They expressed grave concern over the lack of change in action in this regard, as well as regarding the construction of the separating wall and the demolishment of settlements.
They also expressed resentment of constant issuance of bids for constructing new settlements and expanding existing ones, as well as the geographic changes in eastern Jerusalem and the area around it, and the closing off of crossings, and military operations against Palestinian civilians in Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
The Arab foreign ministers called for a serious stance against the Israeli government’s settlement plans, and activating the monitoring mechanism agreed on in the Annapolis Conference.
As for the visit of US President George W. Bush to the region, they reminded of the US Administration’s promises to stop settlement construction and the responsibility that America bore as head of the Palestinian-Israeli-US monitoring mechanism.
Moreover, they reiterated their commitment to the timeline agreed on at the Annapolis Conference and noted the importance of the proposed meetings in Moscow aimed at following developments in the peace process.
They requested that the Arab League Secretariat followed up on settlement activities in cooperation with the Palestinian Authority and relevant Arab and international organizations in order to take necessary steps in this respect and to prepare a report on this issue to be presented to the next Arab Summit.
UAE hopes to allow women judges, prosecutors
Reuters: The United Arab Emirates hopes to amend a law and allow women to become federal judges and prosecutors, a local newspaper quoted Justice Minister Mohammed Nakhira al-Zahiri as saying.
The Gulf News reported on Sunday that women were being trained for the job and two women in the capital Abu Dhabi had been appointed as prosecutors and would begin work once the amendment to the judiciary law was passed.
If approved, the move would make the UAE the second Gulf Arab country to allow women to become judges, the English-language daily said.
The UAE, a federation of seven emirates including the Gulf trade and tourism hub of Dubai, is among the most liberal countries in a conservative Muslim region where many see women’s primary role as being in the home.
More than 85 percent of the population is comprised of foreigners and both Emirati and foreign women work in all sorts of sectors and professions and enjoy broad freedoms.
