Author: Gulf News Week
These elections offer participation without power, revealing how occupation shapes and limits Palestinian political life.On April 25, Palestinians will vote in local elections to choose representatives to municipal and village councils for four-year terms. These elections come after years of repeated postponements of national votes, with no legislative elections held since 2006.In cities across the occupied West Bank, such as Ramallah, Al-Bireh, and Nablus, billboards featuring local candidates line the streets, while in villages, posters of candidates have been erected in public spaces.There is both cynicism and cautious anticipation surrounding these elections, which have become the only remaining electoral mechanism…
This initiative aims to produce 150 million date-fortified food units annually, dedicated to children suffering from malnutrition and to combating hunger in underprivileged communities Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Friday (April 24) announced the launch of the world’s largest charity-based dates factory to ‘fight hunger’, developed in collaboration with key partners. This groundbreaking initiative aims to produce 150 million date-fortified food units annually, dedicated to children suffering from malnutrition and to combating hunger in underprivileged communities. “God has blessed us in the UAE and the region with…
Amal Khalil was killed while reporting on an Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon during a 10-day ceasefire.Amal Khalil was killed while reporting on an Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon during a 10-day ceasefire. She is the ninth journalist killed in Lebanon this year. As Lebanon buries her and talks continue on extending the ceasefire, what does her death say about the prospects for accountability?In this episode: Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4The Take: How Trump’s Iran war is driving military dissentlist 2 of 4The Take: Did UK universities pay to ‘spy’ on pro‑Palestine students?list 3 of…
From Oslo onwards, talks have unfolded alongside illegal settlement expansion, turning diplomacy into a process that manages, rather than ends, occupation.Back in the early 2000s, I was part of the Palestinian team supposedly negotiating an end to Israel’s military occupation and colonisation of Palestinian land. The idea was as perverse then as it is now: that those living under military rule have to “negotiate” for their freedom and that the owners of the land have to “negotiate” for Israel to return their land to them.At the time, we Palestinians were told by many heads of state – including those from…
A new narrative about Iran’s leadership mistakes continuity for change – and echoes the regime’s own preferred framing.The New York Times published a detailed account this week of Iran’s new leadership structure, based on interviews with more than 20 Iranian officials, former officials, Revolutionary Guard members and individuals close to the new supreme leader. It deserves a careful read, but not for the reasons the Times intends.The piece describes the new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, as gravely wounded, communicating via handwritten notes passed through a motorcycle courier chain, mentally sharp but with injuries that make speaking difficult, deliberately avoiding…
The destruction of a statue of Jesus by an Israeli soldier in Lebanon is disturbing, but Israel’s genocide in Gaza demands far greater outrage.Many Christians felt offended after a video circulated on social media showing an Israeli soldier in southern Lebanon knocking down a statue of Jesus, decapitating it and striking its head as it lay on the ground.The act is offensive and painful, particularly for Christians, for whom such an image is not only disrespectful but also a desecration. Israeli officials have dismissed the incident as an isolated act. But this raises a deeper question: What kind of culture…
The US exits Syria after 10 years – what it means for Kurdish forces, regional tensions, and the country’s future.The United States has pulled its troops out of Syria, ending a decade-long presence. But the fight isn’t over. As power shifts on the ground, Kurdish forces, regional tensions, and fragile negotiations are reshaping the country’s future. What’s behind the decision, and what comes next?In this episode: Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4The Take: The Flotillas, Part 1: What does it take to sail to Gaza?list 2 of 4The Take: Inside Kharg Island, Iran’s oil lifeline under threatlist 3…
The negotiations between the United States and Iran mediated by Pakistan have not failed. They do face significant challenges, however.The recent statements by US President Donald Trump and the shuttle diplomacy carried out by senior Pakistani military and government leaders in regional capitals have raised hopes of ending the US-Israel war with Iran through negotiations. This could initially take the form of a “framework agreement” between the United States and Iran to lay the groundwork for a final deal.Speaking to reporters at the White House on Thursday, Trump struck an optimistic tone, saying the war was “about to end”, as…
Senior officials noted that the UAE was subjected to more than 2,800 missiles and drones during the conflict, with around 96% successfully intercepted The UAE has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to safeguarding everyone within its borders, as officials stressed that citizens, residents, and visitors continue to live and work in safety despite recent regional developments. In a video shared on X by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, authorities outlined the country’s response to what were described as “terrorist, unjustified and unprovoked” attacks launched by Iran. According to the statement, more than 2,800 airstrikes were carried out, with the UAE’s integrated, multi-layered air…
The Middle East war, meanwhile, has shown that the world is as dependent as ever on “black gold,” with the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz When the international community agreed to transition away from fossil fuels at the 2023 COP28 global climate summit, some hailed the moment as the beginning of the end for oil. But little progress has been made since then, even though the vast majority of scientists agree there’s overwhelming evidence of global warming and that it is driven chiefly by the burning of fossil fuels. The Middle East war, meanwhile, has shown that the…