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A6 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 18 november 2020
Palestinians restore Israel ties as annexation fears fade

By JOSEPH KRAUSS ians, who rely on the coor-
Associated Press dination to travel in and out
JERUSALEM (AP) — The of the territories for medical
Palestinian Authority will treatment and other pur-
restore all ties with Israel poses.
and resume the transfer Two Palestinian officials
of much-needed tax rev- said the PA would restore
enues after it cut all con- all cooperation with Israel,
tacts in May over Israel’s including security coordi-
planned annexation of up nation, and that meetings
to a third of the occupied would be held in the com-
West Bank, Palestinian offi- ing days to facilitate the
cials said Tuesday. tax transfers. They spoke
The move to restore ties on condition of anonymity
likely reflects the Palestin- because they were not au-
ians’ hope that President thorized to brief media.
Donald Trump’s election While the move will provide
defeat spells the end of his financial relief, it also opens
administration’s Mideast the PA up to criticism that
policies, which overwhelm- it has bowed to Israeli pres-
ingly favored Israel and sure.
weakened and isolated The security coordination
the Palestinian Authority. In this Jan. 22, 2020 file photo, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks after a meeting of with Israel is deeply unpop-
The Palestinians hope for a the Palestinian leadership in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Associated Press ular among Palestinians,
fresh start under President- many of whom view it as a
elect Joe Biden, who has rael’s commitment to past flung settlements, as part of resumption of hundreds betrayal of their cause.
pledged to restore U.S. aid agreements. Trump’s Mideast plan. An- of millions of dollars in tax- The Islamic militant group
and push for a return to ne- Abbas announced in May nexation was put on hold es that Israel collects on Hamas, which rules Gaza,
gotiations over a two-state that the Palestinians would in August when the United behalf of the Palestinian condemned the PA’s “re-
solution to the decades-old no longer be bound by any Arab Emirates agreed to Authority, which adminis- turn to relations with the
conflict. past agreements signed normalize relations with Is- ters parts of the occupied criminal Zionist occupa-
Hussein al-Sheikh, a senior with Israel or the U.S. and rael, but Israeli Prime Min- West Bank. The loss of the tion,” calling it a “stab in the
Palestinian official and would suspend all coordi- ister Benjamin Netanyahu tax revenues had severely back” for recent efforts to
close aide to President nation with Israel, includ- said the pause was only strained the PA’s finances, promote Palestinian unity.
Mahmoud Abbas, tweet- ing cooperation on security temporary. forcing it to drastically cut It said the move would en-
ed that “the relationship matters. There was no immediate the salaries of civil servants courage other Arab states
with Israel will return to how The move came as Israel comment from Israel on the even amid the coronavirus to normalize relations with
it was” following “official was preparing to annex restoration of ties. pandemic. Israel, further eroding Arab
written and oral letters we up to a third of the West The decision to restore ties The decision to cut ties had support for the Palestinian
received” confirming Is- Bank, including all of its far- will pave the way for the also hurt ordinary Palestin- cause.q
Dubai ‘jetman’ Vincent Reffet killed in training incident

By JON GAMBRELL his back wowed watchers Dubai said in a statement. in Dubai, setting a world miles), have a maximum
Associated Press online, died Tuesday while The organization did not record. BASE is an acro- speed of over 400 kph (248
DUBAI, United Arab Emir- training in the deserts of elaborate, though it said it nym for building, antenna, mph) and can reach an
ates (AP) — One of Dubai’s this Arabian sheikhdom, his was “working closely with span and earth. He earlier altitude of 6,100 meters
“jetmen,” whose flights over organization said. all relevant authorities.” earned gold medals while (20,000 feet).
the world’s tallest building Vincent Reffet, 36, of An- “Vince was a talented ath- competing as a free-flying Under the brand of XDubai,
and alongside a jumbo jet necy, France, was killed lete, and a much-loved skydiver on a team and which is associated with
with engines strapped to during the training, Jetman and respected member competed as an extreme the crown prince of Dubai,
of our team,” its statement athlete sponsored by Red Sheikh Hamdan bin Mo-
said. “Our thoughts and Bull. The thrills were in his hammed bin Rashid Al
prayers are with his fam- blood as his parents also Maktoum, the jetmen have
ily and all those who knew were skydivers. flown past the Burj Khalifa
and worked with him.” “I believe that if you dream and other sites around
Dubai police did not im- big and if you love what the city-state. Famously in
mediately acknowledge you do everything is pos- 2015, Reffet and Rossy flew
the incident. The United sible,” Reffet was quoted alongside an Emirates Air-
Arab Emirates’ General as saying. bus A380 double-decker
Civil Aviation Authority, But the general public jetliner over Dubai.
which investigates all avia- in Dubai came to know “It’s the sensation of free-
tion incidents in this federa- Reffet as part of Jetman dom. Already, you know,
tion of seven sheikhdoms, Dubai. The organization, when I am skydiving, I have
did not immediately return founded by Swiss adven- like this feeling of freedom
a call for comment Tues- turer Yves Rossy, sees its I can like pretty much go
In this May 12, 2015 file photo, former Swiss pilot Yves Rossy, day night. athletes zip across the sky where I want but always
known as a jetman, right, and his protege Vince Reffet, shake Reffet had BASE-jumped with a four-engine, car- going down,” Reffet told
hands after flying over Dubai’s Palm Island, United Arab off the Burj Khalifa, the bon-Kevlar wing strapped The Associated Press in
Emirates. world’s tallest building at to their backs. The wings 2015. “With this machine …
Associated Press
828 meters (2,716 feet) can fly 50 kilometers (30 I can fly like a bird.”q