JEDDAH: The Council of Ministers urged feuding Palestinian factions on Monday that they should quickly settle their differences for the establishment of their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.
“Palestinians should understand the danger posed by their disunity. It will not serve except their enemies and will harm the Palestinian cause, the prime cause of Arabs,” the Cabinet said.
The weekly Cabinet meeting, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, also reminded Palestinians that their unity was the key to restore their legitimate rights.
King Abdullah, who returned to the Kingdom recently after spending a few days in Morocco, reassured the nation of the health of Crown Prince Sultan. “The crown prince is enjoying good health,” he added.
Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja said the Cabinet upgraded the status of Taif and Al-Ahsa from municipality to mayoralty and two were linked directly with the minister of municipal and rural affairs.
The municipalities of Al-Kharma, Raniya, Turba and Mawiya and the rural centers of Maisan and Banisaad have been brought under the jurisdiction of Taif mayoralty, shifting from Makkah mayoralty.
The municipalities of Hufouf, Mubraz, Oyoun, Omran, Jafr and Yabreen have been brought under Al-Ahsa mayoralty, the Cabinet said, adding that it would also supervise new municipalities in the province.
While reviewing preparations for receiving millions of Umrah pilgrims during Ramadan, King Abdullah urged Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah to ensure the health of the guests of God.
King Abdullah reiterated that Saudis and expatriates as well as pilgrims suffering from swine flu would be given treatment at government expense.
Referring to the situation in Lebanon, the Cabinet expressed its confidence that Lebanese groups would be able to overcome the obstacles facing the formation of a national unity government.
Khoja said the Saudi Cabinet commended the efforts of Kuwaiti security forces in arresting a terror network that targeted the country’s security and stability. The Cabinet extended its condolences to Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah and Kuwaiti people on the deaths and destruction caused by a massive fire that engulfed a wedding tent in Al-Jahra.
The Cabinet approved the establishment of a joint stock company named Al-Balad Al-Ameen for Construction and Development. It authorized the governor of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation to hold talks with his Irish counterpart to sign a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in technical and vocational training.
The Cabinet appointed Muhammad bin Nasser Al-Rafik adviser at the Interior Ministry; Khaled bin Musaed Al-Anqari minister plenipotentiary at the Foreign Ministry; Hamad bin Ali Al-Mulhim director general of private education at the Ministry of Higher Education; Abdul Rauf Al-Qaedi assistant undersecretary for inspection and labor relations; and Ahmed bin Saleh Al-Humaidan assistant undersecretary for Saudi employment at the Labor Ministry.
