The Council of Ministers welcomed Monday the unanimous decision of the UN Security Council to cut off funding to the Islamic State (IS) and Al-Nusra Front, put several people on the black list due to their ties with the two armed terrorist groups and impose sanctions on anyone who helps the two organizations.

Tthe Cabinet, chaired by Deputy Crown Prince Muqrin, recalled the royal decree issued by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, specifying imprisonment for a minimum of three years and and a maximum of 20 years for anyone who partakes in violence outside the Kingdom and those belonging to extremist groups and terrorist organizations.

Briefing the media on the decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting, Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja said the Council of Ministers called for joint efforts to confront the threat of terrorism and stressed the importance of optimal coordination between countries to eliminate terrorism. The Cabinet appreciated the king’s donation of $100 million to support the efforts of the International Center for Counter-Terrorism.

The Cabinet commended the final communiqué issued by the emergency meeting held between OIC foreign ministers in Jeddah.

The OIC meeting expressed its deep concern over the deteriorating situation and worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza because of the continuing Israeli aggression and siege and called for an end to Israeli occupation.

The Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom’s support for the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to alleviate the difficult conditions in which they live due to Israeli terrorism.

The Cabinet was briefed on the results of talks held by King Abdullah with King Abdallah of Jordan, which dealt with events taking place in the regional and international arenas, particularly the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and efforts to stop the Israeli onslaught on Gaza.

The Cabinet authorized the Social Affairs Ministry to set up a system to determine financial capabilities among breadwinners relative to economic changes in the Kingdom and periodically review them through the social insurance law and its executive regulations.

“Financial capabilities shall be determined based on fixed and stable material resources to provide for basic living needs, including housing, clothing, food, water, medicine, education and transportation,” the Cabinet explained.

The Cabinet appointed Basim bin Abdullah Shafi information technology adviser at the Ministry of Civil Service; Bandar bin Ahmed Aba Al-Khail deputy director general for training at the Institute of Public Administration; Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Rashid assistant director general of Customs; Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Quraishi assistant undersecretary at the Ministry of National Guard; and Salah bin Mohammed Al-Ruzaiq assistant undersecretary at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.