A UAE-drafted UN Security Council resolution calling on Israel to “immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory” is expected to be put to a vote on Monday at the Security Council.
The resolution is in response to an announcement by Israel on Sunday that it would be legalising nine Jewish settler outposts in the occupied West Bank. Israel also said it would begin construction on 10,000 new settlement homes in the area.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who took office at the end of 2022, said on Sunday that the settlement plans had been made in response to Palestinian violence.
The draft resolution, seen by The National, warns that continuing Israeli settlement activities are “dangerously imperilling” the viability of the two-state solution based on 1967 lines.
In order for the resolution — which was drafted in co-ordination with the Palestinians — to be brought to a vote, it must secure the support of at least nine of the 15 members of the Security Council.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Monday issued a statement stressing that Washington was “deeply troubled” by Israel's announcement of the new settlement units.
He said Washington opposed any unilateral moves by Israel that would “undermine” efforts to negotiate a two-state solution and that would “only serve to exacerbate tensions between Israelis and Palestinians”.
The US has been protecting Israel at the UN for years by using its veto against nearly all resolutions related to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Former US ambassador Dennis Ross, who was a senior adviser to Barack Obama when he was president, told The National that the UAE's drafting of a Security Council resolution calling on Israel to “immediately and completely cease all settlement activities” is a reminder that settlement activities are now also likely to have an effect on Abraham Accord signatories.
“I suspect the reason for the joint US, British, French, and German foreign minister statement criticising the Israeli decision … was to head off a [Security Council] resolution by showing this was not a business as usual response,” he said, referencing a document released on Monday.
“President [Joe] Biden's natural instinct is to veto UN Security Council resolutions against Israel.”
In a letter sent to the Security Council about the Israeli cabinet decision, Palestine's UN ambassador Riyad Mansour asked for “immediate action” and stressed the need to “implement all relevant UN resolutions towards bringing a halt to Israel’s aggressions against the Palestinian people”.
In 2016, the Obama administration abstained from voting on a UN Security Council resolution that demanded an immediate halt to all Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, enabling the measure to pass.
The resolution was approved, with 14 member states voting in favour, none voting against and one abstention.
Confrontation between Israeli security forces and Palestinians in Jenin — in pictures
Two products to make at home
Toilet cleaner
1 cup baking soda
1 cup castile soap
10-20 drops of lemon essential oil (or another oil of your choice)
Method:
1. Mix the baking soda and castile soap until you get a nice consistency.
2. Add the essential oil to the mix.
Air Freshener
100ml water
5 drops of the essential oil of your choice (note: lavender is a nice one for this)
Method:
1. Add water and oil to spray bottle to store.
2. Shake well before use.
The specs
Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder
Power: 220 and 280 horsepower
Torque: 350 and 360Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
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Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do
Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.
“First, are they happy with that or do they want more?” he says. “Job-seeking is a time-consuming, frustrating and long-winded affair so are they prepared to put themselves through that rigmarole? Before they consider that, they must ask their employer what is happening.”
Most employees bring up pay rise queries at their annual performance appraisal and find out what the company has in store for them from a career perspective.
Those with no formal appraisal system, Mr Greaves says, should ask HR or their line manager for an assessment.
“You want to find out how they value your contribution and where your job could go,” he says. “You’ve got to be brave enough to ask some questions and if you don’t like the answers then you have to develop a strategy or change jobs if you are prepared to go through the job-seeking process.”
For those that do reach the salary negotiation with their current employer, Mr Greaves says there is no point in asking for less than 5 per cent.
“However, this can only really have any chance of success if you can identify where you add value to the business (preferably you can put a monetary value on it), or you can point to a sustained contribution above the call of duty or to other achievements you think your employer will value.”
Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
Stage results
1. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck-QuickStep 4:39:05
2. Michael Matthews (AUS) Team BikeExchange 0:00:08
3. Primoz Roglic (SLV) Jumbo-Visma same time
4. Jack Haig (AUS) Bahrain Victorious s.t
5. Wilco Kelderman (NED) Bora-Hansgrohe s.t
6. Tadej Pogacar (SLV) UAE Team Emirates s.t
7. David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ s.t
8. Sergio Higuita Garcia (COL) EF Education-Nippo s.t
9. Bauke Mollema (NED) Trek-Segafredo s.t
10. Geraint Thomas (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers s.t
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
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