������Ƶ

UNITED NATIONS: Spain’s top diplomat dismissed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement that there will never be a Palestinian state, saying Israelis will one day want to live side by side in peace with Palestinians.
Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said in an interview with The Associated Press on Monday that “a real wave” of countries have recognized the state of Palestine since Spain, Ireland and Norway did in May 2024 and an overwhelming number support a two-state solution to the nearly 80-year Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“The day that everyone will have recognized the state of Palestine, we will have to move forward,” he said at the United Nations. “I’m sure that we will find someday the right people for peace on the Israel side, in the same way that we have found it in the Palestinian side” in the Palestinian Authority.
Spain has been in the forefront in pressuring Israel to end the war in Gaza sparked by Hamas’ surprise invasion of southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, criticizing “the atrocities” and “endless killing” it is committing in the territory.
Albares spoke before a UN General Assembly meeting at its annual gathering of world leaders. At the meeting, the Palestinians expected 10 recent and new countries to formally recognize the state of Palestine, adding to the list of more than 145 nations that already have. France, Luxembourg, Belgium and others did so at the meeting, even after Netanyahu reiterated his vow that there will never be a Palestinian state. Weekend recognitions came from the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
The Spanish minister called Hamas “a terrorist organization” that doesn’t want a two-state solution. “So let’s put aside the extremists, and let’s look for the people that want a peaceful and secure coexistence.”
Spain is a vocal critic of Israeli action
Albares said Spain has staked out one of the strongest positions against Israel’s actions in Gaza because “we cannot accept that the natural way for the people in the Middle East to relate is through war, through violence.”
Israel has the right to peace, stability, security and a state and so do the Palestinians, he said. “I don’t see why they should be condemned to be eternally a people of refugees.”
Albares said that it was impossible for Spain, as a democratic country that believes in human rights, to have a “normal relation with Israel” while “this endless war continues.”
In recent weeks, Spain ratcheted up its opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the war a “genocide” earlier this month when he announced plans to formalize an arms embargo and block Israel-bound fuel deliveries from passing through Spanish ports. Netanyahu accused Sánchez of a “blatant genocidal threat.”
The following week, pro-Palestine protesters for whom the government expressed its support disrupted the final leg of an international cycling competition in Madrid due to the presence of a team with ties to Israel.
In the incident’s aftermath, Sánchez called for Israel to be banned from all international sporting events while the war continues. A diplomatic tit-for-tat ensued in which both countries banned ministers and Israeli leaders accused the Spanish government of being “antisemitic.”
Albares said that in pressuring Israel to end the war in Gaza, Spain is defending the principles that underpin the creation of the United Nations after World War II — peace, justice, human rights and human dignity.
Balancing demands from Trump
On another contentious issue, the minister defended Spain’s refusal to spend 5 percent of its gross domestic product on defense as US President Donald Trump demanded. At a NATO conference in June, the Sánchez government was the only NATO member to say it would not increase spending to that level.
“We are going to meet the targets and the commitments that are needed for Euro-Atlantic security within NATO,” Albares said. “We said in order to meet them we don’t need the 5 percent, we can do it with 2.1 percent. We have already reached the 2 percent target.”
Citing Spain’s military deployments along Europe’s eastern flank including “a historical peak” of 3,000 soldiers among its contributions to European security, he said, “We are a very committed ally to transatlantic security.”
Albares said the US is a “historic, natural ally” of Spain and Europeans. “Let’s keep doing it in the same way. But, of course, we need two for a tango,” he said. What’s clear, Albares said, is that Europe must increasingly take its destiny into its own hands whether it’s ramping up internal trade or security.
Looking at broader challenges from the severity of wars to poverty, climate change and artificial intelligence advancements with no guardrails, Albares said the only answer to address them is by all countries working together — the multilateral approach that underpins the UN mission.
“At the end,” he said, “cooperation is always much ... stronger than confrontation.”

RIYADH: From the intricate Sadu weaving of Najd to the mountainous wicker crafts of Al-Baha and the delicate woodwork of Hijazi architecture, ������Ƶ’s “Year of Handicrafts” is a national effort to commemorate, support and preserve the Kingdom’s diverse cultural heritage.

“The Year of Handicrafts has a great impact on traditional handicrafts,” Dr. Dalia Al-Yahya, head of the handicraft sector at the Ministry of Culture’s Heritage Commission and general manager of the Year of Handicrafts, told Arab News.

“It sheds light on the artisans, on the handmade works and on the richness that the Kingdom of ������Ƶ is known for.”

Driven by Vision 2030, the Year of Handicrafts is a strategic initiative to honor and preserve ������Ƶ’s rich cultural heritage through the time-honored tradition of passed-down crafts.

“I believe that handicrafts, this year, have an impact on two different areas,” said Al-Yahya.

“The first area is related to preserving these traditional crafts and enhancing the identity of citizens and the sense of belonging to the region, especially since the Kingdom of ������Ƶ is characterized by the richness and diversity of its traditional crafts.

“In the other area, this year aims to enhance the status of artisans, train them and market their products, and sheds greater light on them as entrepreneurs in this field, in addition to the institutions and associations that work in the field of handicrafts.”

The Year of Handicrafts is part of a broader series of cultural years that have previously focused on topics such as Arabic calligraphy and poetry, Saudi coffee, and camels.

It aims to achieve several key objectives, such as enhancing cultural identity, empowering local artisans, promoting Saudi crafts globally, and connecting with artisans and the local and international community.

Under Vision 2030, the Heritage Commission is actively working to preserve the Kingdom’s handicrafts from each region while also sparking an entrepreneurial spirit in artisans to build a sustainable future.

The commission has dedicated a handicrafts sector that works to develop regulations, train artisans and market their products locally and internationally.

“The heritage authority has worked on many initiatives to empower artisans. The most important of these is the craft licenses,” said Al-Yahya.

Under their online platform, Ibda’a, the commission issues licenses to individual artisans and craft businesses. As of 2025, there are 4,855 licensed artisans.

A project called “Artisans House” serves as a space for raising awareness, training and developing traditional craft products while another scheme to preserve handicrafts includes the Saudi International Handicrafts Week, “Banan.”

This aims to highlight ������Ƶ’s heritage by promoting cultural exchange with other countries, of which more than 25 took part in the early editions. The third will be launched in November, with a focus on introducing and marketing handicrafts.

“Approximately more than 500 exhibitors, both local and international, are participating,” said Al-Yahya.

Handicrafts serve as an authentic cultural lens into a region’s identity, with each piece drawing inspiration from its diverse landscapes and local surroundings. These crafts often use specific materials native to their area.

Al-Yahya highlighted the diversity to Arab News.

“If we look at coastal crafts, such as in some areas like Yanbu, Al-Qatif, and other coastal areas, these crafts are always related to the water that exists in the place, such as the craft of fishing nets, the manufacture of wooden ships, or even jewelry and gems related to shells or pearls and other crafts,” she said.

“If we take the mountainous regions, for example in Asir, we see that the crafts are related to this location, such as stone utensils, wooden boxes, wool and others that can withstand the cold of the weather and the geographical location.”

In the northern reaches of the kingdom, the traditional skill of Al-Naddafa, or wool and cotton processing, transforming raw materials into bedding and quilts, has long been practiced

Further south in the Najran region, a different kind of artistry thrives. The crafting of the Janbiya, a ceremonial dagger, is a skill passed down through generations.

These daggers serve as cultural symbols, each one featuring an intricately decorated blade and a sheath often covered in local leather or silver, worn with a leather belt.

In the green mountainous region of Al-Baha, wicker craft is a deep-rooted tradition, primarily practiced by women. Using locally sourced plants, they weave a variety of functional, everyday items, from baskets and bags to furniture, blending practicality with artistry.

And in the Hijaz region, woodwork known as Al-Rawasheen, has had a deep impact on the area’s historic architecture. It is visible in the decorative wooden protrusions on buildings in cities like Jeddah, Makkah, and Taif and, beyond the design, these structures serve a practical purpose — providing shade, privacy, and airflow in the hot climate.

Another example of a Saudi handicraft is Sadu weaving, recognized by UNESCO, which uses yarn made from sheep wool, camel hair, and goat hair to create blankets and other items featuring distinct symbols inspired by the desert.

Al-Yahya said the work led by the Heritage Commission also contributed to supporting the local economy by increasing artisans’ income.

“The biggest challenge we faced was balancing the need to find or preserve the authenticity of handicrafts with the current market needs,” she said.

“However, at the Heritage Commission we’ve launched many initiatives to strengthen this aspect and preserve the authenticity of these crafts.”

She said the commission’s “Craft Houses” initiative empowered craftspeople to create new designs, blending traditional heritage with modern standards.

“We have over 14 craft houses across the Kingdom, and each one focuses on the crafts found in its region,” she said.

“By reviving these crafts, there has been greater marketing for these traditional products, especially from visitors from outside the Kingdom of ������Ƶ. So every visitor wants to get a piece connected to this place.”