Washington looks to Riyadh as Abraham Accords mark third anniversary

There's not a lot that US politicians like to agree on these days, but this week has seen a rare glimpse of public bonhomie between Democrats and Republicans that harkens back to pre-polarised times where bipartisanship was routine.

Driving this show of collegiality in Washington are the Abraham Accords, the landmark deals establishing relations between Israel and the UAE and a number of Arab countries, which this week mark their third anniversary.

The accords have ushered in an unprecedented era of co-operation between Israel and parts of the Arab world. For instance, there are now more than 150 flights each week between the UAE and Israel, attesting to the mushrooming business and tourist connections between the countries. A year ago guests from around the world flew into Abu Dhabi to join celebrations of the biggest Jewish wedding held in the UAE.

US President Joe Biden’s administration was initially tepid in its public praise of the Abraham Accords, a signature achievement of the Trump era, but soon embraced the agreements and sought to build on them by including other countries.

Celebrations at the wedding in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

All eyes are now on Saudi Arabia to see whether it will forge its own agreement to establish relations with a country it has never formally recognised. There are indications Riyadh may be open to a deal with Israel, but it has long said it will not establish formal ties until Israel makes progress in attaining peace with the Palestinians.

At an event hosted by the Atlantic Council at the US Capitol on Wednesday, Israel's Ambassador to Washington, Michael Herzog, repeated his country's enthusiasm for a deal with Saudi Arabia.

“There is a window of opportunity right now,” said Israel’s ambassador to the US, Michael Herzog.

“The [Biden] administration would like to do it, our government would like to do it, I understand there is Saudi openness to doing it.”

Several recent media reports have sketched the outlines of a potential grand bargain that would see Saudi Arabia secure Palestinian support for a deal with Israel by resuming funding for the Palestinian Authority. In return for a deal, the reports claim, the US would provide security guarantees to Riyadh.

A Saudi-Israeli rapprochement would be a game-changer for the region, serving as a green light for more countries to forge their own relations with Israel.

At Wednesday's event, however, Terry Wolff, Senior Director for the Middle East at the National Security Council, signalled that a Saudi-Israeli deal is still a ways off.

“There is a pathway for this and the details will come together over time. I think it will take a lot of serious discussion,” said the retired three-star general. “We're at the discussion phase now, not really the negotiation phase.”

A US-orchestrated deal would be considered a key foreign policy win for President Joe Biden ahead of the 2024 presidential election and would no doubt be championed as proof that the US retains influence in the Middle East even as it reduces its regional presence and Gulf countries play a larger role on the global stage.

Largely absent from Wednesday's discussions, though, were the actions of the far-right government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which has increased its occupation of the West Bank, with the government accelerating the construction of new settlements. An ensuing surge in violence has been accompanied by domestic chaos as Mr Netanyahu seeks to push through judicial reforms that critics say threaten the country's democracy.

Still, Daniel Shapiro, special advisor for regional integration at the US State Department, described the moment as “a real opportunity regarding the potential for normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia”. Speaking via video link from Israel, he noted that there was “potentially a Palestinian component” to a future deal.

The real unknown in all this, of course, is Riyadh. There were no Saudi speakers at Wednesday's event and the country is playing its cards close to its chest in terms of any future deal with Israel.

“The Abraham Accords, we all believe, have been transformational for the region. If Saudi Arabia joins, it will be even that much more transformational,” said Congresswoman Kathy Manning, who sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Classification of skills

A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.

A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.

The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.

Abu Dhabi GP Saturday schedule

12.30pm GP3 race (18 laps)

2pm Formula One final practice

5pm Formula One qualifying

6.40pm Formula 2 race (31 laps)

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)

MATCH INFO

Day 1 at Mount Maunganui

England 241-4

Denly 74, Stokes 67 not out, De Grandhomme 2-28

New Zealand

Yet to bat

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

Primera Liga fixtures (all times UAE: 4 GMT)

Friday
Real Sociedad v Villarreal (10.15pm)
Real Betis v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Barcelona (8.15pm)
Levante v Deportivo La Coruna (10.15pm)
Girona v Malaga (10.15pm)
Las Palmas v Atletico Madrid (12.15am)
Sunday
Espanyol v Leganes (8.15pm)
Eibar v Athletic Bilbao (8.15pm)
Getafe v Sevilla (10.15pm)
Real Madrid v Valencia (10.15pm)

UAE jiu-jitsu squad

Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)

Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)

RESULTS

2.15pm Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m

Winner Shawall, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Majed Al Jahouri (trainer)

2.45pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner Anna Bella Aa, Fabrice Veron, Abdelkhir Adam

3.15pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner AF Thayer, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

3.45pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m

Winner Taajer, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel

4.15pm The Ruler of Sharjah Cup – Prestige (PA) Dh250,000 (D) 1,700m

Winner Jawaal, Jim Crowley, Majed Al Jahouri

4.45pm Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m

Winner Maqaadeer, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Tickets

Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.

Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.

THE LIGHT

Director: Tom Tykwer

Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger

Rating: 3/5

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species

Camelpox

Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.

Falconpox

Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.

Houbarapox

Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.

Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi

Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe

For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.

Golden Dallah

For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.

Al Mrzab Restaurant

For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.

Al Derwaza

For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.

How to vote

Canadians living in the UAE can register to vote online and be added to the International Register of Electors.

They'll then be sent a special ballot voting kit by mail either to their address, the Consulate General of Canada to the UAE in Dubai or The Embassy of Canada in Abu Dhabi

Registered voters mark the ballot with their choice and must send it back by 6pm Eastern time on October 21 (2am next Friday)