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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Thursday that there would be no Palestinian state, speaking at a signing ceremony for a major settlement project in the occupied West Bank.”We are going to fulfil our promise that there will be no Palestinian state, this place belongs to us,” Netanyahu said at the event in Maale Adumim, an Israeli settlement just east of Jerusalem.”We will safeguard our heritage, our land and our security… We are going to double the city’s population.” The event was streamed live by his office. Israel has long had ambitions to build on the roughly 12 square kilometre (five square mile) tract of land known as E1, but the plan had been stalled for years in the face of international opposition.The site sits between Jerusalem and the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, near routes connecting the north and south of the Palestinian territory. Last month, Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich backed plans to build around 3,400 homes on the ultra-sensitive parcel of land.His announcement drew condemnation, with UN chief Antonio Guterres saying the settlement would effectively cleave the West Bank in two and pose an “existential threat” to a contiguous Palestinian state.All of Israel’s settlements in the West Bank, occupied since 1967, are considered illegal under international law, regardless of whether they have Israeli planning permission.Several Western governments, including Britain and France, have announced they intend to recognise the State of Palestine at the United Nations later this month.Britain has said it will take the step if Israel fails to agree to a ceasefire in the devastating Gaza war, triggered by Palestinian militant group Hamas’s October 2023 attack.Far-right Israeli ministers have in recent months openly called for Israel’s annexation of the territory.Israeli NGO Peace Now, which monitors settlement activity in the West Bank, said last week that infrastructure work in E1 could begin within a few months, and housing construction within about a year.It said the E1 plan was “deadly for the future of Israel and for any chance of achieving a peaceful two-state solution”.Excluding Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, the West Bank is home to around three million Palestinians, as well as about 500,000 Israeli settlers.

A Belgian festival said Thursday it stood by its decision to axe a leading German orchestra’s performance over concerns about its Israeli conductor — despite furious protests from Israel and Berlin.Belgium’s foreign minister distanced himself Thursday from the decision by Flanders Festival Ghent, where the Munich Philharmonic was to perform on September 18, led by its future chief conductor, Israel’s Lahav Shani.Israel’s ambassador to Belgium described the move as “anti-Semitic” and accused festival organisers of “racism”.”There are words to describe discriminating a person based solely on his origin,” ambassador Idit Rosenzweig-Abu wrote on X.Shani, who officially takes over as conductor of the Munich orchestra for the 2026/27 season, is currently music director of the Israel Philharmonic.As a result, festival organisers said Wednesday they were “unable to provide sufficient clarity about his attitude” towards the Israeli government, whose ongoing war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza has triggered international uproar.”We have chosen to refrain from collaboration with partners who have not distanced themselves unequivocally from that regime,” the organisers said in a statement, while also noting Shani had “spoken out in favour of peace and reconciliation several times in the past”.Organisers added that “the current situation” was leading to “emotional reactions”, and they wanted to “maintain the serenity” of the event, according to the statement.German Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer called the move a “disgrace for Europe”.”Under the guise of supposed criticism of Israel, a cultural boycott is being carried out here,” he said in a statement.Germany has traditionally been one of Israel’s staunchest international allies, although Berlin has grown more critical as Israel’s campaign in Gaza grinds on.Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said the cancellation seemed “excessive”. “We must not confuse the Jewish community and Israelis with Netanyahu’s policies,” he told local radio RTBF, referring to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But the Ghent festival defended its decision, which it said came “after careful deliberation”, denying accusations of anti-Semitism.”In the past, and again next year, we have often hosted Israeli and Jewish musicians,” said artistic director Jan Van den Bossche. “There can absolutely be no question of anti-Semitism here.”Israel launched its retaliatory offensive in the Gaza Strip following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.The catastrophic humanitarian conditions in Gaza as a result of Israel’s campaign and ongoing blockade have fuelled widespread public anger in Europe, although the region’s governments have been divided on how to respond.bur-sr-mad-ub/ec/rh/phz

From “flying cars” to robots and self-driving buses, here are some of the innovations spotted at this week’s Munich auto fair, IAA Mobility, one of the world’s biggest:’Give cars wings’Chinese brands showcased their efforts to create “flying cars”, small electric aircraft powered by multiple rotors designed for short journeys.”We want to give the car wings,” …

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Checking out an electric vehicle made by China’s BYD at the Munich auto show, German designer Tayo Osobu was impressed by the interior and said she would consider buying one.”And why not?,” said the 59-year-old from Frankfurt, in a country where domestic titans Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have long dominated.”If they are sold here, it …

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Mexico, under pressure not to serve as a back door for Chinese goods entering the United States, has proposed a 50 percent duty on car imports from the Asian giant — up from 15-20 percent.The initiative, contained in a bill submitted by the government to Congress, seeks to assuage US President Donald Trump — who …

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