US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday became the first top American diplomat to visit an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank, after announcing new measures against organisations seen as backing a boycott of Israel.
The visit to the Psagot winery, south-west of Ramallah, came ahead of Mr Pompeo travelling to the occupied Golan Heights in a further break with decades-long US protocol.
“Enjoyed lunch at the scenic Psagot winery today,” Mr Pompeo tweeted, criticising the European Union as pernicious for ruling that settlement products must be labelled as such.
Psagot this year named a wine after Mr Pompeo, in honour of his declaration that Washington no longer considers settlements illegal.
Bottles could soon hit US shops with a new “Made in Israel” tag, after the State Department announced on Thursday it was scrapping its requirement that settlement products carry a West Bank label.
“The visit is a sign of the commitment and friendship between the settlement movement and Israel’s friends in the United States,” said Yisrael Ganz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council, which governs dozens of settlements.
Before Mr Pompeo’s arrival, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said the Psagot visit would set a “dangerous precedent” by seeking to legitimise Israeli settlements that are considered illegal by the majority of the international community.
More than 440,000 settlers live in the West Bank alongside about three million Palestinians, according to Israeli NGO Peace Now.
Residents of the nearby town of Al Bireh say parts of the Psagot estate are on land stolen from Palestinians.
"We tell the Americans, when you drink that wine, you are drinking the blood of the Palestinian people," resident Abdeljawab Saleh said on Wednesday.
Israel has continued settlement expansion and this week authorities published plans to add more than 1,200 homes to a settlement in occupied East Jerusalem, a move that drew criticism from the UN and the EU.
Washington's stance on settlements is part of a sweeping revision of policy during Donald Trump's presidency, under whichthe US recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital and accepted the country's sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
During the visit to the Golan Heights, Mr Pompeo stood on a windswept hilltop and declared the territory was "a central part of Israel".
“I very much wanted to come here on this trip to tell the world that we have it right,” he said, in asserting Israeli sovereignty over the land it captured from Syria in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.
During what is expected to be Mr Pompeo’s last tour of the region before Joe Biden, the US president-elect, takes office in January, the secretary of state also announced measures against organisations perceived as anti-Israeli.
“We will regard the global anti-Israel BDS campaign as anti-Semitic,” Mr Pompeo said, referring to the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement.
Washington will determine which organisations “engage in hateful BDS conduct” and cut US funding, alarming some NGOs which said they could be targeted for their legitimate criticism of the Israeli government.
The decision to target “groups advocating for using peaceful means, such as boycotts, to end human rights violations against Palestinians ... is a gift to those who seek to silence, harass, intimidate and oppress those standing up for human rights around the world”, Bob Goodfellow, the interim executive director of Amnesty International USA said on Thursday.
In recent months Washington has brokered landmark deals between Israel and two Gulf nations – the UAE and Bahrain – whose foreign minister made his first official visit to Israel on Wednesday.
“[I am] confident that this emerging co-operation between Bahrain and Israel will pave the way to a dawn of peace for the entire Middle East,” Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani said on Wednesday, standing alongside his US counterpart and the Israeli premier.
The Gulf deals broke with consensus among Arab countries that a Palestinian-Israeli peace deal must precede any such bilateral ties and Mr Al Zayani emphasised that Bahrain remains committed to a two-state solution to the conflict.
Manama has not followed the US in recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital but Bahrain's Foreign Ministry confirmed to The National the meetings took place in Jerusalem.
The Palestinians recalled their ambassadors to Manama and Abu Dhabi in protest at the deals with Israel, although a senior Palestinian official told Reuters the diplomats were to be sent back.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
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Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Champions League Last 16
Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) v Bayern Munich (GER)
Sporting Lisbon (POR) v Manchester City (ENG)
Benfica (POR) v Ajax (NED)
Chelsea (ENG) v Lille (FRA)
Atletico Madrid (ESP) v Manchester United (ENG)
Villarreal (ESP) v Juventus (ITA)
Inter Milan (ITA) v Liverpool (ENG)
Paris Saint-Germain v Real Madrid (ESP)
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Simran
Director Hansal Mehta
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Soham Shah, Esha Tiwari Pandey
Three stars
Liverpool 4-1 Shrewsbury
Liverpool
Gordon (34'), Fabinho (44' pen, 90' 3), Firmino (78')
Shrewsbury
Udoh (27'minutes)
Man of the Match: Kaide Gordon (Liverpool)
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
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
On racial profiling at airports
Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
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.
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Other simple ideas for sushi rice dishes
Cheat’s nigiri
This is easier to make than sushi rolls. With damp hands, form the cooled rice into small tablet shapes. Place slices of fresh, raw salmon, mackerel or trout (or smoked salmon) lightly touched with wasabi, then press, wasabi side-down, onto the rice. Serve with soy sauce and pickled ginger.
Easy omurice
This fusion dish combines Asian fried rice with a western omelette. To make, fry cooked and cooled sushi rice with chopped vegetables such as carrot and onion and lashings of sweet-tangy ketchup, then wrap in a soft egg omelette.
Deconstructed sushi salad platter
This makes a great, fuss-free sharing meal. Arrange sushi rice on a platter or board, then fill the space with all your favourite sushi ingredients (edamame beans, cooked prawns or tuna, tempura veggies, pickled ginger and chilli tofu), with a dressing or dipping sauce on the side.
The specs: 2018 Renault Megane
Price, base / as tested Dh52,900 / Dh59,200
Engine 1.6L in-line four-cylinder
Transmission Continuously variable transmission
Power 115hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 156Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.6L / 100km
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
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Company%20profile
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Company profile
Name: Tratok Portal
Founded: 2017
Based: UAE
Sector: Travel & tourism
Size: 36 employees
Funding: Privately funded
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.
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
