A “tragic mishap” is how the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Monday’s double strike on Al Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis that killed at least 20 people, including five journalists. Coming just over a fortnight since an Al Jazeera crew were killed by an Israeli strike in a clearly designated media tent in Gaza city, such descriptions are not only devoid of any responsibility towards the victims, but apparently exasperating Israel’s backers, too.
"I'm not happy about it," US President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when he was informed of Monday’s attack. "I don't want to see it. At the same time, we have to end that ... nightmare," he added, referring to the war in Gaza. The Organisation of Islamic Co-Operation has been meeting in Saudi Arabia this week, repeating the call to end this “nightmare”.
Ending the conflict is also a priority for a large section of a visibly angry and frustrated Israeli public. Members of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum held another a day of action yesterday, staging demonstrations and blocking main roads to demand a halt to the war and the return of Israelis still being held captive in Gaza. It would appear that their patience with Israel’s leadership is also at an end.
Polling this month from the aChord Centre, a research lab at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, found that most of the country’s Jewish citizens believe there are no innocents in Gaza. Results of another poll released around the same time by the Israeli Democracy Institute found most Jewish Israeli respondents remained untroubled by reports of famine in the Palestinian enclave. However, for a state whose supporters often boast it is a democracy, its leadership is proving particularly unresponsive to public calls for an end to the war. These calls have been sharpened by the planned mobilisation of 60,000 military reservists, a step that will have profound social and economic repercussions in a relatively small country.
It is important to note that many critics of the direction the country has taken over the past 22 months are hardly radicals or peaceniks. Among their number are many former military and intelligence officials – security-minded people who recognise that plans for annexation in Gaza as well as the permanent occupation and settlement of the West Bank will leave the country more isolated than ever.
It is important to note that many critics of the direction the country has taken over the past 22 months are hardly radicals or peaceniks
These voices have been joined by many Israeli civilians who, particularly when confronted by protests and animosity when travelling abroad, are well aware that their leadership’s futile and aimless war is dragging the country into further isolation. Speaking to The National, former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert summed up many of his fellow citizens’ feelings: “We don’t have now any objective that’s worth the cost of continuing the fighting and losing the hostages and having Israeli soldiers killed, and many non-involved Palestinians killed.”
Meanwhile, the cynicism of attacks such as Monday’s double strike on Al Nasser Hospital will only strengthen the determination of those working day and night in Gaza itself and in newsrooms across the region to keep this manmade humanitarian catastrophe at the top of the global agenda. Israel’s current leadership may believe it can weather such scrutiny but insisting that the war on Gaza ends on its terms alone may do more damage to Israel’s cohesion in the long run than anything its enemies could conceive.
MATCH RESULT
Liverpool 4 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Liverpool: Salah (26'), Lovren (40'), Solanke (53'), Robertson (85')
Company Profile
Founder: Omar Onsi
Launched: 2018
Employees: 35
Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)
Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
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Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
La Mer lowdown
La Mer beach is open from 10am until midnight, daily, and is located in Jumeirah 1, well after Kite Beach. Some restaurants, like Cupagahwa, are open from 8am for breakfast; most others start at noon. At the time of writing, we noticed that signs for Vicolo, an Italian eatery, and Kaftan, a Turkish restaurant, indicated that these two restaurants will be open soon, most likely this month. Parking is available, as well as a Dh100 all-day valet option or a Dh50 valet service if you’re just stopping by for a few hours.
Credit Score explained
What is a credit score?
In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.
Why is it important?
Financial institutions will use it to decide whether or not you are a credit risk. Those with better scores may also receive preferential interest rates or terms on products such as loans, credit cards and mortgages.
How is it calculated?
The AECB collects information on your payment behaviour from banks as well as utilitiy and telecoms providers.
How can I improve my score?
By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.
How do I know if my score is low or high?
By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.
How much does it cost?
A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.
