JERUSALEM: Israel’s defense minister has held talks with the Palestinian president in Ramallah, the first high-level meeting between the two sides in years, officials said.
Sunday’s meeting between Benny Gantz and Mahmoud Abbas signaled a possible shift of direction after after the near-complete breakdown of communication between Abbas and Israeli leaders in recent years.
It came two days after President Joe Biden urged Israel’s new prime minister during a White House meeting to take steps toward improving the lives of Palestinians.
Gantz’s office said he told Abbas that Israel will take new measures to strengthen the Palestinian economy. It said they also discussed security issues and agreed to remain in touch. It was believed to be the highest level public meeting between the sides since 2014.
A Palestinian official said Gantz and Abbas discussed possible steps toward improving the atmosphere. He said this included Palestinian demands for a halt in Israeli military operations in Palestinian areas of the occupied West Bank, allowing unification of families with relatives inside Israel and allowing more Palestinian workers into Israel. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the late-night meeting.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is a hard-liner who opposes Palestinian independence, as do key partners in his diverse, ruling coalition. But Bennett has said he supports building up the Palestinian economy and expanding autonomy for Palestinians. He also is interested in bolstering Abbas in his rivalry with the ruling Hamas militant group in Gaza.
While Biden supports a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, his administration is focused on interim confidence-building measures. Israel’s former prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, pursued a hard-line policy toward the Palestinians, backed by former President Donald Trump.
The Trump administration took a number of steps, including moving the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to contested Jerusalem. Abbas halted most contacts with the US and Israel in return.
Netanyahu had repeatedly claimed Abbas was not a reliable partner for negotiating a peace deal, a portrayal dismissed by Netanyahu critics as a pretext for avoiding making concessions.
Hussein Sheikh, a top Abbas aide, confirmed the meeting in a statement on Twitter. It took place on Sunday night in Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where Abbas maintains his headquarters.
Abbas, Israel’s Gantz hold new high-level talks, urged by US
https://arab.news/9z9z2
Abbas, Israel’s Gantz hold new high-level talks, urged by US
- A Palestinian official said Gantz and Abbas discussed possible steps toward improving the atmosphere
Saudi environment ministry in Jazan conduct mass market inspections
JAZAN: The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in Jazan has inspected thousands of fish and marine product markets in Jazan over the past four months.
The director of the ministry’s Jazan branch, Eng. Mohammad bin Ali Al-Atif, said the inspections were part of the authority’s work to ensure compliance with health requirements, technical conformity and approved food security standards.
During the 3,228 inspections, field teams confiscated and destroyed 7,830 kilograms of spoiled fish, farmed crustaceans and other marine products unfit for human consumption.
They issued 282 warnings and violations for issues such as selling spoiled fish, not wearing gloves while cleaning fish, poor cleanliness, expiration of the health card, and poor labor hygiene.
Al-Atif stressed the field inspections would continue and called on workers and investors in the fish and shrimp trade to abide by the laws and regulations.
Health professionals discuss technology in medicine at Tabuk forum
The first Tabuk International Forum for Health Promotion concluded on Thursday at the King Salman Armed Forces Hospital in the northwest region, with the participation of more than 18 speakers from various medical fields and related sectors.
The forum discussed treatment methods for diabetes, the technical uses of mobile phones to promote health, and the role of education, in addition to telemedicine and the importance of clinics, and the latest medical developments in tackling obesity.
It discussed human health rights, drug health standards, and modern drainage techniques, as well as water and food health standards.
It also focused on safety measures for the quality of work life and ways to avoid burnout. The conference concluded with a discussion on the latest methods in combating addiction, the effect of drugs on individuals and society, and the role of smoking cessation clinics and education on addiction and its causes.
Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan centuries send Gujarat to vital win over Chennai in IPL
- Captain Gill, left out of India’s T20 World Cup squad, made 104 off 55 balls
AHMEDABAD: Centuries by Shubman Gill and opening partner Sai Sudharsan spearheaded Gujarat Titans to a 35-run win over Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League on Friday.
Captain Gill, left out of India’s T20 World Cup squad, made 104 off 55 balls and left-hander Sudharsan was equal to the task in raising his maiden IPL hundred with a splendid 103 off 51 balls.
Their total of 231-3 was briefly challenged while Daryl Mitchell (63) and Moeen Ali (56) were batting, but Chennai fell short at 196-8.
Medium-pacer Mohit Sharma dismissed both half-century-makers in his 3-31.
Chennai’s loss tightened up the race to the playoffs. Chennai remained in the fourth and last playoff spot while Gujarat was just outside but needs to win its last two matches by big margins to drastically improve its net run rate.
Chennai sorely missed its frontline injured pacer Matheesha Pathirana and departed Mustafizur Rahman as Gill and Sudharsan paced the Gujarat innings.
Except for Shardul Thakur, who conceded only 25 runs, the other Chennai bowlers couldn’t stem the flow. Fast bowler Simarjeet Singh, in his second game of the season, was smashed for 60 off his four overs and Ravindra Jadeja was taken out of the attack after conceding 29 off his two overs of left-arm spin.
Both Gujarat openers reached their centuries off 50 balls and raised the joint-highest first wicket stand of 210 runs in IPL history. Chennai recovered briefly in the death overs and conceded just one boundary in the last three overs.
Tushar Deshpande dismissed both century-makers in the 18th over. Sudharsan, who hit seven sixes and five fours, holed out at extra cover and Gill was deceived by a slower ball and holed out at deep midwicket after hitting six sixes and nine fours.
Chennai slumped to 10-3. David Miller ran out Rachin Ravindra in the first over, Sandeep Warrier dismissed Ajinkya Rahane, and Gaikward went for a duck after a splended catch by Rashid Khan on the boundary.
Mitchell and Ali shared a 109-run stand for the third wicket but they were bagged by Sharma in his first two overs and Chennai couldn’t recover.
Candlelight concerts return to Riyadh
- Events bring a rich classical music experience to Saudi audiences
RIYADH: Candlelight concerts are returning to Riyadh in three different settings, bringing a rich classical music experience to Saudi audiences following a thrilling series in December last year.
The iconic concerts, supported by the live entertainment platform Fever, have been held in more than 150 cities across the world, including Dubai, New York City, London, Singapore and Tokyo.
Running until the end of June, the shows are held in several places in Riyadh, including The Ritz-Carlton Hotel and the Crowne Plaza Riyadh Palace. Performers play music from greats such as Mozart, Vivaldi and Ludovico Einaudi.
In an interview with Arab News, Magdalena Wajdzik, a Polish pianist who performed in the Ritz-Carlton ballroom, discussed how Einaudi has inspired her career.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Running until the end of June, the shows are held in several places in Riyadh, including The Ritz-Carlton Hotel and the Crowne Plaza Riyadh Palace. Performers play music from greats such as Mozart, Vivaldi and Ludovico Einaudi.
• The Candlelight Concerts in December featured hits from British rock band Coldplay as well the outstanding works of Polish composer Chopin.
• The concerts held around the world have celebrated works from classical, jazz, pop, film soundtracks, ballet and more.
“I have watched Ludovico Einaudi’s work in movies a long time ago and absolutely loved the soundtracks. So, I obviously Googled the soundtracks, and I started playing his music ever since,” said Wajdzik.
The pianist resides in Dubai and performs in concerts for Fever throughout the Gulf.
“The Saudis are eager for this form of art and are really welcoming. It was my first time playing for a Saudi crowd, and I thought it was fantastic. I really enjoyed the atmosphere, and I believe the Saudi audience is quite curious,” she said.
It was my first time playing for a Saudi crowd, and I thought it was fantastic.
Magdalena Wajdzik, Polish pianist
“The ballroom is just gorgeous. Their location is excellent, and I believe Fever distinguishes our candlelight concepts by always looking for truly wonderful sites, such as this ballroom at the Ritz-Carlton.”
The Candlelight Concerts in December featured hits from British rock band Coldplay as well the outstanding works of Polish composer Chopin.
Candlelight concerts held around the world have celebrated works from classical, jazz, pop, film soundtracks, ballet and more.
Opposites attract as artists explore beauty in Diriyah exhibition
- The exhibition is curated by Khayria Refaat, who said in a statement: “This exhibition exemplifies the power of artistic collaboration and the ability of artists to create profound narratives
RIYADH: In Shashai Studio’s latest exhibition, “Delicacy of Dualities,” seven artists and one creative studio from the Kingdom explore the theme “intricate dance of opposites”.
The exhibition in Diriyah’s Jax District showcases a series of thought provoking artworks and installations from artists Nada Al-Ali, Maan Alabbadi, Nouf Alsharif, Rasha Saddiq, Abdullah Al-Bugami, Eida Alzahrani, Ahmad Haddad, and Makhtut Studio.
Each artist tells a profound and personal story, including Al-Bugami, who dedicated his three artworks to the powerful duality of woman and man.
In some traditional and conservative societies, such as parts of Saudi Arabia, some women may choose to wear the burqa, a cultural garment that covers the entire body and includes a mesh screen to cover the face.
This exhibition exemplifies the power of artistic collaboration and the ability of artists to create profound narratives.
Khayria Refaat, Curator
Women who practice this tradition choose to cover themselves in front of everyone, including their husband and family members.
“The burqa is considered the identity of the badu woman. Some people may see it as something that is quiet or sad, because it is black, but I decided to portray my aunt, who is in her 70s and I have never seen her face,” he said.
“One time, I accidentally saw her face and I could not recognize her. But, with that being said, behind the covering, when I greet her, I feel a deep and profound sense of love and belonging.”
One of Al-Bugami’s artworks is handwoven using the sadu sewing technique, an ancient skill made famous by Saudi women in the north of the Kingdom. It is characterized by its bright colors and intricate weaving, and is registered on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage.
Sadu is usually performed by women, but Al-Bugami chose it as his medium to portray the sense of woman in his work.
“The pattern in the middle is an old design used in the past, and I decided to depict this pattern as if it resembles a woman. I decided to put the design in the middle because she is the foundation of the home; she is the most important part. I could not put the design in a corner, otherwise the home won’t be balanced.”
Al-Bugami has worked on a series of artworks that reflect his views on the vital role of women in life.
“For a while I have been working on a concept that depicts things within humanity that complete one another, such as the man and woman, life and death, Adam and Eve ... I have worked on this project using charcoal, acrylic, and sadu.
“Life is man and woman; what would a man do without a woman and what would a woman do without a man? You can’t have one thing without the other. We have to have the duality of both, like night and day.”
The exhibition is curated by Khayria Refaat, who said in a statement: “This exhibition exemplifies the power of artistic collaboration and the ability of artists to create profound narratives. ‘Delicacy of Dualities’ invites viewers to question and explore the boundaries of perception while discovering the hidden beauty within the dance of opposites.”
