Unity is the only way through which the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people can be achieved, the Cabinet said in a statement on Monday after its weekly meeting. King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, chaired the Cabinet meeting. The best resistance is one which “unites the Palestinian people” and guarantees its “legitimate rights” by using “legal, political, civil and economic” means “against the policies of Israel and its allies,” the statement said. The Cabinet slammed the “policy of polarization” which is emerging in the Middle East around inter-Palestinian disagreements. This policy should be rejected, the Cabinet said, while urging “caution toward regional and foreign ambitions dressed up as support for Arab and Islamic causes.” The Cabinet called on the Palestinian factions to “look for what unites them and brings them together and for what links their beliefs, the only way to achieve the aspirations of their people.” Iyad Bin Amin Madani, Minister of Culture and Information, said King Abdullah briefed the Cabinet on the meetings and consultations he held over the past week with leaders and their envoys regarding bilateral relations, regional issues and international affairs. The Cabinet expressed great concern over the developments at Arab and regional arenas since the declaration of a ceasefire in Gaza and the Arab summit in Kuwait. The Cabinet stressed the King's call for bypassing Arab differences and opening the door for brotherhood and unity of all Arabs. Madani said the Cabinet valued the King's patronization of the Forum of Social Partnership and Responsibility between the Public and Private Sectors in Riyadh. The Cabinet statement also stressed that the social solidarity and the succession in capital and wealth are grounds of Islamic societies, saying that Islam pioneered charitable endowment institutions which represent the participation of all to achieve social equity and cohesion in the community. – SPANational strategy for industries approvedThe Cabinet approved the national strategy for industry and the mechanisms of its implementation. The salient features of the strategy include: * Activating the role of the industrial sector to achieve the future position planned by the Saudi society. * To achieve a number of ends including contributing in achieving high growth rates, improving the standard of living, creating suitable job opportunities and achieving prosperity for the Saudi citizens. * The strategy was laid down on the basis of several standpoints including relying on related strategies, studying the current situation for industry in the Kingdom and the Kingdom's material and moral capabilities. Other decisions * President of Saudi Red Crescent Authority – or his deputy – is authorized to sign traffic safety cooperation agreement with Arab Organization for Traffic Safety. * Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowment, Call and Guidance – or his deputy – is authorized to sign a draft memorandum of understanding with Tunisia ministry in the field of Islamic Affairs. * Minister of Transportation – or his deputy – is authorized to sign a draft cooperation agreement in the field of maritime transport with Turkey. Appointments * Ibrahim Bin Suleiman Bin Ibrahim Al-Moosa as Director General of Administrative and Financial Affairs at the Customs Authority. * Abdullah Bin Hamad Bin Mohammed Al-Rasheed as Director General of Information Center at the Customs Authority. * Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Bin Abdulaziz as Assistant Director General for Administrative and Financial Affairs at the Directorate General of Water in the Eastern Region.
