The Council of Ministers has backed Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah’s call to confront terrorism and extremism, while denouncing Israel’s barbarism against Palestinians in Gaza.

The Cabinet meeting, which was presided over by Deputy Crown Prince Muqrin, reviewed the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza as a result of the Zionist state’s continuous aggression.

“The Cabinet also discussed the deteriorating situations in Syria and Iraq, renewing the Kingdom’s call on the international community to assume its responsibilities toward these tragic humanitarian situations,” said Housing Minister and Acting Information Minister Shuwaish Al-Dhuwaihi.

The Cabinet highlighted the significance of King Abdullah’s speech addressing Islamic and Arab nations and the international community.

“It is our duty to stand in the face of those who try to abduct Islam and present it to the world as a religion of extremism, hatred and terrorism,” the king said in his historic speech.

The Cabinet noted the warning given by the king against the silence of the international community on what is happening in the region and the suffering of Palestinians during ongoing mass killings and war crimes against humanity.

Al-Dhuwaihi said the Cabinet commended the success of this year’s Umrah season, with nearly six million foreign pilgrims visiting the holy sites for Umrah.

“The Cabinet also hailed the success of four Saudi researchers from the National Center for Petrochemical Technology at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) in discovering a new substance that is soon expected to open new industrial prospects in the oil industry and its derivatives, in addition to canning industries and transportation, with the reduction of the environmental effects of these industries,” it said.

The Cabinet approved the participation of the Ministry of Interior — represented by the Traffic Department — in the membership of the executive committee on following up the implementation of the Madinah public transport project.

It appointed Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Asiri and Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Tamimi, Jamilah bint Mohammad Allaboon and Sarah bint Saleh Alkhamshy, Hussein bin Abdul Rahman Al-Athel and Ayedh bin Farhan Al-Qahtani as members of the board of directors of the National Center for Social Studies and Research for three years.

The Bureau of Audit and Investigation will replace the Board of Grievances in the membership of the Board on Disciplining Members of the Tawafa organizations, Guides organization and Zamazimah.

It also appointed Khaled bin Abdullah Mufti ambassador, Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Shamrani ambassador, Abdul Rahman bin Dhaifullah Al-Anazi minister plenipotentiary at Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Fahd bin Mohammed Al-Rashid administrative adviser at the Ministry of the National Guard; and Abdul Aziz bin Nasser Ajian as consultant architect at the Riyadh Municipality.

 
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