JEDDAH, 24 August 2004 — Saudi Arabia yesterday voiced its deep concern at Israel’s decision to expand Jewish settlements in the West Bank, saying the move breached the US-backed Middle East peace road map.
The Council of Ministers, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd, also warned the Israeli authorities against inflicting any damage to Islamic holy sites in occupied Palestinian territories.
“The Council of Ministers expresses great concern and dismay at Israel’s decision to expand the construction of illegal settlements in the West Bank and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories,” said a statement issued after the Cabinet meeting.
The Cabinet regards the Israeli decision as “another hurdle obstructing efforts to establish peace and security in the region, and a breach of all international resolutions, including the road map,” said the statement, carried by the Saudi Press Agency.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon last week approved the construction of some 1,000 new homes in four of the largest West Bank settlements.
Palestinians reacted furiously on Sunday after it emerged that the United States had given the nod to further construction in existing settlements. The international community considers all Israeli settlement in the occupied territories as illegal.
With regard to Islamic holy sites in occupied territories, the Kingdom urged the international community to force Israel to honor the sites and protect Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Cabinet also urged Israel to take adequate measures to stop Jewish extremists from damaging Islamic holy sites.
Culture and Information Minister Dr. Fouad Al-Farsy said the Cabinet reiterated its calls for the Iraqis to work together with the interim government of Prime Minister Iyad Allawi to establish peace and stability in the war-ravaged country.
“This is the only way for the Iraqis to achieve national unity and independence,” Al-Farsy quoted the Cabinet as saying. The meeting urged all peace-loving countries to cooperate with the efforts to reinforce peace and stability in Iraq.
In other decisions, the Cabinet approved the rules and regulations set by the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) to calculate charges for using frequencies in the Kingdom. The Cabinet authorized CITC’s board to revise the tariff for using frequencies in tune with developments in the sector.
The meeting authorized the foreign minister or his deputy to hold talks with Irish officials to sign a memorandum of understanding between the foreign ministries in the two countries.
The meeting appointed Abdul Aziz ibn Muhammad Al-Hazzani at the Interior Ministry and Saleh ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Humaidy director of administrative and financial affairs at the Education Ministry.
