JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia yesterday called for an extensive investigation of Israel’s war crimes in Gaza and said the Jewish state must be held responsible for its acts in defiance of international laws and charters.
The Council of Ministers, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, said Israel launched its 22-day blitz on Gaza ignoring the Arab peace initiative, which was offered by the Arab summit in Beirut in 2002.
The meeting condemned the criminal large-scale destruction of property and infrastructure in the Palestinian territory, which was in clear violation of international humanitarian law.
The council saluted the brave Gazans for resisting the ferocious Israeli attack. “Israel has committed horrendous crimes and severely punished an entire nation before the whole world without any consideration.”
The Cabinet referred to King Abdullah’s statement during the Arab economic summit in Kuwait that the Arab initiative, offering normal Arab relations with the Jewish state, was not open-ended.
“Israel must understand that the choice between war and peace will not always remain open and that the Arab peace initiative that is on the table today will not remain there indefinitely,” the king told the summit.
King Abdullah was in the forefront of world leaders in carrying out diplomatic efforts to end the Israeli attack on Gaza. During the Kuwait summit, he announced a Saudi donation of $1 billion for the reconstruction of the war-ravaged Palestinian territory. A fundraising campaign ordered by the king has so far raised SR224.45 million ($59.8 million) to support Palestinians in Gaza.
The Kingdom has dispatched around 70 shipments of humanitarian relief amounting to some 770 tons of food and medicine to Gaza. The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) signed an agreement with the organizers of the campaign on Sunday under which the agency will receive SR24 million ($6.4 million) for reconstruction projects in Gaza. “With this financial support, the UNRWA will be able to feed 550,000 people for two months and provide enough heating fuel to help families cope with the cold,” said Saed Al-Harithy, supervisor of the campaign.
Transport Minister and acting Information Minister Jabara Al-Seraisry said King Abdullah briefed the Cabinet on his talks with US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. “During these talks King Abdullah reiterated his support for the Palestinian cause. He also referred to the suffering of Palestinians as a result of the Israeli aggression.”
The Cabinet praised King Abdullah’s speech at the Kuwait summit, urging Arab leaders to open a new era of unity and solidarity. “The king’s frank speech reflected his strong desire to unify Arab ranks,” the Cabinet said and urged all Arab countries to make use of the opportunity to achieve reconciliation and work together for the Arab cause, especially Palestine.
On the domestic front, the Cabinet approved the establishment of an agricultural development fund with a capital of SR20 billion. Replacing the agricultural bank, the fund will provide soft loans to farmers. It also endorsed an agreement with China to strengthen cooperation in infrastructure projects.
