Palestine's national tragedy finally has an end in sight


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May 15th is a sombre day for Palestinians all over the world, as we commemorate the Nakba (catastrophe in Arabic) and the loss of our homeland. The Palestinian poet laureate Mahmoud Darwish writes about our condition as akin to a train that has "fallen off the map."

That train represents our national aspirations, our memories of the days when we had a country, and the days we were all together and not dispersed around the globe like grains of wheat thrown to the wind.

What the Palestinian people have been deprived of for over six decades is the most basic of human rights, and one of the highest principles in contemporary international law: self-determination. The pride of having a country, a passport, a border to cross, and the idea that you can travel back to your own country and not be deemed an infiltrator or a terrorist, are things most people take for granted.

The Nakba represents a catastrophic interruption in the development of a people who were on the fast train towards independence. When the Nakba happened, Palestine had several newspapers, magazines, colleges, literary clubs, political parties and civil society organisations. Palestine even entered trials for the World Cup of 1930 and its Jaffa oranges were sold all over the world. It was a state in the making before the British government, frustrated at trying to prepare Palestine for independence while also supporting the colonisation of the country by those fleeing persecution in Europe, asked the UN to relieve it of its duties as administrator and intervene.

In 1947, that newly-created international body derailed our dreams by recommending in UN Resolution 181 the partition of our country. The result was the creation of the State of Israel. However, the State of Palestine was a promise left unfulfilled until now.

Thus, in 1948, Palestine fell off the map: 418 villages were depopulated and destroyed, and 30 documented massacres helped to cleanse the land of the over 700,000 Palestinian Christians and Muslims - 75 per cent of the population of historic Palestine.

Commemorating the 63rd year of the loss of our homeland while still stateless only keeps the wounds of our nation open indefinitely. Our people already have made a major concession for the cause of peace when we recognised Israel on the 1967 border, leaving us with less than a quarter of our original homeland. We agreed to take our struggle to the negotiating table but Israel did not engage with us in good faith. Instead, it expanded its colonisation activities by doubling the number of settlers in the West Bank during the peace process. Neither political pressure nor promises of rewards by the US have stopped Israel's actions, which are not only meant to prejudice the outcome of negotiations, but which also constitute a war crime.

Still, we have reason to look forward this year with hope as we take our case for statehood back to the UN General Assembly. In line with our obligations under the Quartet road map of 2002, and thanks in large part to the support of our own people and donor countries, Palestine is about to complete its state-building project in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.

We have already been recognised as a sovereign state on the 1967 border by 112 countries - including Russia, China, India, Brazil and South Africa. This will pave the way for Palestine's admission as a full member of the UN. As a recognised state, we will be in a better position to pursue claims on behalf of our people and defend their rights in international venues such as the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.

Nakba is our day of mourning, but we are emerging from that dark tunnel in Palestinian history towards the light of a new day - a day when our children can live in freedom and dignity instead of in the humiliation of camps. The Nakba is also a reminder to the international community that it must make good on the promises made to us in Resolution 181 so many years ago. Condemnation of Israel's actions is good but not enough; donor funded projects for the Palestinian National Authority help, but this is not a sustainable situation. Just as the World Bank reported last month, our economy cannot progress and our institutions cannot be fully developed until the Israeli occupation ends.

We want to start referring to Palestine as "hurra" (free) rather than remember it as the Nakba. It has been a long journey towards our destination to statehood initiated from the tents of refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria to our State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Our plans for a state are now on track and we hope soon to put the State of Palestine back on the world map.

Dr Saeb Erakat is a member of the PLO Executive Committee

ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA

Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi

Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser

Rating: 4.5/5

Boulder shooting victims

• Denny Strong, 20
• Neven Stanisic, 23
• Rikki Olds, 25
• Tralona Bartkowiak, 49
• Suzanne Fountain, 59
• Teri Leiker, 51
• Eric Talley, 51
• Kevin Mahoney, 61
• Lynn Murray, 62
• Jody Waters, 65

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

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
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MATCH INFO

Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium, Malayisa
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD

* Second leg in Australia on October 10

UAE v Ireland

1st ODI, UAE win by 6 wickets

2nd ODI, January 12

3rd ODI, January 14

4th ODI, January 16

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ACL Elite (West) - fixtures

Monday, Sept 30

Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
Al Wasl v Al Ahli (8pm)
Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)

Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)

Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHigh%20fever%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIntense%20pain%20behind%20your%20eyes%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESevere%20headache%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ENausea%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EVomiting%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESwollen%20glands%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERash%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIf%20symptoms%20occur%2C%20they%20usually%20last%20for%20two-seven%20days%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Pakistan Super League

Previous winners

2016 Islamabad United

2017 Peshawar Zalmi

2018 Islamabad United

2019 Quetta Gladiators

 

Most runs Kamran Akmal – 1,286

Most wickets Wahab Riaz –65

UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food

What are the influencer academy modules?
  1. Mastery of audio-visual content creation. 
  2. Cinematography, shots and movement.
  3. All aspects of post-production.
  4. Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
  5. Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
  6. Tourism industry knowledge.
  7. Professional ethics.
How green is the expo nursery?

Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery

An additional 450,000 shrubs and 4,000 trees to be delivered in the months leading up to the expo

Ghaf, date palm, acacia arabica, acacia tortilis, vitex or sage, techoma and the salvadora are just some heat tolerant native plants in the nursery

Approximately 340 species of shrubs and trees selected for diverse landscape

The nursery team works exclusively with organic fertilisers and pesticides

All shrubs and trees supplied by Dubai Municipality

Most sourced from farms, nurseries across the country

Plants and trees are re-potted when they arrive at nursery to give them room to grow

Some mature trees are in open areas or planted within the expo site

Green waste is recycled as compost

Treated sewage effluent supplied by Dubai Municipality is used to meet the majority of the nursery’s irrigation needs

Construction workforce peaked at 40,000 workers

About 65,000 people have signed up to volunteer

Main themes of expo is  ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and three subthemes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.

Expo 2020 Dubai to open in October 2020 and run for six months

If you go

The flights Etihad (www.etihad.com) and Spice Jet (www.spicejet.com) fly direct from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Pune respectively from Dh1,000 return including taxes. Pune airport is 90 minutes away by road. 

The hotels A stay at Atmantan Wellness Resort (www.atmantan.com) costs from Rs24,000 (Dh1,235) per night, including taxes, consultations, meals and a treatment package.
 

COMPANY PROFILE

Founders: Sebastian Stefan, Sebastian Morar and Claudia Pacurar

Based: Dubai, UAE

Founded: 2014

Number of employees: 36

Sector: Logistics

Raised: $2.5 million

Investors: DP World, Prime Venture Partners and family offices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

Brief scores:

Toss: South Africa, chose to field

Pakistan: 177 & 294

South Africa: 431 & 43-1

Man of the Match: Faf du Plessis (South Africa)

Series: South Africa lead three-match series 2-0