Belgium's Foreign Minister on Tuesday said his country would recognise Palestine at the UN General Assembly this month, becoming the sixth western country to join a French-led diplomatic push to pressure Israel into ending the Gaza war and advance the creation of a Palestinian state.
The decision comes "in light of the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Palestine, particularly in Gaza, and in response to the violence perpetrated by Israel in violation of international law", Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said on X.
Belgium joins a growing list of western countries aligning with the initiative, featuring France, Britain, Canada, Australia and Malta, with New Zealand also considering the move. They are expected to announce recognition of Palestine on September 22 during a high-level summit co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia.
While more than 130 nations now acknowledge Palestine statehood, western countries have been among the most reluctant. Many, such as Germany, argue such a move could come only at the end of a political process.
Recognition, however, will be conditional on the release of all Israeli hostages from Gaza and the removal of Hamas from the enclave. Diplomatic relations with a new Palestinian state, including the opening of a Belgian embassy, would be carried out on the condition that goals laid out in a ministerial declaration signed by 17 countries in New York in July be fulfilled.
Nations signed up to the statement, a list that now includes Belgium, said they would work towards the demilitarisation of Hamas, new elections organised by the Palestinian Authority, and the establishment of an intervention force under the mandate of the UN in Gaza to distribute aid and protect populations.
New sanctions
Belgium is also preparing to issue 12 sanctions against Israel and Hamas leaders, Mr Prevot said. They include banning two far-right Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, from Belgian territory, following a similar move by Slovenia and the Netherlands.
"It is not a question of punishing the Israeli people, but of ensuring that its government respects international and humanitarian law, and taking action to try to change the situation on the ground," Mr Prevot said.
Mr Ben-Gvir and Mr Smotrich have championed expansionist settlement projects, including the controversial E1 corridor in the West Bank, which would sever East Jerusalem from the rest of the occupied territory, effectively dooming prospects for a contiguous Palestinian state.
Israel is reportedly considering annexation of the occupied West Bank as a response to France and other countries recognising a Palestinian state.
Clash of visions
The New York declaration's objectives for a demilitarised Palestinian state encompassing Gaza is at odds with the US-backed plan for a "riviera of the Middle East". That plan involves turning the enclave into a US-administered trusteeship and relocating its entire population of two million people via financial incentives to other countries in the region.
The plan, which aligns with the vision of Israel's hard-right, has been rejected by Palestinians, Arab states and European nations. Speaking after a call on Monday with Jordan's King Abdullah II, French President Emmanuel Macron said on X: "Peace does not arise from ruins – it is built on justice and dignity.
"We reaffirmed our firm opposition to any plan for the reconstruction of Gaza that would involve the forced displacement of its population or the placing of the territory under trusteeship."
The two leaders also rejected Israeli plans to launch an offensive on Gaza city, warning it would lead to "endless conflict", Mr Macron said. "Two peoples, two states: this is the only path to a future of peace."
The US has said it would bar Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas from travelling to New York in September for the UNGA.
The UK is also still on track to recognise a Palestinian state. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the government would make its assessment “in the coming weeks”.
He told parliament that “unless we get the breakthrough that we need” with Israel, including a Gaza ceasefire, “we will move to recognition when UNGA meets in New York”.
But he told MPs it was still necessary for the government to “give diplomacy an opportunity” with Israel before then.
However, he warned that Israel’s plan for the “E1 settlement ... has moved the dial even farther away from where we were a few weeks ago” in terms of a diplomatic solution.
EU divisions
Despite strong criticism of the Gaza war and Israeli plans to bury a two-state solution, European leaders have been unable to muster enough political will among the EU's 27 nations to sanction Israel.
There is no qualified majority – 55 per cent of the EU's countries and 65 per cent of its population – to back a proposal put forward by the EU Commission to partially suspend Israel from a flagship EU research programme, Horizon. The reason for this failure is reportedly linked to Italian and German opposition.
It has prompted countries to make decisions at a national level, a move which has a weaker impact but signals displeasure with Israel. Belgium's Foreign Ministry said it supported the full suspension of Israel from Horizon, as well as the suspension of a preferential trade deal between Israel and the EU. The bloc is Israel's first export market.
Warning of the "risk of genocide" in Gaza, the ministry announced it would lobby Belgian regions to respect an arms embargo on Israel – including dual-use goods when the end-user is the military – and would also advocate a Europewide ban.
In 2009, Belgium decided to not issue arms export licences that would strengthen Israeli military forces. Reports indicate that decision has not been respected by the Flemish region, which houses the country's biggest port in the city of Antwerp. In July, a Belgian court ordered the regional Flemish government to block the transit of military goods bound for Israel after four NGOs filed a complaint.
Additionally, the Belgian government will draft a decree for a national ban on the import of goods produced in the occupied Palestinian territories, in line with a decision issued by the International Court of Justice in July 2024. This comes after a similar measure announced by Slovenia and expected to be enforced by Ireland.
Belgium also vowed to prosecute Belgian residents guilty of a violation of international humanitarian law or terrorism. In July, two Israeli soldiers were briefly interrogated after they were seen waving an Israeli flag at a Belgian music festival. They were released and Belgian authorities referred their case to the International Criminal Court.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
How it works
Booklava works on a subscription model. On signing up you receive a free book as part of a 30-day-trial period, after which you pay US$9.99 (Dh36.70) per month to gain access to a library of books and discounts of up to 30 per cent on selected titles. You can cancel your subscription at any time. For more details go to www.booklava.com
'The Predator'
Dir: Shane Black
Starring: Olivia Munn, Boyd Holbrook, Keegan-Michael Key
Two and a half stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
RESULT
Manchester City 5 Swansea City 0
Man City: D Silva (12'), Sterling (16'), De Bruyne (54' ), B Silva (64' minutes), Jesus (88')
Start-up hopes to end Japan's love affair with cash
Across most of Asia, people pay for taxi rides, restaurant meals and merchandise with smartphone-readable barcodes — except in Japan, where cash still rules. Now, as the country’s biggest web companies race to dominate the payments market, one Tokyo-based startup says it has a fighting chance to win with its QR app.
Origami had a head start when it introduced a QR-code payment service in late 2015 and has since signed up fast-food chain KFC, Tokyo’s largest cab company Nihon Kotsu and convenience store operator Lawson. The company raised $66 million in September to expand nationwide and plans to more than double its staff of about 100 employees, says founder Yoshiki Yasui.
Origami is betting that stores, which until now relied on direct mail and email newsletters, will pay for the ability to reach customers on their smartphones. For example, a hair salon using Origami’s payment app would be able to send a message to past customers with a coupon for their next haircut.
Quick Response codes, the dotted squares that can be read by smartphone cameras, were invented in the 1990s by a unit of Toyota Motor to track automotive parts. But when the Japanese pioneered digital payments almost two decades ago with contactless cards for train fares, they chose the so-called near-field communications technology. The high cost of rolling out NFC payments, convenient ATMs and a culture where lost wallets are often returned have all been cited as reasons why cash remains king in the archipelago. In China, however, QR codes dominate.
Cashless payments, which includes credit cards, accounted for just 20 per cent of total consumer spending in Japan during 2016, compared with 60 per cent in China and 89 per cent in South Korea, according to a report by the Bank of Japan.
Liverpool 4-1 Shrewsbury
Liverpool
Gordon (34'), Fabinho (44' pen, 90' 3), Firmino (78')
Shrewsbury
Udoh (27'minutes)
Man of the Match: Kaide Gordon (Liverpool)
Squad for first two ODIs
Kohli (c), Rohit, Dhawan, Rayudu, Pandey, Dhoni (wk), Pant, Jadeja, Chahal, Kuldeep, Khaleel, Shami, Thakur, Rahul.
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 10 Questions
- Is there a God?
- How did it all begin?
- What is inside a black hole?
- Can we predict the future?
- Is time travel possible?
- Will we survive on Earth?
- Is there other intelligent life in the universe?
- Should we colonise space?
- Will artificial intelligence outsmart us?
- How do we shape the future?
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
Four-day collections of TOH
Day Indian Rs (Dh)
Thursday 500.75 million (25.23m)
Friday 280.25m (14.12m)
Saturday 220.75m (11.21m)
Sunday 170.25m (8.58m)
Total 1.19bn (59.15m)
(Figures in millions, approximate)
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 3 (Silva 8' &15, Foden 33')
Birmginahm City 0
Man of the match Bernado Silva (Manchester City)
The five types of long-term residential visas
Obed Suhail of ServiceMarket, an online home services marketplace, outlines the five types of long-term residential visas:
Investors:
A 10-year residency visa can be obtained by investors who invest Dh10 million, out of which 60 per cent should not be in real estate. It can be a public investment through a deposit or in a business. Those who invest Dh5 million or more in property are eligible for a five-year residency visa. The invested amount should be completely owned by the investors, not loaned, and retained for at least three years.
Entrepreneurs:
A five-year multiple entry visa is available to entrepreneurs with a previous project worth Dh0.5m or those with the approval of an accredited business incubator in the UAE.
Specialists
Expats with specialised talents, including doctors, specialists, scientists, inventors, and creative individuals working in the field of culture and art are eligible for a 10-year visa, given that they have a valid employment contract in one of these fields in the country.
Outstanding students:
A five-year visa will be granted to outstanding students who have a grade of 95 per cent or higher in a secondary school, or those who graduate with a GPA of 3.75 from a university.
Retirees:
Expats who are at least 55 years old can obtain a five-year retirement visa if they invest Dh2m in property, have savings of Dh1m or more, or have a monthly income of at least Dh20,000.
((Disclaimer))
The Liechtensteinische Landesbank AG (“Bank”) assumes no liability or guarantee for the accuracy, balance, or completeness of the information in this publication. The content may change at any time due to given circumstances, and the Liechtensteinische Landesbank AG is under no obligation to update information once it has been published. This publication is intended for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer, a recommendation or an invitation by, or on behalf of, Liechtensteinische Landesbank (DIFC Branch), Liechtensteinische Landesbank AG, or any of its group affiliates to make any investments or obtain services. This publication has not been reviewed, disapproved or approved by the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”) Central Bank, Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”) or any other relevant licensing authorities in the UAE. It may not be relied upon by or distributed to retail clients. Liechtensteinische Landesbank (DIFC Branch) is regulated by the DFSA and this advertorial is intended for Professional Clients (as defined by the DFSA) who have sufficient financial experience and understanding of financial markets, products or transactions and any associated risks.
Saturday's schedule at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
GP3 race, 12:30pm
Formula 1 final practice, 2pm
Formula 1 qualifying, 5pm
Formula 2 race, 6:40pm
Performance: Sam Smith
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."
