JEDDAH, 13 June 2006 — The Council of Ministers yesterday condemned Israel’s killing of eight Palestinians picnicking on a Gaza beach in a naval attack on Friday.
“The Cabinet expressed its condemnation of the Israeli air raids on a Gaza beach resulting in the death and wounding of a number of innocent civilians,” the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) quoted Culture and Information Minister Iyad Madani as saying.
The Cabinet voiced its surprise at the international community’s silence over Israel’s aggressive stance that includes targeted assassinations and indiscriminate air raids, adding that such reactions do not conform to the world community’s desire to establish peace in the Middle East and preserve basic human rights and values, SPA said.
The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, also approved the unified anti-dumping law of the Gulf Cooperation Council, SPA reported. GCC leaders approved the anti-dumping law during their Kuwait summit on Dec. 21-22. The law aims at preventing harmful practices in international trade and allows GCC member states to take precautionary measures against such practices. The Cabinet meeting was held in Alkhobar as the king is on a tour of Eastern Province cities. King Abdullah arrived in Al-Ahsa yesterday after opening a number of industrial projects in Jubail on Sunday.
The Cabinet emphasized the importance of opening of a number of new educational, health and industrial projects in different parts of the Kingdom during the king’s current tour.
Commenting on the receptions given to the king during his visit to the Eastern Province, the Cabinet said they reflected the strong relationship between the Saudi leadership and the people.
