The Council of Ministers at its weekly meeting here Monday night slammed Israel for continuing to build settlements in occupied Palestinian territories and for trying to change the Islamic identity of Al-Quds. The meeting, chaired by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, also called for peace in Arab and Islamic countries; and said compensation of SR10,000 would be paid to citizens affected by natural disasters. The Cabinet decided that “whoever was or would be harmed by floods, drought or cold, fire, thunder and other natural disasters” would each be paid compensation of SR10,000, said Dr. Abdul Aziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The Cabinet denounced the decision by the Israeli authorities to build thousands of new residential units in eastern Al-Quds. It “reiterated the Kingdom's call for the world community to pressure Israel to halt such unilateral measures” aimed at “Judaizing the holy city of Al-Quds and changing its Islamic and Arab identity”. It also called for warring factions in Arab countries to stop fighting and peacefully resolve their differences, adding that it is important for everyone to “stop the use of force, respect human beings and seek stability, security and fairness.” The Cabinet also approved the first report of the Real Estate Contributions Committee with some reservations. It appropriated SR20 million for premiums of the committee members and for meeting the organization's financial obligations. At the outset of the meeting, the King briefed the Council of Ministers on contact he made with leaders of various countries, including his talks with Abdullah Gul, President of Turkey; Yousaf Raza Gilani, Prime Minister of Pakistan; and his telephone conversation with US President Barack Obama. The Cabinet also ordered the Saudi Communications Company to shoulder any additional financial costs that might be incurred as a result of merging with the Civil Retirement or Social Insurance agencies following the privatization of the communications sector.
