Trump’s Gaza plan derails Saudi-Israel ties: analysts

US President Donald Trump’s plan to take over Gaza will imperil attempts to forge landmark ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel and fuel anti-American sentiment in the oil-rich kingdom, analysts said.Trump’s proposal to redevelop Gaza and oust the more than two million Palestinians living in the territory prompted a global backlash and enraged the Arab world, making it difficult for the Saudis to consider normalisation.”If this is going to be his policy, he shut the door on Saudi recognition of Israel,” James Dorsey, researcher at the Middle East Institute of the National University of Singapore, told AFP.Recognition of Israel by Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s holiest sites, is seen as a grand prize of Middle East diplomacy intended to calm chronic tensions in the region.But Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter and the Middle East’s largest economy, now faces the spectre of instability on its borders if neighbouring Jordan and Egypt suddenly house large numbers of Gaza exiles.At the same time, Riyadh must maintain cordial relations with Washington, its long-time security guarantor and bulwark against key regional player Iran.”When it comes to security, Saudi Arabia has nowhere to go but to Washington,” Dorsey said. “There’s nobody else. It’s not China. They’re not willing and they’re not able. “And post-Ukraine, do you want to rely on Russia?”- Quick reaction -The Saudis were engaged in tentative talks on normalisation via the United States until the outbreak of the Gaza war, when they paused the negotiations and hardened their position.They reacted with unusual speed to Trump’s proposal, made during an appearance with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington.About an hour after his comments, at around 4:00 am Saudi time, the foreign ministry posted a statement on X that “reaffirms its unequivocal rejection of… attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land”.In the same statement, the Saudis rejected Netanyahu’s comment that normalisation was “going to happen”, repeating their insistence there would be no ties without a Palestinian state.Trump’s plan carries real risks for Riyadh, which is throwing everything at an ambitious post-oil economic makeover that relies on stability to attract business and tourism.If Gazans are displaced to Egypt and Jordan, it “will weaken two countries essential to regional stability and particularly to Saudi security”, said Saudi researcher Aziz Alghashian.”Trump’s plan, coupled with Netanyahu’s approach, poses major risks for Saudi Arabia. “It highlights that they are not true partners for peace in Riyadh’s eyes — especially Netanyahu, who appears to want all the benefits without making concessions.”- ‘Making normalisation harder’ -Trump’s declarations “will further destabilise the region and fuel anti-American sentiment, particularly in Saudi Arabia”, said Anna Jacobs, of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.”He is making Saudi-Israel normalisation harder, not easier.”Andreas Krieg of King’s College London said Saudi Arabia would not agree meekly to normalisation if ordered by Washington.Prior to the Gaza war, the Saudis were negotiating for security guarantees and help building a civilian nuclear programme in return for Israeli ties.”They are not a US vassal state and so they’re not just taking a diktat from Trump,” said Andreas Krieg of King’s College London.”And I think it will stand firm on their positions, willing to negotiate here and there. But the principal red lines remain.”Nobody in Saudi Arabia has an interest in selling out Palestinian statehood. That is the last and the most important bargaining chip that the Saudis have in terms of authority and legitimacy in the Arab and Muslim world.”But the question is how Saudi Arabia and its 39-year-old de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will proceed.”I don’t think that the Saudis will take any major steps now,” said Krieg.”They obviously have their own levers that they can use for pressure on America, particularly in the energy sector. I don’t think the Saudis will want to use it at this point.”

‘Anora’ wins top Hollywood producer and director prizes

“Anora” was named the best film of the year by Hollywood’s directors and producers on Saturday, cementing its new status as the film to beat at the upcoming Oscars.The black comedy from director Sean Baker, about an erotic dancer’s whirlwind romance gone wrong, picked up the prestigious Directors Guild of America and Producers Guild of America top awards, just a day after capturing the foremost US critics’ prize.”My imposter syndrome is skyrocketing right now!” said Baker, a 53-year-old indie director, previously best known in arthouse circles for his empathetic portrayals of life in US subcultures, as he accepted his prize at a swanky Beverly Hills DGA gala.Baker thanked his producers for being “able to pull off a $6 million film, shot on film, in New York City in 2023 — almost impossible.””Anora” won the Cannes film festival top prize Palme d’Or back in May, yet had more recently lagged behind other films including “Emilia Perez” in terms of Oscar nominations.Besides Saturday’s coup, “Anora” also won best picture at the Critics Choice Awards on Friday, propelling it as a renewed favorite for the Academy Awards — which will take place on March 2.Accepting his prize from Christoper Nolan, last year’s DGA winner, Baker joked that campaigning for Hollywood’s seemingly never-ending awards season had made him feel like he was “actually doing work” for “the first time.””I’ve been able to play — and I feel like the luckiest guy in the world, being able to do the thing I’ve wanted to do since I was five years old,” said Baker.He also thanked his mother for supporting his career — but the director, whose films mainly center around sex work and pornography, admitted he was glad she had not seen his latest, somewhat graphic project.Nineteen of the past 21 DGA winners have gone on to also win the Oscar for best director that same year, including the last two winners — “Oppenheimer” and “Everything Everywhere All At Once.”The DGA prize for best movie from a first-time filmmaker went to another Oscar best picture nominee, “Nickel Boys,” from RaMell Ross.Ross, whose film about abuses at a 1960s Florida reform school for juvenile boys — shot as if from the eyes of its characters — said it was too “rare” to see the Black gaze represented in Hollywood cinema.Meanwhile across town in Los Angeles Saturday, “Anora” also won the PGA top prize.

‘Emotional’ Karunaratne eyes coaching career after Test farewell

Sri Lanka’s Dimuth Karunaratne said Sunday it had been “a very emotional day” after his 100th and final Test ended with a defeat to Australia.The veteran opening batsman Karunaratne was given the honour of bowling the final few balls as Australia wrapped up a nine-wicket win and series sweep before lunch on the fourth day in Galle.”It has been a long career — after my family and friends, I was spending most time with my teammates,” he said.”I am leaving them, but this team will be always in my heart.”The 36-year-old former skipper was a rock at the top of the Sri Lankan order for more than a decade, but had gone 25 innings without a century.He had announced before the second Test in Galle that it would be his farewell to the five-day game.”When I started my cricket, I just wanted to play one Test match,” he said. “To go on to play 100 Tests was amazing. Playing cricket for so long has been a privilege”.Renowned for his cool head and affable nature, Karunaratne also proved a shrewd leader.Taking over the captaincy at a turbulent time in 2019, he led Sri Lanka to a historic series win in South Africa. To this day, Sri Lanka remain the only Asian team to conquer the Proteas in their own backyard.Karunaratne relinquished the captaincy in 2023, saying it was time for younger cricketers to lead.He said that after a playing career with “lots of happy memories” he now wanted to spend time with his family, and move into coaching.”I intend to take up coaching,” he said Sunday. “I want to get qualified … I will start coaching either here or overseas.

Dominant Australia sweep Sri Lanka series as Karunaratne bows out

Australia wrapped up a dominant 2-0 sweep of the Test series against Sri Lanka at Galle on Sunday, romping to a nine-wicket victory before lunch on day four.Set a modest target of 75 to win, Australia lost only Travis Head as they stormed to a commanding victory in a ruthless display from the world’s top-ranked Test side.Head and Usman Khawaja put on 38 for the first wicket, looking at ease on a turning wicket.Prabath Jayasuriya removed Head, caught behind but Marnus Labuschagne with 26 and Khawaja, 27, knocked off the runs.With three runs required for the win, Dimuth Karunaratne, playing his 100th and final Test match, was called up to bowl.Labuschagne flicked his third delivery to midwicket to level the scores, and with another flick on the next ball, sealed the win 16 minutes before lunch.- ‘It’s been a privilege’ -“When I started my cricket, I just wanted to play one Test match,” said Karunaratne. “To go on to play 100 Tests was amazing. Playing cricket for so long has been a privilege”.Australia had inflicted an innings and 242-run defeat on Sri Lanka in the first Test, the host’s worst ever defeat.The second Test victory triggered jubilant celebrations among the Australian fans, who far outnumbered the home contingent in the stands.Many were perched on top of the centuries-old Galle Fort. One banner declared “South Africa, you’re next!” in reference to the World Test Championship final at Lord’s in June.Australia had been aware of the dangers of Galle’s turning pitches and had prepared with a week-long training camp in Dubai on similar tracks.The Australian batting unit delivered a masterclass, with a double hundred and four centuries in the two matches. No Sri Lanka batsman managed a century, with Kusal Mendis’s unbeaten 85 the highest individual score.Steve Smith’s men began Sunday’s fourth day by bundling Sri Lanka out for 231 from 211-8 overnight.Sri Lanka’s resistance lasted just 26 minutes, losing Kusal Mendis for 50 and Lahiru Kumara for nine. Matthew Kuhnemann and Nathan Lyon shared the spoils with four wickets apiece in the innings. But left-arm spinner Kuhnemann, playing just his fifth Test, upstaged the seasoned Lyon in the series to finish as the leading wicket-taker with 16.Lyon did go past 550 Test wickets in the match, becoming only the third Australian after Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath to reach the milestone.Sri Lanka’s fragile batting meant their fortunes rested heavily on Kusal Mendis, who had already played a fine hand in the first innings with an unbeaten 85.In the second innings, he carried on the fight, bringing up his half-century with a crisp punch through covers off Lyon.Off the next ball, Mendis was done in by extra bounce, top-edging an attempted flick straight into the hands of Steve Smith for his 200th Test catch.The Australian skipper became only the fifth player in Test history to complete 200 catches –- alongside Rahul Dravid, Joe Root, Mahela Jayawardene and Jacques Kallis.Winning skipper Smith praised his side. “The way the guys have played is exceptional,” he said.

Du Plessis batters Strickland to retain UFC middleweight crownSun, 09 Feb 2025 07:29:32 GMT

South African Dricus du Plessis defended his UFC middleweight belt on Sunday with a unanimous win over bitter rival Sean Strickland, destroying his opponent’s nose in a bloody title fight in Sydney.The 31-year-old won 50-45, 50-45, 49-46 to boost his win-loss record to 23-2 and cement his status as mixed martial arts’ top 185-pound fighter.Du Plessis …

Du Plessis batters Strickland to retain UFC middleweight crownSun, 09 Feb 2025 07:29:32 GMT Read More »