An Israeli volunteer receives the second dose of an experimental Israeli-made Covid-19 vaccine at the Sheba Medical Centre, the country's largest hospital in Ramat Gan. AFP
An Israeli volunteer receives the second dose of an experimental Israeli-made Covid-19 vaccine at the Sheba Medical Centre, the country's largest hospital in Ramat Gan. AFP
An Israeli volunteer receives the second dose of an experimental Israeli-made Covid-19 vaccine at the Sheba Medical Centre, the country's largest hospital in Ramat Gan. AFP
An Israeli volunteer receives the second dose of an experimental Israeli-made Covid-19 vaccine at the Sheba Medical Centre, the country's largest hospital in Ramat Gan. AFP

UN: Israel’s impressive Covid-19 vaccine launch sidelines Palestinians


James Reinl
  • English
  • Arabic

Israel has inoculated an impressive number of people in its coronavirus vaccine drive, but Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza are at the back of the line, the UN said on Thursday.

UN human rights investigators Michael Lynk and Tlaleng Mofokeng said that Israel is leading the world in Covid-19 vaccinations, with more than 16 per cent of its nine million citizens having already receiving doses.

“However, Israel has not ensured that Palestinians under occupation in the West Bank and Gaza will have any near-future access to the available vaccines,” the experts said.

Coronavirus pandemic – in pictures 

  • Residents Ken Fishman, 81, left, and Esther Wallach, 82, right, hold hands as they wait in line for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at the The Palace assisted living facility in Coral Gables, Florida, USA. AP Photo
    Residents Ken Fishman, 81, left, and Esther Wallach, 82, right, hold hands as they wait in line for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at the The Palace assisted living facility in Coral Gables, Florida, USA. AP Photo
  • Indonesians watch a television showing live news of Indonesian President Joko Widodo receiving his Covid-19 vaccine shot in Jakarta, Indonesia. Reuters
    Indonesians watch a television showing live news of Indonesian President Joko Widodo receiving his Covid-19 vaccine shot in Jakarta, Indonesia. Reuters
  • A medical worker prepares a syringe of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at "Les Figuiers" retirement home in Villeneuve-Loubet in France. Reuters
    A medical worker prepares a syringe of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at "Les Figuiers" retirement home in Villeneuve-Loubet in France. Reuters
  • A medical worker prepares to take a sample at coronavirus testing site in Seoul, South Korea. AP Photo
    A medical worker prepares to take a sample at coronavirus testing site in Seoul, South Korea. AP Photo
  • A medical worker for the Greek National Public Health Organisation takes a sample from a driver at a Covid-19 drive-through testing station, at Menidi suburb, near Athens, Greece. Bloomberg
    A medical worker for the Greek National Public Health Organisation takes a sample from a driver at a Covid-19 drive-through testing station, at Menidi suburb, near Athens, Greece. Bloomberg
  • A man walks past a sign saying "2021 Happy New Year" on a shopping street in Shanghai, China. Reuters
    A man walks past a sign saying "2021 Happy New Year" on a shopping street in Shanghai, China. Reuters
  • A Palestinian vendor wears a face mask while waiting for customers in Nablus, West Bank. EPA
    A Palestinian vendor wears a face mask while waiting for customers in Nablus, West Bank. EPA
  • An armed soldier stands guard at a roadblock on the first day of a movement control order in downtown Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. AP Photo
    An armed soldier stands guard at a roadblock on the first day of a movement control order in downtown Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. AP Photo
  • Hotel guests are seen on a balcony at the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Brisbane, Australia, as the Queensland government is shutting it down after six people staying there contracted the UK strain of coronavirus. EPA
    Hotel guests are seen on a balcony at the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Brisbane, Australia, as the Queensland government is shutting it down after six people staying there contracted the UK strain of coronavirus. EPA
  • Restaurant employees demand to be able to reopen despite the ongoing restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic, in Mexico City, Mexico. EPA
    Restaurant employees demand to be able to reopen despite the ongoing restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic, in Mexico City, Mexico. EPA
  • Commuters pack out a tram during rush hour in downtown Tunis, Tunisia. AP Photo
    Commuters pack out a tram during rush hour in downtown Tunis, Tunisia. AP Photo
  • Aymara Indigenous women wait to enter the archaeological museum in Tiwanaku, Bolivia. AP Photo
    Aymara Indigenous women wait to enter the archaeological museum in Tiwanaku, Bolivia. AP Photo
  • A kid looks on as a municipal healthcare worker walks after examining the body of Shirlene Morais Costa, who died at home at the age of 53 after reporting symptoms consistent with Covid-19, in Manaus, Brazil. Reuters
    A kid looks on as a municipal healthcare worker walks after examining the body of Shirlene Morais Costa, who died at home at the age of 53 after reporting symptoms consistent with Covid-19, in Manaus, Brazil. Reuters

About 160,000 Palestinians living under occupation have tested positive for Covid-19 since March 2020 and more than 1,700 have died, the World Health Organisation said. Infection and death rates have risen steadily in recent weeks.

Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem were offered vaccines by Israel, the experts said, but those in the West Bank and Gaza will wait "many weeks" for inoculations ordered separately by the Palestinian Authority via a low-cost UN-backed scheme.

They are particularly worried about residents of Gaza, which suffers “serious water and electricity shortages, and endemic poverty and unemployment” as a result of a 13-year blockade.

“This means that more than 4.5 million Palestinians will remain unprotected and exposed to Covid-19, while Israeli citizens living near and among them – including the Israeli settler population – will be vaccinated,” the experts said.

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“Morally and legally, this differential access to necessary health care in the midst of the worst global health crisis in a century is unacceptable.”

Israel's mission to the UN in New York did not immediately answer The National's request for comment.

Vaccinating its relatively small, dense population at a world-beating pace, Israel seeks to have administered one or both jabs to five million people and reopen its economy by mid-March.

Elderly, sick and high-risk Israelis have been prioritised so far. This may be expanded to include children aged over 12 in the coming weeks as vaccine shipments become more regular, Israeli officials said.

Israel is required by international law to provide decent health care to Palestinians living in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza – areas that Israel has occupied since the 1967 war – the experts said.

The biog

Favourite Emirati dish: Fish machboos

Favourite spice: Cumin

Family: mother, three sisters, three brothers and a two-year-old daughter

World record transfers

1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m

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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.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

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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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What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20OneOrder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20March%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tamer%20Amer%20and%20Karim%20Maurice%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cairo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E82%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Series%20A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

What is the Supreme Petroleum Council?

The Abu Dhabi Supreme Petroleum Council was established in 1988 and is the highest governing body in Abu Dhabi’s oil and gas industry. The council formulates, oversees and executes the emirate’s petroleum-related policies. It also approves the allocation of capital spending across state-owned Adnoc’s upstream, downstream and midstream operations and functions as the company’s board of directors. The SPC’s mandate is also required for auctioning oil and gas concessions in Abu Dhabi and for awarding blocks to international oil companies. The council is chaired by Sheikh Khalifa, the President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi while Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, is the vice chairman.

Notable Yas events in 2017/18

October 13-14 KartZone (complimentary trials)

December 14-16 The Gulf 12 Hours Endurance race

March 5 Yas Marina Circuit Karting Enduro event

March 8-9 UAE Rotax Max Challenge

Profile of Hala Insurance

Date Started: September 2018

Founders: Walid and Karim Dib

Based: Abu Dhabi

Employees: Nine

Amount raised: $1.2 million

Funders: Oman Technology Fund, AB Accelerator, 500 Startups, private backers

 

Profile Box

Company/date started: 2015

Founder/CEO: Mohammed Toraif

Based: Manama, Bahrain

Sector: Sales, Technology, Conservation

Size: (employees/revenue) 4/ 5,000 downloads

Stage: 1 ($100,000)

Investors: Two first-round investors including, 500 Startups, Fawaz Al Gosaibi Holding (Saudi Arabia)

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

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