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Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has backed the head of the air force's decision to dismiss reservists who signed a letter calling on the government to prioritise releasing hostages in Gaza over fighting Hamas, even if it means ending the war.
Mr Netanyahu said the roughly 1,000 signatories, made up of veterans and reservists including senior officers and pilots, are “an extremist fringe group that is trying again to break Israeli society from within”.
The act of protest has nonetheless rattled the defence establishment, which fears that an increasing number of reservists across the military are unlikely to return to duty out of anger at the government’s decision to intensify fighting in Gaza. Many Israelis say the action amounts to a death sentence for remaining hostages in the strip. Polling consistently shows that a majority of Israelis want Mr Netanyahu to prioritise releasing hostages.
Israel’s military said most of the signatories of the letter were not active reservists, but did not give an exact number. A military official described the protest as "a serious breach of trust between commanders and subordinates".
It added: "With the full backing of the Chief of the General Staff, the commander of the [air force] has decided that any active reservist who signed the letter will not be able to continue serving."
The air force has played a vital role during the war, carrying out a massive bombardment of Gaza, as well as related attacks in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and the occupied West Bank. The air force would also be at the centre of a potential attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, which Mr Netanyahu has consistently warned is on the table.
The letter said the war now “serves mainly political and personal interests, not security interests”. It added: “The continuation of the war does not contribute to any of its declared goals and will lead to the deaths of the hostages, Israeli soldiers and innocent civilians, and to the attrition of the [Israeli military] reserve forces.”
It criticised the government for walking away from a ceasefire deal, which saw a number of hostages, dead and alive, released in exchange for Palestinian detainees and prisoners. “Only a deal can bring back the hostages safely, while military pressure mainly leads to the killing of the hostages and the endangering of soldiers,” it said.
Air Force Commander Tomer Bar had met reservists to convince them not to sign the letter, reportedly prompting a small number to change their mind.
The air force has long been one of the country’s most prestigious institutions, with a reputation built on successful operations such as surprise attacks on Arab armies during the 1967 War and the bombing of Iraqi nuclear reactors.
Israel’s military relies heavily on reservists as it maintains a relatively small standing force. After the October 7 Hamas attacks that started the war, all branches of the military benefitted from significant enthusiasm for service. However, call-up rates have since dropped, with many people critical of the burden it places on their personal and professional lives.
There is also major criticism of exemptions given to ultra-Orthodox Israelis, whose representatives form an important bloc in Mr Netanyahu’s far-right coalition.
In his response to the letter on Thursday, Mr Netanyahu said air force personnel “already tried to do this before October 7”, in reference to similar letters and rumours of mass walkouts in protest against his government's plans to overhaul the judiciary, which critics said would end democracy in Israel.
The prime minister said “Hamas interpreted the calls for refusal [before October 7] as weakness”.
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Ballon d’Or shortlists
Men
Sadio Mane (Senegal/Liverpool), Sergio Aguero (Aregentina/Manchester City), Frenkie de Jong (Netherlans/Barcelona), Hugo Lloris (France/Tottenham), Dusan Tadic (Serbia/Ajax), Kylian Mbappe (France/PSG), Trent Alexander-Arnold (England/Liverpool), Donny van de Beek (Netherlands/Ajax), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon/Arsenal), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Germany/Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Juventus), Alisson (Brazil/Liverpool), Matthijs de Ligt (Netherlands/Juventus), Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), Georginio Wijnaldum (Netherlands/Liverpool), Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands/Liverpool), Bernardo Silva (Portugal/Manchester City), Son Heung-min (South Korea/Tottenham), Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Bayern Munich), Roberto Firmino (Brazil/Liverpool), Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria/Manchester City), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/Manchester City), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal/Napoli), Antoine Griezmann (France/Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool), Eden Hazard (BEL/Real Madrid), Marquinhos (Brazil/Paris-SG), Raheem Sterling (Eengland/Manchester City), Joao Félix(Portugal/Atletico Madrid)
Women
Sam Kerr (Austria/Chelsea), Ellen White (England/Manchester City), Nilla Fischer (Sweden/Linkopings), Amandine Henry (France/Lyon), Lucy Bronze(England/Lyon), Alex Morgan (USA/Orlando Pride), Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands/Arsenal), Dzsenifer Marozsan (Germany/Lyon), Pernille Harder (Denmark/Wolfsburg), Sarah Bouhaddi (France/Lyon), Megan Rapinoe (USA/Reign FC), Lieke Martens (Netherlands/Barcelona), Sari van Veenendal (Netherlands/Atletico Madrid), Wendie Renard (France/Lyon), Rose Lavelle(USA/Washington Spirit), Marta (Brazil/Orlando Pride), Ada Hegerberg (Norway/Lyon), Kosovare Asllani (Sweden/CD Tacon), Sofia Jakobsson (Sweden/CD Tacon), Tobin Heath (USA/Portland Thorns)
Warlight,
Michael Ondaatje, Knopf
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
