Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz, deputy premier and minister of defense, at the Cabinet meeting in Jeddah, Monday. — SPA

JEDDAH — The Council of Ministers on Monday called on the international community to extend full support to the new Palestinian unity government as well as to prevent Israel’s move to undermine the peace process through building more settlements. The Council session was chaired by Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz, deputy premier and minister of defense, at Al-Salam Palace here.

Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdulaziz Khoja said that the Cabinet welcomed the formation of the new Palestinian government, considering it as a significant step toward realizing the unity of the Palestinian people.

“The international community should provide means of support and success to the new government so as to enable it to carry out its functions in order to restore the legitimate rights of the Palestinians,” the Cabinet said.

The Council also denounced the Israeli settlement escalation through the recent announcement of the authorities to award hundreds of tenders for setting up of housing units in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. It urged the international community to resist these arbitrary actions aimed at undermining the peace process.

Dr. Khoja said Crown Prince Salman briefed the Cabinet on his talks with Egypt’s President Abdul Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo on Sunday.

On behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, the crown prince attended the swearing-in ceremony of El-Sisi.

The crown prince reiterated the Kingdom’s firm positions toward supporting Egypt and preserving its security and stability.

The Council also emphasized the King’s call to the brothers and friends of Egypt to attend a donors’ conference in order to help Egypt overcome its economic crisis.

The Cabinet also stressed the King’s appeal to avoid meddling in Egypt’s internal affairs and his warning that harming Egypt would amount to harming Islam, Arabism and Saudi Arabia, and that the Kingdom won’t accept any bargaining in this principle.

After reviewing the minutes No. 131 of the Higher Committee for Administrative Organization, Dr. Khoja said, the Cabinet approved amending Article 5 of the National Center for Documentation and Archives.

Accordingly, the center shall have a commission with the chief of the Royal Court as its president.

The Cabinet authorized the crown prince or his deputy to discuss and sign a draft memorandum of understanding between the ministries of Saudi Arabia and the Czech Republic for cooperation in the field of defense, and then submit the final version to complete the statutory procedures.

The Council also approved a cooperation agreement for transfer of prisoners with the government of Yemen that was signed last year.