Arab League states issued a unified call backing a peace initiative proposed in 2002 at this week's UN conference on a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France.
The Arab Peace Initiative offers full normalisation of ties between Israel and the Arab world in exchange for a complete withdrawal from territories occupied since 1967, a just solution for Palestinian refugees under UN General Assembly Resolution 194, and the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Israel has long rejected the proposal.
“What we’re seeing today in Gaza, the withdrawal of stability and security in the region, is indeed the outcome of the ongoing occupation,” Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit said in a statement delivered to the conference by a spokesperson. “This is the price being paid by Palestinians, a price paid in blood.”
He added that the Arab League remains committed to the peace initiative proposed by Saudi Arabia and adopted at its summit in Beirut 23 years ago.
“This vision hasn’t, however, been reciprocated,” Mr Aboul Gheit said. “Rather, it has been countered by arrogance and nationalism based on religious sectarian views that will lead the region to an unknown future.”
Arab and Muslim countries at the UN conference in New York also joined a growing chorus of states calling on Hamas to disarm and relinquish control in Gaza, signalling rising frustration with the group.
“In the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must end its rule … and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, with international engagement and support, in line with the objective of a sovereign and independent Palestinian state,” read a joint declaration.
Kuwait's Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Ali Al Yahya said that extending the PA's authority over all Palestinian territory was “a fundamental step in building an independent Palestinian state”.
Khalifa Al Marar, UAE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, called for international efforts to stop the war in Gaza and the adoption of a “clear, binding and irreversible road map” to establish an independent, sovereign Palestinian state.
“Every day that passes without a solution deepens the wounds and distances the chances of peace,” he warned.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa appealed for the UN conference to be “a turning point in which positions and declarations are translated into immediate and unprecedented practical steps to stop the genocide and end the Israeli occupation”.
“The world must act to stop the aggression, starvation and displacement, and send a clear message: Enough disregard for the life and dignity of Palestinians – Palestinians are human beings,” he said.
Abdoulkader Houssein Omar, Djibouti's Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, said any lasting settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict “cannot forgo” the foundation laid by the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which he described as a “constructive, balanced framework” and an “unavoidable model” for a just and comprehensive solution consistent with international law.
The UN conference aimed to resurrect long-stalled peace efforts and pave the way towards an independent Palestinian state. Foreign ministers from 15 nations, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand, issued a joint declaration on Tuesday expressing their willingness to recognise a Palestinian state and their commitment to a two-state solution.
Out of 193 member states of the UN, 143 already recognise the State of Palestine, which has observer status at the world body.
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
The Scale for Clinical Actionability of Molecular Targets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Rating: 5/5
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Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
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Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi
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More on Quran memorisation:
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.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What is 'Soft Power'?
Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye.
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength.
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force.
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.
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