JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia yesterday denounced the silence of the international community over the ferocious Israeli war on unarmed Palestinians in Gaza and the collective punishment inflicted on the inhabitants of the territory.
“The international stand of silence and defeatism in dealing with Israeli atrocities (in Gaza) has no parallel,” said a statement issued by the Council of Ministers following its weekly meeting chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.
The Cabinet reiterated Saudi Arabia’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause.
“The Kingdom will be in the forefront of any Arab and Islamic joint action to deal with the present crisis as long as such actions are fruitful and do not end with mere statements,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted a Cabinet statement as saying.
King Abdullah briefed the ministers on the outcome of his contacts and consultations with world leaders to stop the Israeli aggression on the Palestinians in Gaza and strengthen Palestinian unity.
The Cabinet said the Israeli military attack that has killed and injured hundreds of innocent people and destroyed vital infrastructure, violated humanitarian principles as well as international law and agreements.
The Cabinet also disproved the Israeli claim that its aggression against Gaza was for self-defense against Hamas rocket fire, saying that claim has ignored the Jewish state’s history of occupation of Palestinian land, its policy of economic blockade on its people and its negative response to Arab peace initiatives.
“The policy of war, violence, killing and torture practiced by Israel in Gaza and all over Palestine reflects the ideology of extremist groups within and outside Israel who want to redraw the Middle East map in accordance with their conditions,” Culture and Information Minister Iyad Madani said, quoting the Cabinet meeting.
The Kingdom emphasized the need to strengthen Palestinian unity, saying no joint Arab and Islamic action would succeed without that unity. The Cabinet urged Palestinian factions to settle their differences and unify their ranks in order to confront the enemy.
