A funny thing happened on the way to the World Economic Forum yesterday. I bumped into John McCain.
The former contender for the US presidency and senator for Arizona was striding in to the convention centre where the Middle East gathering is taking place in Jordan's Dead Sea resort.
He was about to give what turned out to be a pretty bellicose speech on Syria, but his arrival at the resort sparked further chatter about the issue that has emerged here as "the big one". "So will this thing happen? If he's [McCain] here it looks like it just might," drawled an American accent behind me in the queue.
Never mind that he was always on the guest list anyway, Mr McCain's presence was enough to lift already fierce speculation.
Is there a big announcement coming on the Middle East's most intractable problem, the decades-long conflict between Palestine and Israel?
The signs are that some announcement is on the cards at a special late session this afternoon, entitled "Breaking the impasse".
The session will be attended by Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, Shimon Peres, the president of Israel, and John Kerry, the US secretary of state. It will be chaired by the WEF supremo and founder, Klaus Schwab.
At yesterday's opening ceremony Mr Schwab gave a tease that indeed "the big one" was on the cards. "We will unveil the results of the past year's work towards peace alongside John Kerry," he proclaimed, without further detail.
What appears to be going on is an effort to revive the political dimension to the peace talks via a business initiative involving leading Israeli and Arab entrepreneurs.
Two important business figures in the region, Yossi Vardi, one of the founders of Israel's booming hi-tech industry, and Munib Masri, the billionaire chairman of the Palestine Development and Investment Authority, are said to be backing the plan; a further 200-plus business figures, it is said, are waiting to be shipped into the resort today to sign up.
With the blessing of the Americans (via Mr Kerry) and the endorsement of the WEF, the plan stands a reasonable chance of success, forum sources believe.
But after many false dawns, there is inevitable scepticism on the part of others. "If we want to do business with Israel, we should just do business. Why would the politicians get involved in that?" asked one Arab executive.
There was also speculation that the WEF was hijacking the peace initiative for its own aggrandisement. "They [WEF] want to formalise it and make it official. It doesn't have to be like that," said a UAE-based executive apparently involved in the talks.
The feeling at the forum is that it's worth backing, in the absence of anything better.
There is even speculation that the WEF, or Mr Schwab, might just be in line for a Nobel Peace Prize, if it succeeds.
fkane@thenational.ae
Specs
Engine: 2-litre
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 255hp
Torque: 273Nm
Price: Dh240,000
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The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
Results
2.30pm: Expo 2020 Dubai – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 1,600m; Winner: Barakka, Ray Dawson (jockey), Ahmad bin Harmash (trainer)
3.05pm: Now Or Never – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: One Idea, Andrea Atzeni, Doug Watson
3.40pm: This Is Our Time – Handicap (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Perfect Balance, Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar
4.15pm: Visit Expo 2020 – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Kaheall, Richard Mullen, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.50pm: The World In One Place – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1.900m; Winner: Castlebar, Adrie de Vries, Helal Al Alawi
5.25pm: Vision – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Shanty Star, Richard Mullen, Rashed Bouresly
6pm: Al Wasl Plaza – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Jadwal, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Emiratisation at work
Emiratisation was introduced in the UAE more than 10 years ago
It aims to boost the number of citizens in the workforce particularly in the private sector.
Growing the number of Emiratis in the workplace will help the UAE reduce dependence on overseas workers
The Cabinet in December last year, approved a national fund for Emirati jobseekers and guaranteed citizens working in the private sector a comparable pension
President Sheikh Khalifa has described Emiratisation as “a true measure for success”.
During the UAE’s 48th National Day, Sheikh Khalifa named education, entrepreneurship, Emiratisation and space travel among cornerstones of national development
More than 80 per cent of Emiratis work in the federal or local government as per 2017 statistics
The Emiratisation programme includes the creation of 20,000 new jobs for UAE citizens
UAE citizens will be given priority in managerial positions in the government sphere
The purpose is to raise the contribution of UAE nationals in the job market and create a diverse workforce of citizens
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
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No Shame
Lily Allen
(Parlophone)
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
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Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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