The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) failed on Friday to pass two proposals on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, one sponsored by Kuwait urging protection for the Palestinians was vetoed by the United States, and another by the United States condemning Hamas for the recent escalation.
Friday’s afternoon session at the UN body was marked by complete paralysis. The Kuwaiti proposal got the backing of 10 of the council’s 15 members, enough to pass, but was vetoed by US representative Nikki Haley.
The vote was held in response to yet another day of deadly protests along the Israel-Gaza border fence in which one Palestinian woman was shot dead. Friday marked the 10th week of protests in which dozens of Gazans have been shot by the Israel Defence Forces.
Kuwait proposal
Two European countries voted yes on the Kuwaiti proposal, and the final tally as reported by Al Hurra:
• 10 Yes votes: Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Russia, China, Bolivia, Peru, Sweden, France, Equatorial Guinea, and Cote d’Ivoire.
• 1 No votes: US veto
• 4 Abstentions: UK, Poland, Netherlands, Ethiopia
US Proposal
In contrast, the US proposal condemning Hamas did not get any support from any other members:
• 1 Yes votes: US
• 3 No: Kuwait, Russia and Bolivia
• 11 Abstentions: Kazakhstan, China, Peru, Sweden, France, Equatorial Guinea, UK, Poland, Netherland, Ethiopia and Cote d’Ivoire.
The Kuwaiti proposal urged protection for the Palestinians. After consultations with Europeans, the draft was amended and in its final version urged "the consideration of measures to guarantee the safety and protection of the Palestinian civilian population in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in the Gaza Strip".
The draft also called for “tangible steps towards intra-Palestinian reconciliation, including in support of the mediation efforts of Egypt”.
Ms Haley called the Kuwaiti draft “grossly one-sided and morally bankrupt.” The US draft would have condemned Hamas for the recent escalation after firing a barrage of rockets into Israel on Tuesday.
Kuwait holds one of 10 non-permanent seats at the UNSC, and its term will finish in June 2019.
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Read more
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Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last-16, second leg:
Real Madrid 1 (Asensio 70'), Ajax 4 (Ziyech 7', Neres 18', Tadic 62', Schone 72')
Ajax win 5-3 on aggregate
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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.”
Living in...
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.
Sreesanth's India bowling career
Tests 27, Wickets 87, Average 37.59, Best 5-40
ODIs 53, Wickets 75, Average 33.44, Best 6-55
T20Is 10, Wickets 7, Average 41.14, Best 2-12
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The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
Company%20Profile
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