It being Christmas, there is a certain obligation to bring glad tidings, or at least as glad as is possible in a year marked by deepening discontent and divisions in many parts of the world.
This despite the Palestinian-Israeli issue ramping up a contentious notch earlier this week when Fatou Bensouda, chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC), said she wanted to open an investigation into Israel’s alleged war crimes in the Palestinian territories. The case was brought by the Palestinians after the 2014 war in Gaza. It led to angry Israeli reaction, with Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, insisting that the ICC had no basis for the “outrageous decision [and] only has jurisdiction over petitions submitted by sovereign states. But there has never been a Palestinian state".
Away from the spotlight was another, more heartening development, and a gradualist, slow-motion attempt to build bridges and tear down walls. In Nazareth and Bethlehem, in the week before Christmas, a multi-faith grassroots movement called the Abrahamic Reunion (AR) organised two peace gatherings. The idea was to bring together Jews, Muslims, Christians and Druze to know “the other” and work at the long-running conflict in that spirit of engagement. In Nazareth, at least a couple of hundred people gathered to discuss what they did not know about other faith communities, to break bread together and then travel up to Mount Precipice – the hill known to Christians from the Bible – to release hundreds of balloons for peace. In Bethlehem, there was a party for peace – with Christmas songs sung in Arabic and a hearty dinner.
The point of all of this was very simple for all the inherent complexities. It was to counter “some of the narratives that speak of the impossibility of coexistence”, as AR chairman and co-founder David Less, a meditation teacher originally from New York, put it. Through peace gatherings, "we are finding areas of commonality between Israel and Palestine that have not necessarily been explored. The groups we’re working with are not political but are families, young people, educators and clergy," Mr Less said.
Quite so. The roster of speakers in Nazareth was varied and impressive. It included Shaykh Mowafaq Tarif, the spiritual leader of Israel's Druze community; Reverend Hanna Kildani, a Jordanian Catholic priest who serves as the Latin patriarchal vicar for Israel and is active in interfaith dialogue; Rabbi Shlomo Dov Rosen, director of Jerusalem's Yakar Synagogue; Imam Halmi Hamad of the Qadari order and Hisham Sulliman, an Arab-Israeli actor known for his role in the film Bethlehem and for a popular Israeli television series Fauda. Meanwhile in Bethlehem, those who urged the assembled diners of different faiths to know "the other" included Sheik Rafaat, a prominent cleric from Nablus, Suleiman Suleiman, a Muslim jurist, and Greek Orthodox priest Issa Thaljieh of Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, the oldest Christian church in the world.
Exhortations of course are one thing; their practical application is devilishly difficult. The gaps between the two sides of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict “have never been wider”, as veteran US presidential adviser and peace envoy Dennis Ross recently said. Mr Ross, who worked on Bill Clinton’s Camp David summit of 2000 involving then Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak and then Palestinian Authority chairman Yasser Arafat, now discerns a “sense of hopelessness that pervades Israeli and Palestinian attitudes about the prospects of peace”. It has marked, he said, by “deep disbelief on both sides” with both the Israeli and Palestinian people having lost faith in the prospects of a resolution. This has resulted in greater entrenchment of political positions on both sides.
Read More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Mr Ross noted that in Israel’s last three elections – 2015, April 2019 and September 2019 – the main opposition candidates, Yitzhak Herzog and Benny Gantz, did not make peace a campaign issue. As for Palestinian leaders, they fear the backlash of any concessions. With the looming battle to succeed current Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas, Mr Ross said that “those around him are positioning themselves for the future – and they know succession is a period where purity, not accommodation, is the political coin of the realm”. Indeed, the latest poll of public opinion by the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in mid-March showed that the majority no longer believes a two-state solution to be practical, feasible or round the corner.
In the circumstances, what to make of initiatives such as the AR’s peace gatherings? Sceptics would point to a dispiriting truth: the AR has been working this route in Israel and the Palestinian territories for nearly two decades yet peaceful resolution and reconciliation have only become more elusive in that period.
But then there are the dreamers who cite the evidence of a “shared society” that they see coming into being. At the Nazareth event, I met two rabbis – Raanan Mallek and Or Zohar, who respectively serve in Shorashim and Hararit villages in Galilee in northern Israel. Both argue that their villages, which are part of the larger Misgav Regional Council, are marked by a spirit of collaboration between Jews and Arabs. Misgav has a Jewish mayor and an Arab deputy, said Rabbi Or Zohar, and “Jews and Arabs in the region are awakening to the fantasy of ever living in a country in which the other doesn’t exist”.
That is not the impression we get about the region – at least, not yet. Perhaps the good news is not coming from politicians but from small initiatives in unregarded places. Maybe it will percolate up. We can but hope.
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt
Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure
Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers
Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
1.
|
United States
|
2.
|
China
|
3.
|
UAE
|
4.
|
Japan
|
5
|
Norway
|
6.
|
Canada
|
7.
|
Singapore
|
8.
|
Australia
|
9.
|
Saudi Arabia
|
10.
|
South Korea
|
The%20Little%20Mermaid%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rob%20Marshall%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHalle%20Bailey%2C%20Jonah%20Hauer-King%2C%20Melissa%20McCarthy%2C%20Javier%20Bardem%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2%2F5%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Brief scores:
Juventus 3
Dybala 6', Bonucci 17', Ronaldo 63'
Frosinone 0
MATCH INFO
Liverpool v Manchester City, Sunday, 8.30pm UAE
The biog
Favourite hobby: I love to sing but I don’t get to sing as much nowadays sadly.
Favourite book: Anything by Sidney Sheldon.
Favourite movie: The Exorcist 2. It is a big thing in our family to sit around together and watch horror movies, I love watching them.
Favourite holiday destination: The favourite place I have been to is Florence, it is a beautiful city. My dream though has always been to visit Cyprus, I really want to go there.
Who is Allegra Stratton?
- Previously worked at The Guardian, BBC’s Newsnight programme and ITV News
- Took up a public relations role for Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April 2020
- In October 2020 she was hired to lead No 10’s planned daily televised press briefings
- The idea was later scrapped and she was appointed spokeswoman for Cop26
- Ms Stratton, 41, is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator
- She has strong connections to the Conservative establishment
- Mr Sunak served as best man at her 2011 wedding to Mr Forsyth
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
OPTA'S PREDICTED TABLE
1. Liverpool 101 points
2. Manchester City 80
3. Leicester 67
4. Chelsea 63
5. Manchester United 61
6. Tottenham 58
7. Wolves 56
8. Arsenal 56
9. Sheffield United 55
10. Everton 50
11. Burnley 49
12. Crystal Palace 49
13. Newcastle 46
14. Southampton 44
15. West Ham 39
16. Brighton 37
17. Watford 36
18. Bournemouth 36
19. Aston Villa 32
20. Norwich City 29
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
BELGIUM%20SQUAD
%3Cp%3EGoalkeepers%3A%20Thibaut%20Courtois%2C%20Simon%20Mignolet%2C%20Koen%20Casteels%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EDefenders%3A%20Jan%20Vertonghen%2C%20Toby%20Alderweireld%2C%20Leander%20Dendoncker%2C%20Zeno%20Debast%2C%20Arthur%20Theate%2C%20Wout%20Faes%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMidfielders%3A%20Hans%20Vanaken%2C%20Axel%20Witsel%2C%20Youri%20Tielemans%2C%20Amadou%20Onana%2C%20Kevin%20De%20Bruyne%2C%20Yannick%20Carrasco%2C%20Thorgan%20Hazard%2C%20Timothy%20Castagne%2C%20Thomas%20Meunier%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EForwards%3A%20Romelu%20Lukaku%2C%20Michy%20Batshuayi%2C%20Lo%C3%AFs%20Openda%2C%20Charles%20De%20Ketelaere%2C%20Eden%20Hazard%2C%20Jeremy%20Doku%2C%20Dries%20Mertens%2C%20Leandro%20Trossard%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The five pillars of Islam
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Dubai Rugby Sevens
November 30, December 1-2
International Vets
Christina Noble Children’s Foundation fixtures
Thursday, November 30:
10.20am, Pitch 3, v 100 World Legends Project
1.20pm, Pitch 4, v Malta Marauders
Friday, December 1:
9am, Pitch 4, v SBA Pirates
The Abu Dhabi Awards explained:
What are the awards? They honour anyone who has made a contribution to life in Abu Dhabi.
Are they open to only Emiratis? The awards are open to anyone, regardless of age or nationality, living anywhere in the world.
When do nominations close? The process concludes on December 31.
How do I nominate someone? Through the website.
When is the ceremony? The awards event will take place early next year.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets