Germany on Monday called for a peace summit on Israel and Palestine with the participation of France, Jordan and Egypt.
Annalena Baerbock, the German Foreign Minister, said a four-power conference in Berlin could build on peace steps recently brokered by Jordan.
Visiting Berlin on Monday, Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Al Safadi said his country supported the so-called Munich format.
Germany's call came amid what Ms Baerbock called a worsening situation in the Middle East.
She said Ramadan was not playing out against a backdrop of "peace, family and joy" as would be hoped.
Palestinians staged a strike on Sunday after two people were killed by Israeli troops. Israel's parliament last month repealed a 2005 law banning four settlements in the West Bank.
"It is important to keep a political approach to solving the conflict in our sights," Ms Baerbock said at a press conference with Mr Al Safadi.
"Our countries agree that the two-state solution still offers the best basis for Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace, dignity, security and self-determination."
She said Germany wanted to link the planned talks to the negotiations in Aqaba, Jordan, that in February produced a joint communique between Israeli and Palestinian authorities.
Israel agreed to stop "discussion of any new settlement units" in occupied territories for four months.
"A meeting soon in the Munich format would be important," Ms Baerbock said, as she invited her French and Egyptian counterparts to Berlin.
The Munich group first met in 2020 and has held several meetings at the level of foreign ministers.
In talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly last year, they warned against "unilateral measures" that could close the door to a two-state solution.
Mr Al Safadi, who was meeting senior German officials in Berlin, said the Munich group had helped to prevent the situation deteriorating further.
"The situation is very explosive," he said, speaking through a German translator.
"We either allow the extremists to guide the way, which will definitely lead us to a catastrophe with much more conflict and violence, or those of us striving for peace work together to prevent dangerous developments."
In February, Ms Baerbock voiced concern about the Israeli government’s plans to overhaul the country’s legal system.
She said that a right-wing proposal to introduce the death penalty for Palestinians convicted in deadly attacks would be “a big mistake”. In a press conference with her Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen, Ms Baerbock echoed remarks by Mr Biden that rule of law in Israel was an important part of the the two country's alliance.
"The values that bind us together include the protection of principles of the rule of law such as judicial independence. This was always a hallmark of Israel," she told reporters alongside Mr Cohen.
Mr Cohen defended the judicial reforms proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying they would "strengthen Israeli democracy".
Critics say the proposed reforms amount to a power grab by the prime minister. The move to overhaul the judiciary has sparked the largest protests in Israel's history, accompanied by strikes in almost every sector of the economy, including in the security forces.
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Jewel of the Expo 2020
252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome
13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas
550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome
724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses
Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa
Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site
The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants
Al Wasl means connection in Arabic
World’s largest 360-degree projection surface
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E261hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E400Nm%20at%201%2C750-4%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10.5L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C999%20(VX%20Luxury)%3B%20from%20Dh149%2C999%20(VX%20Black%20Gold)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
Day 2 at the Gabba
Australia 312-1
Warner 151 not out, Burns 97, Labuschagne 55 not out
Pakistan 240
Shafiq 76, Starc 4-52
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Name: Colm McLoughlin
Country: Galway, Ireland
Job: Executive vice chairman and chief executive of Dubai Duty Free
Favourite golf course: Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
Favourite part of Dubai: Palm Jumeirah
Newcastle United 0 Tottenham Hotspur 2
Tottenham (Alli 61'), Davies (70')
Red card Jonjo Shelvey (Newcastle)
