Donald Trump met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Friday, claiming that "no president has done what I've done for Israel".
The meeting signalled that both men are looking to ease tension that developed since Mr Trump left office in January 2021.
Warmly clasping hands, Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu greeted each other outside the former president's home in their first face-to-face meeting in almost four years.
About 50 pro-Palestinian protesters were on the bridge leading to the resort.
Given a possible return of Mr Trump to the White House, Mr Netanyahu – whom CNN reported had requested the meeting – was expected to be driven to mend fences.
As president, Mr Trump fulfilled some of Mr Netanyahu's top wishes from the US, including the moving of the American embassy to Jerusalem and declaring that settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories did not breach international law.
But the Israeli leader angered Mr Trump when he congratulated Mr Biden on his victory in the 2020 election, which Mr Trump has falsely claimed was rigged.
More recently, Mr Trump criticised Mr Netanyahu for security failures around the October 7 Hamas attack that killed about 1,200 people and led to the war in Gaza.
Mr Trump insisted following the meeting that his relationship with Mr Netanyahu has "always been good".
Mr Netanyahu's visit to the Republican nominee in this year's presidential race comes a day after meetings in Washington with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who will top the Democratic ticket.
In her meeting with Mr Netanyahu, Ms Harris sharply pressed the Israeli leader about the humanitarian situation in Gaza in “frank” talks that were watched for signs of how she might shift American policy on Israel if she becomes president.
“I made clear my serious concern about the dire humanitarian situation there,” Ms Harris said in remarks after the meeting. “I will not be silent.”
Mr Trump slammed her comments, calling them "disrespectful" and "not very nice".
"I actually don't know how a person who is Jewish could vote for her," he said.
But in an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Mr Trump called for a quick end to Israel's war with Hamas and a return of the hostages, adding that Israel has to better manage its “public relations”.
“I want him [Mr Netanyahu] to finish up and get it done quickly,” Mr Trump said. “They are getting decimated with this publicity.”
Before the meeting, Mr Trump posted an image of a letter he had received from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on his Truth Social platform and pledged to work for Middle East peace if he is re-elected.
During the interview, Mr Trump also blasted those who protested against Mr Netanyahu's speech to Congress on Wednesday.
The Israeli Prime Minister's speech was boycotted by dozens of Democratic politicians, with thousands of demonstrators marching in Washington to Capitol Hill as they protested against the war in Gaza while others demanded Mr Netanyahu bring the hostages home.
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
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Take your litter home with you
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
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The Outsider
Stephen King, Penguin
Company profile
Name: Tratok Portal
Founded: 2017
Based: UAE
Sector: Travel & tourism
Size: 36 employees
Funding: Privately funded
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
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Juliet, Naked
Dir: Jesse Peretz
Starring: Chris O'Dowd, Rose Byrne, Ethan Hawke
Two stars
