Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
The European Union wants to lead a worldwide effort to push for the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel with the backing of Saudi Arabia despite Israel's refusal to engage in the process.
On Thursday in Brussels the EU's foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, will co-host a second gathering of the global alliance for a two-state solution. It will be attended by more than 75 delegations including Palestinian and US representatives, as well as inter-governmental bodies such as the Gulf Co-operation Council and the Arab League. "This is for people to come at the level of special envoys, political directors and so on, to actually do the hardcore work," a senior EU official said in a briefing for reporters ahead of the meeting.
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan in September launched the global alliance with 94 countries on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York. All UN members were invited but Israel, as well as Iran and Syria, declined to attend. It was followed by an inaugural meeting in Riyad last month.
Saudi Arabia has made it clear that it will not normalise relations with Israel without a Palestinian state – a link that has so far been rejected by Israel. "They don't recognise how determined the Saudis are on that before moving on normalisation," said Christian Koch, director of the Gulf Research Centre Foundation in Brussels.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may be uninterested in the initiative, but that does not change the EU's proposal for a two-state solution, which is the only long-term guarantee of Israeli security, the senior EU official said. "We're doing this with China, with Japan, but we're also doing this with Saudi Arabia and Qatar and the [United Arab] Emirates," they said. "If ever it succeeds, you [Israel] have a lot of potential friends that are interesting to you."
Root cause of conflict is lack of Palestinian state
Arrest warrants recently issued by the International Criminal Court against Mr Netanyahu, his former defence minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif, have further complicated relations between Israel and certain EU countries pushing for peace talks in the region. Before the ceasefire in Lebanon was announced on Tuesday night, Israel had threatened to veto France's participation in a US-led oversight committee after France said it would have to abide by the ICC's arrest warrant, according to the news website Axios.
"There's an understanding that the political circumstances right now don't allow for quick movement, but you can start putting that framework together," Mr Koch told The National. "It's very clear in everybody's mind that the root cause [of the conflict] is the fact that we don't have a Palestinian state despite it being on the books for more than 70 years."
Brussels hopes to demonstrate that it has more to offer than paying for humanitarian aid, which is the role it has traditionally adopted in the Middle East conflict. Unlike the US, Egypt and Qatar, and, to a lesser extent, EU member states such as France, the EU as a bloc is not involved in mediation talks for ceasefires. Yet the EU, which already has a number of agreements with Israel including free trade and visa exemption agreements, has also remained vague on what more it could offer Israel to change its mind.
"There is always more that you can do," the senior EU official said, adding that the bloc was well aware that carrots would not be enough to convince Israel to join the talks. "Not that our contributions, our package, is going to draw people over the line, but maybe it will show more people how worthwhile it is."
Prospects for the elusive Palestinian state appear further imperilled by US president-elect Donald Trump's choice of US ambassador to Israel. Mike Huckabee is an evangelical Christian who is opposed to a two-state solution and supports the settler movement in the West Bank. More than 700,000 settlers live in the West Bank – illegally, according to the UN – which creates a situation on the ground that prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state on the same territory.
The EU believes it may still convince the US of the importance of working with Arab states including Saudi Arabia on pushing for a Palestinian state. The previous Trump administration's strong ties with Riyadh may work in favour of the global alliance for a two-state solution, the senior EU official said. "I think there is a lot in it for the United States."
The EU Commission and member states have also failed to agree on reviewing the human rights clause in the bloc's trade association agreement with Israel despite indications of Israeli war crimes in Gaza. "It is inherent acknowledgement that the EU will just not hold Israel accountable for its actions," Mr Baoumi said. "If you acknowledge that there is one state reality, what follows is that Israel has obligations towards everyone in society."
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.
The biog
Marital status: Separated with two young daughters
Education: Master's degree from American Univeristy of Cairo
Favourite book: That Is How They Defeat Despair by Salwa Aladian
Favourite Motto: Their happiness is your happiness
Goal: For Nefsy to become his legacy long after he is gon
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UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
More coverage from the Future Forum
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Result
Qualifier: Islamabad United beat Karachi Kings by eight wickets
Fixtures
Tuesday, Lahore: Eliminator 1 - Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators
Wednesday, Lahore: Eliminator 2 – Karachi Kings v Winner of Eliminator 1
Sunday, Karachi: Final – Islamabad United v Winner of Eliminator 2
England XI for second Test
Rory Burns, Keaton Jennings, Ben Stokes, Joe Root (c), Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Ben Foakes (wk), Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Jack Leach, James Anderson
Women%E2%80%99s%20T20%20World%20Cup%20Qualifier
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Normcore explained
Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.
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Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
Series information
Pakistan v Dubai
First Test, Dubai International Stadium
Sun Oct 6 to Thu Oct 11
Second Test, Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tue Oct 16 to Sat Oct 20
Play starts at 10am each day
Teams
Pakistan
1 Mohammed Hafeez, 2 Imam-ul-Haq, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Asad Shafiq, 5 Haris Sohail, 6 Babar Azam, 7 Sarfraz Ahmed, 8 Bilal Asif, 9 Yasir Shah, 10, Mohammed Abbas, 11 Wahab Riaz or Mir Hamza
Australia
1 Usman Khawaja, 2 Aaron Finch, 3 Shaun Marsh, 4 Mitchell Marsh, 5 Travis Head, 6 Marnus Labuschagne, 7 Tim Paine, 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Peter Siddle, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Jon Holland
The years Ramadan fell in May
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Married Malala
Malala Yousafzai is enjoying married life, her father said.
The 24-year-old married Pakistan cricket executive Asser Malik last year in a small ceremony in the UK.
Ziauddin Yousafzai told The National his daughter was ‘very happy’ with her husband.
