German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Wednesday restated his government's view that Israel’s plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank were illegal, but stopped short of threatening sanctions.
Mr Maas was speaking on a one-day trip to Israel to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and Defence Minister Benny Gantz.
Israel’s new unity government next month intends to begin discussing annexation of its settlements in occupied land that Palestinians claim for a future independent state.
The plan has been criticised by Arab and European powers as likely to kill off a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict.
Israel says annexation would be in keeping with a plan announced by US President Donald Trump in Washington in January.
“I repeated here today the German position, as well as our serious concerns as a special friend of Israel of the possible consequences of such a step,” Mr Maas said alongside Mr Ashkenazi.
“We share these views with our European partners, and we are of the view that an annexation would not be compatible with international law, and we therefore continue to stand for an agreed and negotiated two-state solution.
“And to get closer to the goal of a negotiated agreement, it needs new creative impulses to revive talks.”
Mr Maas later met Mr Netanyahu, who told him any “realistic plan must recognise the reality of Israeli settlement in the territory and not foster the illusion of uprooting people from their homes”, the prime minister's office said.
It made no direct mention of annexation But it said Mr Netanyahu spoke of ensuring Israel’s “vital interests”, such as maintaining “full security control” over the West Bank.
Mr Maas will travel from Israel to Amman for separate talks with Jordanian officials and Palestinian leaders.
Last September, Germany was one of five European nations to say annexation would constitute a serious breach of international law.
“I did not set any price tags,” he said on Wednesday about whether he had discussed the EU imposing sanctions on Israel.
Palestinian-Israeli talks aimed at agreeing on a two-state solution collapsed in 2014.
Palestinian leaders have since boycotted the Trump administration over its perceived bias towards Israel.
Washington’s proposal envisages a Palestinian state in up to 70 per cent of the West Bank, but with overall Israeli security control.
Palestinians say that would leave them with an unviable country.
Palestinian Foreign Minister, Riyad Al Maliki, on Wednesday called on countries to form an international front to isolate “the Israeli colonial system”.
Speaking to an online meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation, he urged countries to boycott Israel, ban its products, and impose economic and political sanctions.
On Tuesday, Palestinian officials sent top mediators, including the UN, a response to the US peace plan.
The proposal demands the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state, independent and demilitarised, and some minor border changes.
The Palestinian Prime Minister, Mohammed Shtayyeh, said it was sent "a few days ago" to the UN, US, EU and Russia, which were mediating in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Most countries regard settlements that Israel built on land captured in the 1967 Middle East war as illegal.
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Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
Chelsea 2 Burnley 3
Chelsea Morata (69'), Luiz (88')
Burnley Vokes (24', 43'), Ward (39')
Red cards Cahill, Fabregas (Chelsea)
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Ashkal'
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Day 3 stumps
New Zealand 153 & 249
Pakistan 227 & 37-0 (target 176)
Pakistan require another 139 runs with 10 wickets remaining
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (c), Chamani Senevirathne (vc), Subha Srinivasan, NIsha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Esha Oza, Ishani Senevirathne, Heena Hotchandani, Keveesha Kumari, Judith Cleetus, Chavi Bhatt, Namita D’Souza.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
A4 35 TFSI
Engine: 2.0-litre, four-cylinder
Transmission: seven-speed S-tronic automatic
Power: 150bhp
Torque: 270Nm
Price: Dh150,000 (estimate)
On sale: First Q 2020
A4 S4 TDI
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel
Transmission: eight-speed PDK automatic
Power: 350bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh165,000 (estimate)
On sale: First Q 2020
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
The bio
Favourite book: Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer
Favourite quote: “The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist
Favourite Authors: Arab poet Abu At-Tayyib Al-Mutanabbi
Favourite Emirati food: Luqaimat, a deep-fried dough soaked in date syrup
Hobbies: Reading and drawing
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
The%20Sandman
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