Saudi Arabia's Cabinet on Tuesday strongly condemned recent inflammatory comments from Israeli officials and expressed its firm rejection of ongoing provocations that deeply offend Muslims worldwide.
The Cabinet urged the international community to take decisive action to end the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine and to establish effective mechanisms to hold Israeli officials accountable for violations of international laws and norms.
This call to action follows a controversial statement made by Israel's Security Minister, who in a recent radio interview, expressed support for the establishment of a synagogue at Al-Aqsa Mosque and for allowing Jewish prayers at the holy site in Jerusalem.
During the weekly Cabinet meeting, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in Riyadh, the ministers also addressed efforts to alleviate the suffering in Sudan. The discussions highlighted the outcomes of recent meetings in Switzerland, which aimed to take immediate steps towards easing the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and achieving a permanent ceasefire.
The talks, co-hosted last week by Saudi Arabia and Switzerland, involved key international stakeholders, including the African Union, Egypt, the UAE, and the UN. While the meetings concluded without a ceasefire, progress was made in securing aid access through two critical routes into Sudan, which is currently experiencing one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.
The Saudi Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom's commitment to working with international partners to restore peace and stability in Sudan.
On the domestic front, the ministers celebrated a significant 10.5% increase in non-oil exports during the second quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. This surge, driven by exports to key markets like the UAE and China, underscores Saudi Arabia's ongoing economic diversification efforts.
According to official data from the General Authority for Statistics, non-oil exports during this period totaled SR51.16 billion ($13.63 billion), with SR15.07 billion worth of goods sent to the UAE and SR7.08 billion to China.
Additionally, the Cabinet praised the successful hosting of the first Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia, a milestone that reflects the Kingdom’s growing status as a global hub for major sporting events.
Following the meeting, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, on behalf of King Salman, received newly-appointed Saudi ambassadors to various countries, who took their oath of office.
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