“Israeli settlers in the West Bank are attacking mosques and continuing occupation activities in territories of Palestinians and the occupied Golan of Syria, defying the will of the international community,” Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah said while addressing the weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers at the Yamamah Palace in Riyadh.
King Abdullah also briefed the council on his discussions with British Premier David Cameron, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Yemeni Premier Muhammad Basindwa. The king also briefed the ministers on a letter he received from Spain’s King Juan Carlos and a message sent to United States President Barack Obama.
The king also commended growing relations between the Kingdom and other countries, which would, in turn, guarantee greater international cooperation in solving global issues besides the issues in the Arab and the Islamic worlds.
The king also expressed satisfaction at the signing of a number of agreements and cooperation programs with China during the visit of the Chinese premier.
The council also appreciated the noble sentiments expressed by the United Nations for the Kingdom’s participation in the World Food Program. The UN organized a photo exhibition in Geneva recently to highlight Saudi support to the WFP over the past five decades and described Saudi Arabia as the top contributor feeding hungry people in the world, Acting Minster of Culture and Information and Minister of Social Affairs Yousuf Al-Othaimin said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency.
The council reviewed a number of economic, cultural and environmental activities including the signing of the SR30.82 billion contract for the second phase of the Haramain High Speed Railway linking the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. The council noted that the railway is a great achievement in the service of Haj and Umrah pilgrims and visitors apart from other citizens.
The council also approved amendments to regulations governing the allowances of military officers. According to the amendments, new amounts of allowances have been decided to officers posted inside the Kingdom or on official duties abroad.
The Council of Ministers also decided to restructure the Council of Military Service. The king will be the head of the restructured council. Its deputy chairman is the deputy premier and minister of interior. Its members include the defense minister, foreign minister, chief of the General Intelligence, commander of the National Guard, secretary-general of the National Security Council and minister of finance in addition to three other members nominated by the king.
The council approved change in the name of “The Ministry of Defense and Aviation and Inspectorate General” to “The Ministry of Defense.” The council also approved the replacement of the designation “minister of defense and aviation and inspector general” and the “minister of defense and aviation” with “the minister of defense” in all references, Al-Othaimin said.
The council’s decisions included bringing the General Presidency of the Meteorology and Environment under the king.
The council also ordered the extension of Khaleel Kurdi and Meshari Al-Meshari’s tenures as members of the board of directors of the Saudi Development Fund (SDF) for another three years.
Yousuf Al-Saadoun, undersecretary for economic and cultural affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Saleh bin Al-Awad, deputy director general of investments at the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency, are the new members of the SDF, the minister said.
