Follow the latest updates as tensions escalate in Israel and Gaza here
At least two Arab governments warned the Biden administration for weeks that a crisis was building in Jerusalem and urged Washington to act immediately to prevent any further escalation.
Those warnings were not heeded until late last week, two senior diplomatic sources in Washington told The National.
The situation in Jerusalem continued to deteriorate, becoming a deadly exchange of missiles between Israel and Hamas.
US President Joe Biden's administration, like many of its predecessors, came into office with a list of foreign policy priorities that excluded the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Reversing Trump-era decisions on refugee aid and re-engaging with the Palestinian Authority has so far been the farthest the new team has gone to address the conflict.
In March, an Israeli court ruled to expel six Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in Jerusalem.
The decision, which came after settlement expansion in the occupied territories, was enough to alarm neighbouring Arab capitals.
Since April, Arab governments sent unambiguous messages to Washington on the need to act quickly, to pressure Israel and to try to reduce tension.
“We told them we are walking into an explosion if nothing is done,” one diplomat said.
Those messages intensified in the past two weeks, but were not met with any formal response from the State Department or the White House, the two sources said.
The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
On Friday, May 7, the administration said it was “deeply concerned about the potential eviction of Palestinian families in the Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighbourhoods of Jerusalem".
By then, the situation in East Jerusalem had reached boiling point, with protests at the Haram Al Sharif and Israeli security forces firing tear gas and rubber bullets inside Al Aqsa Mosque.
This week, the violence reached new heights as Hamas fired hundreds of rockets into Israel and the Israeli Army carried out air strikes on Gaza.
“The administration needs to step up and play a more active role in this space,” said Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen, director of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict programme at the US Institute of Peace.
"It set out with the goal of relegating this conflict to a back-bench focus, resetting the table where it can, but otherwise no bold approaches."
With 28 Palestinians and two Israelis killed so far, Ms Kurtzer-Ellenbogen told The National that it was time for the US to move beyond statements.
“Statements will no longer make a difference," she said. "Action, or credible threat of action, is the only thing that could have some impact on both sides.
"What is ideally needed is a strong co-ordinating role by the US to have all relevant players exercise their leverage where they have it.”
The US is now hoping for a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel before the Muslim holiday of Eid on Thursday.
But with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu facing a government crisis and Hamas banking on military escalation, Arab diplomats are not hopeful for any quick resolution.
Dennis Ross, a former US envoy for peace, advised the Biden administration to work closely with Egypt and Jordan in trying to restore calm.
"The Biden administration is being reminded that active diplomacy is often needed to manage conflicts, not just settle them," Mr Ross, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told The National.
While the Biden team was quick to appoint envoys to Yemen, Libya and the Horn of Africa, no such position was assigned for Israel and Palestine.
Mr Ross now sees limited options for the White House.
“Its options are to try to work with the Israelis on how best to restore calm and avoid an escalatory cycle; deal with the Palestinian Authority to try to get it to lower the temperature; and to work closely with Egypt, given the role it can play with Hamas and Israel, and Jordan, given the role of the Waqf and its ability to talk to [President] Mahmoud Abbas and the PA,” he said.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan hosted Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Al Safadi in Washington on Monday.
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 6 Huddersfield Town 1
Man City: Agüero (25', 35', 75'), Jesus (31'), Silva (48'), Kongolo (84' og)
Huddersfield: Stankovic (43')
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Real Madrid 2
Vinicius Junior (71') Mariano (90 2')
Barcelona 0
I Feel Pretty
Dir: Abby Kohn/Mark Silverstein
Starring: Amy Schumer, Michelle Williams, Emily Ratajkowski, Rory Scovel
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
U19 World Cup in South Africa
Group A: India, Japan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka
Group B: Australia, England, Nigeria, West Indies
Group C: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Scotland, Zimbabwe
Group D: Afghanistan, Canada, South Africa, UAE
UAE fixtures
Saturday, January 18, v Canada
Wednesday, January 22, v Afghanistan
Saturday, January 25, v South Africa
UAE squad
Aryan Lakra (captain), Vriitya Aravind, Deshan Chethyia, Mohammed Farazuddin, Jonathan Figy, Osama Hassan, Karthik Meiyappan, Rishabh Mukherjee, Ali Naseer, Wasi Shah, Alishan Sharafu, Sanchit Sharma, Kai Smith, Akasha Tahir, Ansh Tandon
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Results
International 4, United States 1
Justin Thomas and Tiger Woods (US) beat Marc Leishman and Joaquin Niemann (International) 4 and 3.
Adam Hadwin and Sungjae Im (International) beat Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay (US) 2 up.
Adam Scott and Byeong Hun An (International) beat Bryson DeChambeau and Tony Finau (US) 2 and 1.
Hideki Matsuyama and C.T. Pan (International) beat Webb Simpson and Patrick Reed (US) 1 up.
Abraham Ancer and Louis Oosthuizen (International) beat Dustin Johnson and Gary Woodland (US) 4 and 3.
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UAE%20SQUAD
%3Cp%3E%0DJemma%20Eley%2C%20Maria%20Michailidou%2C%20Molly%20Fuller%2C%20Chloe%20Andrews%20(of%20Dubai%20College)%2C%20Eliza%20Petricola%2C%20Holly%20Guerin%2C%20Yasmin%20Craig%2C%20Caitlin%20Gowdy%20(Dubai%20English%20Speaking%20College)%2C%20Claire%20Janssen%2C%20Cristiana%20Morall%20(Jumeirah%20English%20Speaking%20School)%2C%20Tessa%20Mies%20(Jebel%20Ali%20School)%2C%20Mila%20Morgan%20(Cranleigh%20Abu%20Dhabi).%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Pupils in Abu Dhabi are learning the importance of being active, eating well and leading a healthy lifestyle now and throughout adulthood, thanks to a newly launched programme 'Healthy Lifestyle'.
As part of the Healthy Lifestyle programme, specially trained coaches from City Football Schools, along with Healthpoint physicians have visited schools throughout Abu Dhabi to give fun and interactive lessons on working out regularly, making the right food choices, getting enough sleep and staying hydrated, just like their favourite footballers.
Organised by Manchester City FC and Healthpoint, Manchester City FC’s regional healthcare partner and part of Mubadala’s healthcare network, the ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ programme will visit 15 schools, meeting around 1,000 youngsters over the next five months.
Designed to give pupils all the information they need to improve their diet and fitness habits at home, at school and as they grow up, coaches from City Football Schools will work alongside teachers to lead the youngsters through a series of fun, creative and educational classes as well as activities, including playing football and other games.
Dr Mai Ahmed Al Jaber, head of public health at Healthpoint, said: “The programme has different aspects - diet, exercise, sleep and mental well-being. By having a focus on each of those and delivering information in a way that children can absorb easily it can help to address childhood obesity."
Sunday's games
Liverpool v West Ham United, 4.30pm (UAE)
Southampton v Burnley, 4.30pm
Arsenal v Manchester City, 7pm
