The Cabinet endorsed on Monday rules governing the admission of non-Saudi students to higher education and professional institutions. The Cabinet also condemned Israel's decision to build 1,600 houses in Occupied Jerusalem and a further 112 in the West Bank, reiterating international denouncements of the moves, which it said “reflect the Israeli position of intensifying settlement policy” and “changing the demographic structure of the occupied Palestinian lands”. Chairing the weekly session, King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, urged the international community to “take a firm stance” against “provocative Israeli acts” that “frustrate prospects of peace”. Abdul Aziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, said the Cabinet was briefed on recent talks and meetings held by the King. These included talks with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina Haris Silajdzic, and messages from Jordanian King Abdullah and Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi. Khoja said the Cabinet authorized Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, or his deputy, to discuss the Arab draft agreement on the transfer of detained persons, a draft agreement on combating Information Technology crimes, and a draft agreement to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism. The Cabinet also approved the appointment of the Saudi Red Crescent Society's Board of Directors for three years effective from the date of the implementation of the decision.
