The Monocle Minute

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, announced on Wednesday evening, was a tremendous victory for many and a particularly massive boon for Qatar’s soft power. The protracted efforts of this tiny Gulf state to be the region’s mediator may well have provided its crowning moment. So when Qatar’s prime minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, took to the podium to announce the deal, he did so with quiet authority. He spoke of the faith that brought both parties together and cautiously reminded them – and the rest of the world – that peace could only be reached if all parties continued to act in good faith.

Contrast that with the scenes at Mar-a-Lago, where US president-elect Donald Trump largely put the deal down to his own re-election. “Just imagine all of the wonderful things that will happen when I return to the White House,” he bragged to his supporters. Meanwhile, back in Washington, outgoing president Joe Biden strived to salvage what’s left of his legacy. After a reporter asked who deserved the lion’s share of credit for the deal – him or Trump – he smirked and landed a rehearsed quip, “Is that a joke?”

The dissonance in diplomatic posturing between the world’s most powerful men – outgoing and incoming – and Qatar’s prime minister was profound. There was no strained effort to seize recognition on the part of the Qataris but rather a pragmatic and humble acknowledgement that the road to lasting peace remains long and arduous.

But, away from the public gaze, there will be satisfaction among the Qatari government and the ruling Al Thani family that the deal vindicates their long-term strategy. Despite much criticism, the country sheltered leaders of Hamas in Doha and steadfastly funded Gaza over many years – sustaining a population being squeezed from all sides. Its powerful regional neighbours, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have been neatly clipped by Doha’s deft diplomacy – though the pair’s next moves will still shape the endgame. For the ceasefire to hold and for the next stages to be brought to fruition, Qatar’s mettle as a mediator will face an even tougher test.

Bill Law is an award-winning journalist and the editor of ‘Arab Digest’. For more opinion, analysis and insight, subscribe to Monocle today.

“We have given collectors a fantastic network,” says Shuyin Yang, director of Singapore’s signature art fair, Art SG, which returns for its third edition today. “They have inspired one another to think about their own collections and are embarking on this journey together.” The fair has steadily attracted a stream of blue-chip galleries, such as Gagosian and White Cube, and feels tailored to Southeast Asia’s collectors with its considered list of global cultural partners. London-based Delfina Foundation will lead a talk on how to grow a private collection, while Stefano Rabolli Pansera, founding director of Bangkok Kunsthalle, will present a curated film programme featuring moving image artworks. Last year might have been a difficult one for the art market but Singapore’s future is certainly looking bright. Here we round up some of the best events taking place outside the fair during Art Week.

SEA Focus
18 to 26 January
This exhibition will explore the evolution of Southeast Asian art, featuring pieces from more than 35 artists.
seafocus.sg

‘Of Dreams and Contemplation: I Am All but a Story – Selections from the Collection of Richard Koh’
Runs until 9 March
Gallerist Richard Koh’s autobiographical show at The Private Museum gives a rare glimpse into his personal collection.
theprivatemuseum.org; rkfineart.com

‘Shapeshifters’
Runs until 26 January
Australian gallery Sullivan+Strumpf’s group show at Appetite is a must-visit, with artists tackling the notions of fluidity and hybridity.
sullivanstrumpf.com; appetitesg.com

France’s new prime minister, François Bayrou, will see another day in office after surviving a vote of confidence thanks to the last-minute support of the Socialist Party. But Bayrou is unlikely to celebrate too much: he still has a lot of work to do if he is to push an unpopular policy agenda through a splintered legislature. Away from national politics, he has been trying to cut down the revelrous budgets of councils across the nation asking mayors to tighten the purse strings to the tune of €2.2bn.

Unfortunately, some mayors unabashedly continued in their carousing ways by hosting lavish New Year’s parties – a cherished tradition for those in such roles. André Santini, the conservative mayor of Issy-les-Moulineaux in southwest Paris, hosted some 2,000 guests and served up lashings of champagne, whisky and claret. Unsurprisingly, Santini, 84, has held his seat since 1980. Meanwhile, the Socialist Party mayor of Paris’s 11th arrondissement, François Vauglin, opted for a more modest crémant over champagne – a small overture to Bayrou’s edict but nevertheless a sacrifice for Parisian palates. With budget talks set to begin soon, Bayrou will need to find more popular cuts than champagne rationing if he’s to restore France’s coffers.

Monocle’s editor in chief, Andrew Tuck, joined The Globalist this week to discuss the life and legacy of innovative Italian photographer Oliviero Toscani. As the art director of Benetton, Toscani produced a litany of provocative ad campaigns, including this one, titled “Globes”, in 1986. His work remains as timely as ever.

The ritual of hammam has played an important role in the region for millennia. Visiting Turkish baths for the first time can be intimidating, so let Monocle be your guide. Join us as we glide from the hot room to the cold room via a foam massage, and plunge into this living part of Turkish history.