TEL AVIV // Apple, one of the world's biggest technology companies, agreed yesterday to remove a mobile phone application from its popular App Store that calls for a Palestinian uprising, giving in to pressure from Israel and US-Jewish groups.
The free Arabic-language application, called ThirdIntifada, was released several days ago. It listed upcoming protests against Israel, provided links to photos depicting demonstrations against Israel's policies towards the Palestinians and included connections to Arabic editorials and news articles. It also offered links to nationalistic Palestinian videos and songs.
Israeli government ministers, with the help of pro-Israeli groups in the US, launched a campaign this week to have the computer giant cancel the application, claiming it was "anti-Israeli" and "anti-Zionist" and incited violence against Israel. There have been public calls by Jewish American groups, such as the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, for Apple to remove the application.
The Palestinians have staged two violent intifadas, or uprisings, from 1987 to 1993 and from 2000 to 2005.
Yuli Edelstein, Israel's information minister, yesterday called Apple's decision to remove the application "an additional step in preventing hostile elements, which are frequently tainted by anti-Semitism, from spreading incitement via the 'new media'."
Apple is not the first major US company to succumb to Israeli pressure.
In March, Facebook yanked a page calling for a new Palestinian uprising against Israel which had drawn more than 300,000 followers within a few days. Unidentified activists had set up the page calling for a third intifada to be launched on May 15, the date known by Palestinians as Nakba Day, the annual commemoration day for the displacement of Palestinians in the 1948 war that created Israel.
Israeli media reported yesterday that a Dubai-based company, which was not named, was responsible for developing both the Facebook page and the Apple application.
An Apple spokesman said the application was removed because "it violates the developer guidelines by being offensive to large groups of people".
foreign.desk@thenational.ae
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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Conservative MPs who have publicly revealed sending letters of no confidence
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
