The death of Shafiq al Hout, one of the founding members of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and for many years its spokesman, will be regarded widely as the symbolic end of an era during which the tension between Palestinians and Israelis was articulated overwhelmingly by armed conflict rather than dialogue.
Al Hout was never interested in compromise: he demanded nothing less than the full liberation of Palestine. In 1993, when Yasser Arafat accepted the terms of the Oslo Peace Accords that recognised the state of Israel, al Hout felt betrayed. Subsequently he left the PLO's executive committee, stating: "I have resigned from the job but not from the issue; the issue is not a job, it is the destiny of the Palestinians, and one cannot resign from it."
Born in Jaffa, one of six children, he spoke of an idyllic childhood spent playing football with cousins, swimming at the beach and cycling the city's streets. He dreamed of becoming a lawyer, imagining himself the dynamic defender of some troubled soul as he postured before his bedroom mirror.
In April 1948, the dreams evaporated. Jewish irregulars seized Jaffa and al Hout's family joined the throngs fleeing the city. They came to rest in Beirut, where gradually the realisation dawned that there would be no return home in the near future.
In 1949, al Hout enrolled to study medicine at the American University of Beirut. Courted by myriad political groups keen to enrol adherents to their various ideologies, he joined the communists. He also befriended George Habash, the founder of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, becoming a loud advocate of armed Palestinian resistance. Though his extracurricular activities led to arrest and brief imprisonment, al Hout managed to avoid being banished from Lebanon and later even secured Lebanese citizenship.
In the 1950s, he taught in Kuwait where he met Arafat and others committed to the Palestinian cause. He wrote for, and later edited, the radical weekly magazine Al Hawadeth before giving up journalism for politics in 1962, when he helped found the Palestine Liberation Front, and later the PLO in 1964. Serving as the PLO's representative to Lebanon until it was expelled in 1982, al Hout remained in Beirut while Arafat and his followers went into exile.
Shafiq al Hout was born on January 13, 1932. He died on August 2. He is survived by his wife, Bayan, their son, Hader, and two daughters, Hanin and Syrine.
* The National
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The specs: 2019 Jeep Wrangler
Price, base: Dh132,000
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 285hp @ 6,400rpm
Torque: 347Nm @ 4,100rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.6L to 10.3L / 100km
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Super%20Mario%20Bros%20Wonder
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
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Easter%20Sunday
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The five pillars of Islam
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
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Premier League results
Saturday
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Arsenal 1
Bournemouth 0 Manchester City 1
Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Huddersfield Town 0
Burnley 1 Crystal Palace 3
Manchester United 3 Southampton 2
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Cardiff City 0
West Ham United 2 Newcastle United 0
Sunday
Watford 2 Leicester City 1
Fulham 1 Chelsea 2
Everton 0 Liverpool 0
if you go
The flights
Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.
The trek
Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.
RACE SCHEDULE
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday, September 29
First practice: 7am - 8.30am
Second practice: 11am - 12.30pm
Saturday, September 30
Qualifying: 1pm - 2pm
Sunday, October 1
Race: 11am - 1pm
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Abdul Jabar Qahraman was meeting supporters in his campaign office in the southern Afghan province of Helmand when a bomb hidden under a sofa exploded on Wednesday.
The blast in the provincial capital Lashkar Gah killed the Afghan election candidate and at least another three people, Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak told reporters. Another three were wounded, while three suspects were detained, he said.
The Taliban – which controls much of Helmand and has vowed to disrupt the October 20 parliamentary elections – claimed responsibility for the attack.
Mr Qahraman was at least the 10th candidate killed so far during the campaign season, and the second from Lashkar Gah this month. Another candidate, Saleh Mohammad Asikzai, was among eight people killed in a suicide attack last week. Most of the slain candidates were murdered in targeted assassinations, including Avtar Singh Khalsa, the first Afghan Sikh to run for the lower house of the parliament.
The same week the Taliban warned candidates to withdraw from the elections. On Wednesday the group issued fresh warnings, calling on educational workers to stop schools from being used as polling centres.
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5