分类： politics

In a remarkable public denouncement, prominent Emirati billionaire Khalaf al-Habtoor has explicitly rejected American appeals for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations to join a military campaign against Iran. Through a sharply worded statement on social media platform X, the Dubai-based magnate accused the United States of elevating Israel’s security interests above both American regional allies and its own citizens.

The criticism came in direct response to recent statements by US Senator Lindsey Graham, who had publicly urged GCC countries to align militarily with the US and Israel against Iran. Habtoor, whose business conglomerate maintains close ties to UAE ruling circles, delivered an unusually frank assessment of regional geopolitics despite the UAE’s typically restrained diplomatic discourse.

“We recognize precisely why we face regional threats and exactly which power precipitated this dangerous escalation without consulting those it labels ‘allies’,” Habtoor asserted. While acknowledging Iran’s destabilizing regional influence and expressing Abu Dhabi’s distrust of Tehran, the billionaire condemned what he characterized as a “dirty game” where global powers pursue their interests at the Gulf’s expense.

The businessman emphatically stated the UAE would not become embroiled in conflict to serve external interests, declaring: “We refuse to sacrifice our sons in an avoidable conflict that should be resolved through diplomatic channels.” He contrasted this stance with American leadership, noting pointedly that if US politicians wished to “risk American lives for Israel’s interests, that represents their choice.”

The statement gained particular significance following Israeli media reports—subsequently denied by Emirati officials—claiming UAE involvement in a strike on an Iranian desalination facility. The UAE foreign ministry clarified that while operating in a “defensive posture” against Iranian threats, the nation “does not seek escalation or conflict entanglement.”

Habtoor further challenged Senator Graham’s assertion that Arab nations require American protection, retorting: “We need no protection—only that you keep your hands off our region.” He characterized US weapons sales to the UAE as commercial transactions rather than strategic favors, noting Abu Dhabi’s substantial investments in its own security apparatus.

The billionaire referenced Graham’s comments on Fox News regarding oil reserves, suggesting this revealed America’s true motivation: “Only then does the picture become clear. Only then do we understand why they want this war.” He concluded by accusing Graham of defending Israeli interests more vigorously than American ones, suggesting the senator sounded like “a member of the Israeli Knesset.”

The critique carries exceptional weight given Habtoor’s previous support for Trump-brokered normalization agreements with Israel. His Al Habtoor Group was among the first Emirati entities to pursue Israeli partnerships following the Abraham Accords, making his condemnation of US policy particularly noteworthy.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has significantly expanded firearm accessibility for Jerusalem residents, authorizing civilians across 41 Jewish neighborhoods to apply for gun licenses. This policy shift, reported by local media on Monday, marks a substantial departure from previous restrictions that limited firearm permits primarily to those residing near separation barriers with the occupied West Bank.

The controversial decision potentially affects approximately 300,000 eligible residents and forms part of Ben Gvir’s broader ‘Arming Israel’ initiative. Defending the move, the far-right minister asserted that ‘a weapon in the right hands saves lives,’ particularly citing security concerns during ongoing conflict and the Ramadan period. Since assuming office in December 2022, Ben Gvir’s administration has overseen the issuance of over 240,000 new gun licenses through relaxed eligibility criteria.

However, the policy faces mounting criticism from transparency advocates and safety organizations. The Freedom of Information Movement reports that civilian gun ownership has doubled under Ben Gvir’s tenure, with nearly half of new license holders having no prior firearms experience. Concerningly, 99% of applicants now pass shooting tests, partly due to streamlined procedures that permit telephone interviews instead of in-person assessments.

Public safety concerns have been amplified by disturbing statistics from the Michal Sela Forum, revealing a 33% increase in family-related femicides since October 2023. Shockingly, data indicates all firearm murders of Jewish women involved legally licensed weapons. With approximately 280,000 women currently experiencing partner violence according to welfare ministry figures, critics warn that expanded gun access may exacerbate domestic violence tragedies.

The policy has also faced legal scrutiny, with authorities acknowledging in High Court proceedings that 195 licenses were revoked due to irregularities. A 2023 police investigation into allegedly illegal permit approvals resulted in three ministry employees being questioned regarding thousands of questionable authorizations.

Hawaii’s ambitious Skyline rail project stands at a critical juncture, facing stark operational realities while pursuing transformative development through an unprecedented international partnership. Governor Josh Green’s administration is finalizing a memorandum of understanding with Tokyo-based Tokyu Group, a century-old railroad conglomerate renowned for creating thriving urban centers around transit hubs.

The contrast between Tokyo’s vibrant station communities and Honolulu’s underutilized Skyline stops could hardly be more dramatic. Where Japanese stations pulse with commercial activity and public amenities, Honolulu’s stations frequently offer little more than barren landscapes and restricted access. This partnership aims to bridge that gap by leveraging Tokyu’s expertise in creating high-density, mixed-use neighborhoods that naturally attract ridership.

Governor Green’s vision extends beyond mere infrastructure development to address Hawaii’s acute housing crisis. The strategy incorporates modular housing technology from Japanese firm Daiwa House Industry, complemented by traditional construction methods. This hybrid approach has garnered rare support from Hawaii’s powerful construction unions, who have historically been skeptical of prefabricated housing solutions.

The collaboration represents a sophisticated evolution in foreign investment practices, consciously avoiding the problematic patterns of 1980s Japanese investment in Hawaii. Rather than creating isolated foreign-owned developments, the initiative emphasizes co-development structures with local leadership and mutual growth opportunities. The partnership remains aspirational without binding financial commitments, focusing instead on knowledge transfer and strategic planning.

With current ridership languishing at approximately 12,000 daily passengers—far below the projected 84,000 target—the initiative represents a comprehensive approach to transit-oriented development that integrates housing, commercial spaces, and community infrastructure to create sustainable urban environments around rail stations.

A coalition of 45 British parliamentarians from multiple parties has issued a formal demand for the United Kingdom to acknowledge and apologize for its historical actions during the Mandate for Palestine period (1917-1948). The signatories, including prominent figures such as Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, Labour’s Nadia Whittome, and Green MP Carla Denyer, contend that Britain’s administration directly facilitated ethnic cleansing and violated international law, creating conditions that profoundly shaped the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The initiative follows a detailed petition submitted to the government in September by the ‘Britain Owes Palestine’ campaign, spearheaded by 91-year-old Palestinian tycoon Munib al-Masri. The petition, crafted by leading legal experts Ben Emmerson and Danny Friedman alongside academic advisors, presents evidence that British authorities lacked proper legal authority for the Balfour Declaration, failed to recognize Arab self-determination, and committed acts constituting war crimes and crimes against humanity, including widespread home demolitions.

Legal adviser Victor Kattan of the University of Nottingham clarified that the call for ‘meaningful reparations’ is not primarily a financial claim but a demand for symbolic acknowledgment. Proposed forms of reparation include official apologies and investments in educational programs in both Britain and Palestine to ensure this history is adequately taught. The campaign organizers have set a deadline of September this year for a government response, warning that a judicial review will be pursued if none is forthcoming.

The 1917 Balfour Declaration, issued by then-Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour, pledged British support for a Jewish national home in Palestine. While it included a clause stipulating that the rights of existing non-Jewish communities should not be prejudiced, this assurance failed to prevent the expulsion of approximately 750,000 Palestinians during the events known as the Nakba (catastrophe) surrounding Israel’s establishment in 1948. The descendants of those displaced remain unable to return to their homes.

In a notable shift of tone, prominent US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a known hawk and staunch supporter of military action against Iran, has publicly voiced apprehension regarding the scale of recent Israeli airstrikes on Iranian oil infrastructure. The strikes, which targeted over 30 oil depots in locations including Tehran and Karaj, resulted in widespread fires and significant environmental fallout, with residents reporting health issues from polluted air and ‘oily rain’.

While expressing admiration for Israel’s demonstrated capability to pressure the Iranian regime, Graham utilized social media platform X to issue a caution. He emphasized that the ultimate objective should be the liberation of the Iranian people and the eventual collapse of the current leadership. In this context, he urged strategic target selection to avoid crippling Iran’s oil-based economy, which he deemed essential for the nation’s potential rebirth and prosperity under a new government.

The extensive scope of the Israeli operation reportedly caught US officials off guard, leading to the first significant disagreement between the two allies since the onset of recent hostilities. According to a report from Axios, which cited informed officials, the strikes far exceeded US expectations following prior notification from Israel. A senior US official was quoted as stating, ‘We don’t think it was a good idea,’ with an adviser to former President Trump adding that the administration disliked the attack due to concerns over oil destruction and potential impacts on gasoline prices.

In a separate television appearance, Senator Graham framed the conflict in stark economic terms, predicting immense financial gain for the United States. He explicitly linked the campaign against Iran to the situation in Venezuela, asserting that control over the combined 31% of global oil reserves held by the two nations would form a powerful partnership and represent a ‘nightmare for China.’ His comments suggested a strategic connection between US actions against the governments of Iran and Venezuela and a goal of dominating global oil supplies. Graham also forecast a severe escalation of attacks, promising to ‘blow the hell out of these people’ and predicting the regime’s imminent collapse, followed by an era of unprecedented peace and prosperity.

As sustained military operations by American and Israeli forces continue to weaken Iran’s clerical regime, Washington is reportedly considering a strategic partnership with Kurdish factions to escalate pressure on Tehran. This potential alignment targets Iran’s northwestern Kurdish minority, a demographic comprising 8-17% of the population that has endured systematic persecution under the Islamic Republic since its establishment in 1979.

Multiple intelligence reports indicate that following the outbreak of hostilities on February 28, 2026, the CIA has actively explored arming Kurdish opposition groups to foment internal uprising against Iranian leadership. This strategic consideration has been reinforced by high-level diplomatic engagements, including President Donald Trump’s direct communications with Iraqi Kurdish leaders Masoud Barzani and Bafel Talabani shortly after the initiation of bombing campaigns.

The geopolitical calculus appears influenced by Israel’s sustained advocacy for U.S.-Kurdish cooperation, leveraging existing intelligence networks among Kurdish populations across Iran, Iraq, and Syria. Kurdish grievances against Tehran’s authorities, intensified by recent events including the 2022 protests following Mahsa Amini’s death and decades of cultural suppression, create apparent conditions for productive collaboration.

However, Middle East analysts caution that this approach carries significant risks reminiscent of previous Western interventions. The Kurdish people, numbering 30-40 million across four nations, represent history’s largest stateless ethnic group despite early 20th century promises of sovereignty. Their political movements remain fragmented across ideological and national lines, complicating unified action.

Ethical considerations loom large, as Kurdish communities possess painful historical memories of abandonment by Western powers. The 1975 Algiers Accord, which terminated U.S. support for Iraqi Kurdish rebels without warning, resulted in devastating reprisals and mass displacements. Current Kurdish leadership expresses skepticism about American commitment beyond immediate tactical objectives.

Regional complications further complicate potential cooperation. Turkey, a NATO ally, considers Kurdish militant groups like the PKK and its Iranian affiliate PJAK as existential threats. Any substantial American arming of these elements would strain relations with Ankara, particularly following delicate ceasefire developments in 2025.

Military analysts question the practical effectiveness of Kurdish insurgent capabilities, noting assessments that indicate limited capacity for sustaining successful uprising against Iranian forces. The humanitarian implications also raise concerns, as historical patterns suggest Tehran would respond with indiscriminate repression against civilian populations in Kurdish regions.

The emerging strategy reflects concerning parallels with previous American interventions in Afghanistan and Syria, where short-term tactical advantages yielded long-term destabilizing consequences. Without clear political objectives and sustainable support structures, analysts warn that leveraging Kurdish aspirations against Iran may initiate another cycle of betrayal and regional instability.

In a pivotal diplomatic engagement, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and former U.S. President Donald Trump convened a telephone discussion on Sunday, aiming to reconcile recent disagreements concerning the ongoing military engagement in the Middle East. The conversation, detailed in an official summary from Downing Street, served as a platform to address the United Kingdom’s contentious involvement in the US-Israeli operations against Iran.

During the exchange, Prime Minister Starmer formally expressed his condolences for the American personnel who lost their lives in Iranian counter-strikes on U.S. installations throughout the Gulf region. The leaders also deliberated on the broader Middle Eastern situation and the specifics of UK-US military collaboration, particularly focusing on the strategic utilization of Royal Air Force (RAF) bases for collective defense initiatives with regional allies.

This high-stakes dialogue followed a period of significant friction. Initially, Prime Minister Starmer had moved to deny U.S. forces access to the critical British airbase located on Diego Garcia, a strategic Indian Ocean outpost, shortly after the commencement of bombardments on February 28th. This decision prompted a fierce backlash from Trump and pro-war factions within the UK’s political landscape, including members of the Conservative and Reform parties.

Under mounting pressure, the Starmer administration later revised its stance, permitting U.S. military operations from UK bases for what it classified strictly as ‘defensive’ purposes, such as neutralizing Iranian missile sites that had targeted American assets. This concession, however, did not prevent a public relations broadside from Trump, who took to his Truth Social platform on Saturday to dismiss reported British considerations of deploying aircraft carriers as belated and unnecessary, sarcastically remarking, ‘We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!’ He had previously drawn an unflattering comparison on March 3rd, stating he was ‘not happy with the UK’ and quipping, ‘This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with.’

The conflict itself has proven far more protracted and costly than initial U.S. assessments predicted. Originally anticipated to conclude within days, Pentagon officials now reportedly project operations could extend until at least September. The U.S. has acknowledged eight military fatalities and significant damage to its infrastructure across the Gulf due to Iranian retaliation. Iran’s tactical approach has emphasized inflicting substantial geopolitical, economic, and infrastructural costs on the U.S.

In response, US and Israeli military efforts have concentrated on degrading Iran’s civilian and military infrastructure, aiming to cripple its missile capabilities and instigate internal dissent against the Tehran government. To date, these efforts have not sparked a widespread uprising, but the human cost is severe, with at least 1,300 Iranian casualties reported from the attacks. For Prime Minister Starmer, a former critic of the Iraq War, navigating this military entanglement without direct UK combat involvement remains a central and challenging objective of his foreign policy.