Peaceful end could be in sight
Why don’t we live our own lives (‘Let Arabs not count on Western powers,’ Gulf News, July 29)? Not us but there are evils in this world, like terrorists that need to be controlled. If they stop poking their nose into other countries, the same goes for the Western governments and organisations, then we can live in peace.
But unfortunately, there are some leaders who cause problems and in the end the innocent people die and hatred grows. No one needs nuclear power for negative use.
It is very clear in the history of Jews, Christians and Muslims that we used to live together in peace – the same as now. Always there were both bad and good people but there was less hatred among us, than now.
Dr David Liepert, a prominent North American Muslim, recounts his own journey from Christianity to becoming a convert of Islam and what he learned in the process. Liepert also candidly explores how and why Islam has gone from being a religion that sustained a vibrant multicultural and multi-religious civilisation to the one we have today. In the end, he offers hope that Muslims, Christians, and Jews can live together in peace and that the happy ending we all crave might be closer than we think.
From Mr Sammy P. S.
UAE
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Difficult job
Let the Arabs unite, change for the better and help each other. We need to focus on making the economy even more progressive. Every world leader can be blamed for actions. Being a world leader means taking constant criticism and it is not an easy job. Every decision they make can do harm or good, and can cause people to hate or love them.
There are always many sides to a story and every person has his or her problems. The decisions of world leaders can affect the whole world. That’s not easy. All we can do is focus on making lives better.
From Ms Mariam Ner
UAE
Facebook comment
Tightening policies
It’s nice to hear this news (‘New visa fee structure to take effect from August 1,’ Gulf News, July 29). I am thankful to the UAE authorities for bringing such laws. My father has been working in a company without a salary increment for six years. He was offered a job from another company, but he was not able to take it, in order to keep the family together, since I am in grade 10. The authorities need to take steps against companies like these that don’t increase salaries. It would be a great relief for families like us.
From Mr Bala Subramanian
Sharjah
Website comment
Family visas
I would like to know about the employee’s family visas? A few days ago, I went to immigration for my family (my wife and infant) to get their visas due to a change of career and they informed me that the minimum salary should be Dh20,000 to hold a family visa. No one knew about this, even the typing centres.
The public should be informed well in advance if there are any changes. Furthermore, we don’t know if this was fixed or a temporary rate adjustment. My friends told me that sometimes they are more successful if they come back even with their salary being less than Dh10,000. So I’m wondering what is right. Due to all these long holidays, their new visas couldn’t be done and they have to leave the country as the grace period is ending shortly.
From Mr Rumy
Dubai
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Editor’s note: The details about family visa sponsorship have been clarified in several reports run on gulfnews.com, in the month of May, 2014. You can check the May 4 report from the Nation section, ‘Dubai denies Dh10,000 salary requirement for sponsoring family’, along with a May 5 report, ‘Visa rules stand across all seven UAE Emirates, officials say’.
Unique Gaza
The comment by Ramzy Baroud today was a good read as it had sincerity and verve between the lines (‘A glance at Israel’s blood-soaked history in Gaza,’ Gulf News, July 30). The ethos of the fight for survival by the gallant people of Gaza will always serve as a reminder of fighting for your survival with dignity and hope.
Israel is ruled by tyrants who have been spilling the blood of the innocent people of Palestine. As the writer says there is no way Israel can subdue Gaza and her bravehearts. I see the destruction and dismemberment of all terrorist nations in the not too distant future. These organisations have been indulging in mindless destruction of the hapless civilians, especially children and even sick and terminally ill patients who are being kept in the intensive care units. The number of the dead in Gaza has increased a lot lately. Man’s inhumanity to man.
From Mr Thomas Matthew Parackel
Kerala, India
Need for education
What is happening in Gaza is ironic. Even hospitals and schools are being shelled! You know the problem is that they might have sophisticated weapons, but then the minds of the Israeli government are absolutely unsophisticated and dated. They still have the ancient belief that they own the whole of Palestine.
Until there is a time that people on the land are educated enough to understand that we are all equal, no amount of aid will ever be enough, because they will keep doing the same thing!
From Mr Bagoas Juvie Gonzales Galutan
Dubai
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Using diplomatic efforts
The present Israel aggression on the Palestinian people in Gaza has been going on for three weeks. The attempts taken by the international community, including the UN, has failed to secure a ceasefire.
Providing military aid could escalate the conflict and lead to its spread into the rest of the Middle Eastern region.
Hamas wants Israel to lift the blockade that Israel has imposed on the Palestinian people.
Israel and Palestine have asymmetrical power relations. Israeli has a very sophisticated and advanced military power in the region as it has acquired modern weaponry from the US. It is also the only nuclear power in the region. The iron dome defence system provided by the US has prevented all rocket attacks coming from Gaza. On the other hand, the Palestinian people, more precisely Hamas, do not have a military power to match the Israeli firepower. Therefore, it is difficult for them to come to that level of sophistication within a short period of time.
Israel has the support of the US. If the regional countries provide military assistance to Hamas, the US will continue to strengthen the military power of Israel. It leads to the escalation of the arms race in the region. Also, many US allies in the region do not agree to arming the Palestinian people as it affects their national interest, simply because they do not want to antagonise the US.
I think the priority must be given to take diplomatic efforts to persuade both parties in the conflict to agree to stop hostilities. At the same time, the international community should be providing humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people suffering from Israeli aggression.
From Ms Keerthi Illangaratna
UAE
Arab idol’s support
Interestingly, due to Israeli policies, Gazans are now the heroes of an Arab idol. The Arab idol Palestinian singer Mohammad Assaf’s support for Hamas’ Islamist movement is known. As a Palestinian and United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) goodwill ambassador, undoubtedly he is more attached and grieved by Gaza’s sad situation.
However, apart from UNRWA duties, Assaf’s emotional plea for Gazans’ help seems very loud in a silent world. On July 28, while arranging a relief flight for Gazans from Dubai, there was pain in Assaf’s heart. Words could not describe his feeling. He was very sad on the pathetic situation created by Zionist fanatics.
At the same time, he expressed his firm support for Gazans’ popular resistance. Assaf said: “We have to help Gaza stand up on its feet one more time, Gaza is strong. Gazans are heroes. They always get back on their feet after they have been destroyed. That is the Gaza I trust. The number of people who have been killed is so immense: civilians, children, women, elderly. It is a very bad situation.” Indeed, Gazans have become the ideal for Arab idol: a slap in the face of Israel.
From Mr Nasser Farooq
UAE
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