the assault. Reuters
Reem Abu Haya survived an Israeli strike that killed her entire family on August 13. She was taken to Al Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis after the assault. Reuters

Two bodies were moved to Khan Younis's Al Nasser Medical Complex, where thousands of displaced people are taking shelter, Wafa reported. More than 39,900 Palestinians have been killed and at least 92,000 have been injured since the start of the Gaza war on October 7. The conflict began after an attack by Hamas militants on southern Israel killed about 1,200.

Gaza does not have a single fully functional hospital after many of its health centres were either damaged or destroyed.

Turkish Ladies

Various artists, Sony Music Turkey 

Other simple ideas for sushi rice dishes

Cheat’s nigiri 
This is easier to make than sushi rolls. With damp hands, form the cooled rice into small tablet shapes. Place slices of fresh, raw salmon, mackerel or trout (or smoked salmon) lightly touched with wasabi, then press, wasabi side-down, onto the rice. Serve with soy sauce and pickled ginger.

Easy omurice
This fusion dish combines Asian fried rice with a western omelette. To make, fry cooked and cooled sushi rice with chopped vegetables such as carrot and onion and lashings of sweet-tangy ketchup, then wrap in a soft egg omelette.

Deconstructed sushi salad platter 
This makes a great, fuss-free sharing meal. Arrange sushi rice on a platter or board, then fill the space with all your favourite sushi ingredients (edamame beans, cooked prawns or tuna, tempura veggies, pickled ginger and chilli tofu), with a dressing or dipping sauce on the side.

Last 10 winners of African Footballer of the Year

2006: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2007: Frederic Kanoute (Sevilla and Mali)
2008: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal and Togo)
2009: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2010: Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan and Cameroon)
2011: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2012: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2013: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2014: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2015: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund and Gabon)
2016: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City and Algeria)

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if you go

The flights

Emirates offer flights to Buenos Aires from Dubai, via Rio De Janeiro from around Dh6,300. emirates.com

Seeing the games

Tangol sell experiences across South America and generally have good access to tickets for most of the big teams in Buenos Aires: Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Independiente. Prices from Dh550 and include pick up and drop off from your hotel in the city. tangol.com

 

Staying there

Tangol will pick up tourists from any hotel in Buenos Aires, but after the intensity of the game, the Faena makes for tranquil, upmarket accommodation. Doubles from Dh1,110. faena.com

 

THE BIO

Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old

Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai

Favourite Book: The Alchemist

Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail

Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna

Favourite cuisine: Italian food

Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman

 

 

Results

4pm: Maiden; Dh165,000 (Dirt); 1,400m
Winner: Solar Shower; William Lee (jockey); Helal Al Alawi (trainer)

4.35pm: Handicap; Dh165,000 (D); 2,000m
Winner: Thaaqib; Antonio Fresu; Erwan Charpy.

5.10pm: Maiden; Dh165,000 (Turf); 1,800m
Winner: Bila Shak; Adrie de Vries; Fawzi Nass

5.45pm: Handicap; Dh175,000 (D); 1,200m
Winner: Beachcomber Bay; Richard Mullen; Satish Seemar

6.20pm: Handicap;​​​​​​​ Dh205,000 (T); 1,800m
Winner: Muzdawaj; Jim Crowley;​​​​​​​ Musabah Al Muhairi

6.55pm: Handicap;​​​​​​​ Dh185,000 (D); 1,600m
Winner: Mazeed; Tadhg O’Shea;​​​​​​​ Satish Seemar

7.30pm: Handicap; Dh205,000 (T); 1,200m
Winner: Riflescope; Tadhg O’Shea;​​​​​​​ Satish Seemar.

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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Updated: August 14, 2024, 7:09 AM