With the arrival of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a packed week of trips to Israel by senior figures from the Trump administration enters its final stage.
As with any official US visit to Israel, the host country’s officials were heaping praise on the guests. This time it was for achievements such as securing the release of hostages from Gaza, and President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan for reshaping the Middle East. Even Vice President JD Vance’s book got a mention from Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
It has been less clear cut from the American side. Mr Rubio is a long-time, staunch defender of Israel, typical of the US political establishment, but even he began his trip with a warning to Israel, over recent and largely symbolic moves towards annexing the occupied West Bank.
“The President has made clear that’s not something we’d be supportive of right now and we think it’s potentially threatening to the peace deal,” Mr Rubio said. It was yet another message that the Trump administration expects Israel to keep supporting the Gaza ceasefire deal.
Israeli leaders have praised the Trump deal that secured the release of hostages and paused hostilities in Gaza, but delicate negotiations lie ahead on the next phases of the plan. Issues to be resolved include disarming Hamas and the shape of a new international peacekeeping force.
On Monday, The New York Times reported that the flurry of visits was intended to stop Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from derailing the deal. The claims emerged as the first group of US officials arrived, led by Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and Mr Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, both key negotiators in the agreement.
Mr Netanyahu has walked away from previous Gaza ceasefires and is widely accused in Israel of being willing to prolong the war to guarantee his political future. Many in his far-right government also want to persist with fighting to displace all Gazans and build settlements in the territory.
Fears about the future of the deal reached new heights after a round of ferocious Israeli bombardment on the strip on Sunday, following a disputed incident in which two Israeli soldiers were killed.
The steady stream of senior American officials in the aftermath, which some have coined as “Bibi-sitting” after Mr Netanyahu’s nickname, suggests the deal is still at the forefront of the US administration’s mind.
As he left, Mr Vance embarked on a stinging rebuke of Israel, including over the West Bank annexation bill, that made clear this was far from a normal US visit. He described the vote as an “insult” and “very stupid”.
“The policy of the Trump administration is that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel,” he said. “That will continue to be our policy and if people want to take symbolic votes they can do that, but we certainly weren’t happy about it.”
From the beginning of his visit he was frank about what the US views as Israel’s responsibilities to uphold the deal. Speaking at the Israeli Prime Minister’s office on Wednesday, Mr Vance said: “We have a very difficult task ahead of us, which is to disarm Hamas but to rebuild Gaza; to improve the lives of the people of Gaza but also to ensure that Hamas no longer poses a threat to our friends in Israel. It’s not easy. I think the Prime Minister knows that as well as anyone. But it’s something that we are committed to in the Trump administration.
“I didn’t know what to expect, honestly,” Mr Vance added. “I know the President was here last week to welcome the hostages home and sign the agreement. A week later, there’s a lot of work to be done but I feel optimistic about where we stand.”
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”.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
More coverage from the Future ForumThe specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
Riders must be 14-years-old or over
Wear a protective helmet
Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
Do not drive outside designated lanes
Company%20Profile
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2014%20PRO%20MAX
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Company profile
Name: Tharb
Started: December 2016
Founder: Eisa Alsubousi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Luxury leather goods
Initial investment: Dh150,000 from personal savings
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Tonight’s Chat on The National
Tonight’s Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
Facebook | Our website | Instagram
EXPATS
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The cost of Covid testing around the world
Egypt
Dh514 for citizens; Dh865 for tourists
Information can be found through VFS Global.
Jordan
Dh212
Centres include the Speciality Hospital, which now offers drive-through testing.
Cambodia
Dh478
Travel tests are managed by the Ministry of Health and National Institute of Public Health.
Zanzibar
AED 295
Zanzibar Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, located within the Lumumba Secondary School compound.
Abu Dhabi
Dh85
Abu Dhabi’s Seha has test centres throughout the UAE.
UK
From Dh400
Heathrow Airport now offers drive through and clinic-based testing, starting from Dh400 and up to Dh500 for the PCR test.
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Zayed Sustainability PrizeThe%20specs
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The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
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Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani