King Abdullah made this statement while presiding over a meeting of the Council of Ministers at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh. He briefed the ministers on the outcome of his talks with Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas.

The Cabinet also discussed preparations for Tuesday’s consultative GCC summit in Riyadh. Welcoming the leaders of Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and the UAE to the Kingdom, King Abdullah hoped the summit will realize the hopes and aspirations of GCC citizens.

Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja said the Cabinet commended the decision taken by the Council of Senior Islamic Scholars, incriminating the funding of terrorist activities that undermine security, kill innocent lives and destroy public and private properties.

The Cabinet also reviewed the outcome of a recent meeting of GCC finance ministers and underscored their efforts to strengthen economic integration among member countries. The ministers also decided to abolish customs tariff on steel and cement imports.

Khoja said the Cabinet decided that the government should continue to bear 50 percent of fees for the issuance and renewal of road licenses for private transport vehicles owned by individuals that have a capacity to carry no more than 1.5 tons. The concession will be given to five vehicles of any one individual for three years. The Cabinet authorized Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal to sign the basic law of the organization for the development of women in OIC countries. It also assigned Higher Education Minister Khaled Al-Anqari to hold talks with Danish officials to sign an agreement for scientific and education cooperation.

Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah has been authorized to sign accords with his counterparts in the US, Australia and Portugal for cooperation in health. The Cabinet said the Ministry of Agriculture and related departments would also support efforts to realize the strategic objectives of the National Plan for Forests.

The Cabinet appointed Khaled Al-Rajhi and Awad Al-Assaf as new board members of the Saudi Post and renewed the membership of Amr Rajab for three years. It also named Gharama Al-Asmari, director for follow up, Mahmoud Al-Salik, assistant deputy minister for school affairs, Nasser Al-Hamali, assistant deputy minister for student and exam affairs at the Education Ministry, and Suleiman Al-Sarie, director of the state minister’s office at Cabinet Secretariat.