Fouad Siniora was prime minister of Lebanon from 2005 to 2008, and is chairman of the Future Movement parliamentary bloc.
November 13, 2023
It is with heavy hearts and infinite sadness that we follow the news from Gaza.
The region has had its share of violence but never on this calamitous scale. The tremendous loss of innocent civilian lives and the extensive destruction of nuclear proportions in the occupied territory has shocked the world.
The protests around the world have been hitherto unseen, and they are an expression of global conscience and solidarity with the people of Gaza who have been dragged into this war without having a say.
Different and opposing narratives have been promoted but none justify the cruel onslaught, least of all that of the right of Israel for self-defence. Current events cannot be taken out of context of decades of occupation, siege, misery and injustice. For too long, the plight of the Palestinians has been ignored, as well as the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and international laws.
A just and lasting peace is more urgent than ever.
The 2002 Arab Peace Initiative needs to be revisited as the basis of a comprehensive plan that acknowledges the right of the Palestinians to have their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital. We have learnt that no peace and stability in this region is possible if we fail to address the central issue of Palestinian rights.
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Vice President, is received by Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Acting Governor of the Riyadh Region, at King Khalid International Airport. UAE Presidential Court
Egypt President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi arrives in Riyadh. SPA
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, left, is received at the airport in Riyadh. Mr Raisi is in Saudi Arabia to attend the Organisation of Islamic Countries leaders' summit on Palestine and will likely meet high-ranking Saudi officials for the first time since the restoration of bilateral ties between Tehran and Riyadh. EPA
Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, arrives for the OIC summit. SPA
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati arrives in Riyadh. SPA
Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid arrives. SPA
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, third left, is welcomed at the airport. SPA
Uzbekistan's Prime Minister, Abdulla Aripov, second left, arrives in Riyadh. SPA
Syria's President Bashar Al Assad arrives for the OIC summit in Riyadh. SPA
Indonesian President Joko Widodo arrives in Riyadh to attend the OIC summit. SPA
The President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Japarov, in Riyadh. SPA
If we do not have all the just answers now, we never will
In a desperate attempt to woo western audiences and justify the level of violence, a reframing of the conflict is presented to undermine the Palestinian dimension. The conflict is said to be part of the war on terror, similar in many ways to the war on ISIS, thereby justifying collateral damage.
An even more sinister attempt is being made to label the conflict as a civilisational war – the West against the rest – as if we are still in the times of the Crusades. This confuses cause with consequence: such tensions are the outcome of the violence against Gaza and not the reason for it.
It is true that the Israel-Gaza war has created a major rift between East and West, perhaps more so than after 9/11. We have seen that the cultural and interfaith ramifications of the ongoing conflict are enormous. They should be reasons for us to stop the bombing of Gaza at any cost, to avoid consequences that can escalate the conflict and give it a global dimension. Presenting the war as an inevitable clash of civilisations is a false rationale to validate its continuation.
The alarming rise in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia is a symptom of growing interfaith tensions that could reverse years of progress in that field. The recent split in the UN General Assembly vote on the Arab proposition attests to the alarming East-West rift resulting from the war.
We must not fall into the trap of extremists, who are opposed to a just settlement and are responsible for its failure. This attempt at dividing the world along cultural and religious lines is going to fail. There are more values, principles and interests that bring us together.
The first, and most urgent, step is to secure a ceasefire, in order to stop further deteriorations. Then a political process is to be immediately initiated. It should involve the Arab League, the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation, and it requires collaboration with Europe, the US, as well as the UN Security Council.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres speaks prior to a meeting about the ongoing conflict in Gaza, at the UN headquarters in New York City, last week. Reuters
This is a time when wisdom should trump emotion. History will hold us all accountable if we fail – and we cannot, and should not, fail.
The implementation of international resolutions and the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state should be our top priority. It should meet the aspirations of the Palestinian people and ensure security for all, foremost of all the warring parties.
It has been more than 30 years since the Madrid Middle East Peace Conference and the launch of the Oslo Peace Process, following which the Security Council failed to take the necessary measures to implement its relevant resolutions, thus succumbing to the agendas of the extremists.
Over the years, numerous studies have been undertaken, reports prepared, and meetings and consultations held, in which every aspect of the conflict has been dissected. If we do not have all the just answers now, we never will.
Resolutions drafted at the joint Arab-Islamic nations summit over the weekend in Riyadh – comprised of 57 countries – unanimously called for an immediate ceasefire. This set of resolutions should be considered a strong and serious message to the whole world that it is high time to move now, in lock step, towards a comprehensive, just and permanent peace.
Like many others in the Arab world, I applaud the moral and unwavering stance of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on the Palestinian issue as well as on the larger Arab-Israeli conflict. A bold and noble effort is needed to stop this bloodshed.
This is not a civilisational war, nor is this a war on terror, and we must not let emotions lead us to further destruction.
Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
The biog
Place of birth: Kalba
Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren
Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken
Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah
Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”
Sole survivors
Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood. Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues. Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity. Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
Park in shaded or covered areas
Add tint to windows
Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: AF Dars, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: AF Musannef, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Taghzel, Malin Holmberg, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: M’Y Yaromoon, Khalifa Al Neyadi, Jesus Rosales
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (PA) 1,400m; Winner: Hakeem, Jim Crowley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
The more you save, the sooner you can retire. Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.com, says if you save just 5 per cent of your salary, you can expect to work for another 66 years before you are able to retire without too large a drop in income.
In other words, you will not save enough to retire comfortably. If you save 15 per cent, you can forward to another 43 working years. Up that to 40 per cent of your income, and your remaining working life drops to just 22 years. (see table)
Obviously, this is only a rough guide. How much you save will depend on variables, not least your salary and how much you already have in your pension pot. But it shows what you need to do to achieve financial independence.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, which can lead to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer.
There are 5 main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E.
Hepatitis C is mostly transmitted through exposure to infective blood. This can occur through blood transfusions, contaminated injections during medical procedures, and through injecting drugs. Sexual transmission is also possible, but is much less common.
People infected with hepatitis C experience few or no symptoms, meaning they can live with the virus for years without being diagnosed. This delay in treatment can increase the risk of significant liver damage.
There are an estimated 170 million carriers of Hepatitis C around the world.
The virus causes approximately 399,000 fatalities each year worldwide, according to WHO.
Saturday Benevento v Atalanta (2pm), Genoa v Bologna (5pm), AC Milan v Torino (7.45pm)
Sunday Roma v Inter Milan (3.30pm), Udinese v Napoli, Hellas Verona v Crotone, Parma v Lazio (2pm), Fiorentina v Cagliari (9pm), Juventus v Sassuolo (11.45pm)
Monday Spezia v Sampdoria (11.45pm)
The specs
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Power: 374hp at 5,500-6,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm from 1,900-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.5L/100km
Price: from Dh285,000
On sale: from January 2022
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
