At Saudi Arabia’s Request, OIC Foreign Ministers hold an emergency meeting to discuss developments in Palestine

Jeddah, At the request of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Chair of the Islamic Summit and the headquarters state of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), it was held today a virtual emergency meeting of the Executive Committee at the level of foreign ministers to discuss the bloody events and Israeli attacks in the land of Palestine, especially in Al-Quds Al-Sharif and what Israel is carrying out in the vicinity of the holy Aqsa Mosque.

The meeting was chaired by Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who delivered a speech at the beginning of the meeting in which he welcomed all, appreciating their participation and response to the request of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the current chair of the Islamic Summit, to participate in this meeting sensing the importance of the escalating events in Palestine, due to Israel’s flagrant violations of the sanctity of Islamic sanctuaries and the attack on Palestinian worshipers and civilians, violating all international resolutions, charters and principles of international humanitarian law, which guarantee freedom of belief and the practice of religious rites for all followers of religions.

The Prince said, ” The occupation authorities’ forcible seizure of homes and lands of the citizens of Jerusalem (Al-Quds) represents, as you all know, a form of forced displacement, which is strongly rejected and condemned by all international laws, including the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, especially Resolution No. 2234, which affirms that East Jerusalem (Al-Quds) is a Palestinian land that can not be infringed upon “.

He affirmed that from this standpoint, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announces its total rejection and strong condemnation of the provocative Israeli plans or measures aimed at evacuating Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem (Al-Quds) by force, imposing sovereignty over them, and all military actions that have caused civilian victims, including innocent children and women, and all measures that would lead to undermine the chances of resuming the peace process, means for implementing the Arab peace initiative, and all international efforts aimed at achieving security, safety and stability in the region.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs said, ” The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from the platform of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which was established on the basis of a historical legacy based on the service of Al-Quds Al-Sharif and the Palestinian cause as they are the main pillars of its tasks which are of great interest to it, calls on the international community and all international human rights organizations and bodies to shoulder their responsibilities towards this dangerous escalation that violates all international norms and covenants, and that preserving Al-Quds Al-Sharif and the blood of the innocent are the responsibility of all of us. In the same regard, the Kingdom calls on the international community to take urgent action to immediately stop military operations, bring in aid, treat the wounded, and work to revive negotiations based on adherence to peace on the basis of the two-state solution in accordance with international references and the Arab Peace Initiative. The Kingdom also supports all efforts aimed at a ceasefire, including the efforts of the two sisterly states, the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah added, “Islam calls for peace, and we were and still are advocates of peace, and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques confirmed this in his speech before the United Nations General Assembly at its last (75th) session in September 2020 AD, and he quoted the King, “Peace in the Middle East is our strategic choice, and our duty is to spare no effort to work together towards achieving a bright future dominated by peace, stability, prosperity and coexistence among all peoples of the region. And the Kingdom supports all efforts aimed at advancing the peace process, as the Kingdom has proposed peace initiatives since 1981 AD, and the Arab Peace Initiative included foundations for a comprehensive and just solution for the Arab-Israeli conflict that guarantees that the Palestinian people obtain their legitimate rights, foremost among them is the establishment of their independent state, with East Jerusalem (Al-Quds) as its capital”.

He said, ”The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia wishes to confirm that its continuing support for the Palestinian people stems from its deep belief in the importance of its just cause, and calls once again for the need for international efforts to join hands and intensify them to stop this dangerous escalation immediately and urgently work to quickly end this bleeding wound in the hearts of humanity to enhance the means of stability in the region, and to achieve decent living for our brothers in Palestine”.

The Prince reiterated his thanks and appreciation to everyone for their participation and interaction, wishing this meeting to be crowned with success and to be of help to our people in Palestine.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Health Spokesman: Epidemic Curve Taking Downward Trend, Coupling with Continued Uptake of Inoculation, Adherence to Preventive Measures

Riyadh, The Official Spokesman of the Ministry of Health Dr. Mohammed Al-Abdulali pointed out that the curve of confirmed cases in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is passing through a stage of constancy and that the trend of the epidemic curve is in downturn, coupling with the continuous up taking of vaccines and adherence to preventive measures, reaffirming the ongoing follow up for the critical cases of the Coronavirus infections and stressing the importance of abidance by the fixed numbers in meetings and other functions.

He elaborated that the ministry is continuing applying precautions until the end of the pandemic, indicating that the stable condition is returning, grace to Allah, following the up taking of inoculation and committing to protective precautions and calling the travelers to know the health condition of their destination countries.

Laboratories licensed to issues travel certificates prior to travel are found on the Public Health Authority and for more information contact no.937, he pointed.

As many as 11,527,100 doses have been given at all 590 inoculation centers, in the Kingdom.

On the other hand, the overall number of confirmed cases in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia rose to 433,094, including 8,145 active cases, he said, adding that as many as 825 new cases have been reported, undergoing medical treatment, however most of them are in stable condition.

There are 1,376 critical cases against a total number of 417,787 recoveries, he stated, as 1,028 new recoveries was added against 7,162 fatalities as new 15 deaths were added.

The labs and centers across the Kingdom conducted about 9,950,328 swabs.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Saudi Arabia Calls for An Emergency Meeting of OIC Foreign Ministers on Palestine Today

Jeddah, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Chair of the Islamic Summit and the headquarters state of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) called for holding an emergency virtual meeting of the Organization’s Executive Committee today, Sunday.

To be held at the level of foreign ministers of the OIC Member States, the meeting will discuss the bloody events and Israeli attacks in the territory of Palestine, especially in Al-Quds Al-Sharif, in addition to discussing what Israel is doing in the vicinity of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The meeting will be chaired by Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

King Fahd Causeway Ready for Passenger Traffic from Tomorrow, Monday

Riyadh, Passport division of King Fahd Causeway has completed all procedures for the passengers traffic after the decision of lifting the travel suspension for citizens, and the opening of land, sea and air ports as of one o’clock (1 a.m.) in the morning on Monday, May 17, 2021.

It has also completed all preparations related to King Fahd Causeway linking the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

Director of King Fahd Causeway Passports, Col. Duwaihi Al-Sahli, said that (10) new lanes have been added to the departure area, bringing the total to (27) lanes, in additon to (36) lanes in the arrival area.

Travel requirements shall be met automatically, amid coordination with the Ministry of Health to ensure that all the necessary requirements are duly met.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Saudi Arabia Shed Light on Its Digital Shift, in the World Communications Day

Jeddah, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia based on its dependence on “Digital Technology” and to manage several transactions via an integrated system to provide all services to the consumer, employee and beneficiary, in order to realize the objectives of its future bound vision 2030, decided to consolidate access to network and wireless communications systems as well as information technology and communications.

Regions and provinces across the Kingdom have experienced a wide scale spread of services in the domain of communications and information technology, grace to the support the sector received from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, HRH Crown Prince and the wise government, as the Kingdom ranks atop of the regional market of communications and information technology.

The main way to empower the public to access the government services, in an effective as well as safe, smooth and integrated way, was through a mechanism of multiple electronic channels, namely the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology launched E-Government Program, Yesser, that is leading the digital shift in the governmental departments, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Saudi Arabia to Take Part in the World Hypertension Day

Jeddah, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is set to take part in the World Hypertension Day corresponding to May 17.

To mark the occasion, a number of health related bodies will launch an awareness campaign to spotlight the importance of regular blood pressure gauging, across the Kingdom.

In addition, the campaign will focus on knowledge of the normal rates of blood pressure, what is the disease exactly, its causes, the main ways to detect an protect against it as well as shedding light on the spread of the hypertension, in the society.

This disease is increasingly spreading due to the ascending livelihood pressures, including the strokes, in case of delaying taking the necessary medicines to preserve a stable level of the blood pressure.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

KSrelief Continues Carrying out Foggy Spray Campaign to Fight Diseases Vectors, in Aden

Aden, King Salman Humanitarian Aid And Relief Centre (KSrelief) continued carrying out a campaign of foggy spray to fight diseases vectors, in Aden province, Yemen.

The 13-day campaign is taking place in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Yemeni ministry of the public health and population.

This falls in the framework of the support that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia provide Yemen with, in order to improve the capabilities of the Yemeni ministry of health to enhance its services.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Russian Journalist: whoever slams presidential elections in Syria, doesn’t want stability in it

Moscow, Russian Journalist Roman Perevezentsev has affirmed that the states which wish to restore security and stability to Syria and to initiate reconstruction process, support the presidential elections entitlement, which is conducted on a pluralistic basis, and they highly evaluate the efforts of the Syrian government to organize and conduct them in their constitutional date.

“The states which criticize holding presidential elections in Syria basically don’t want the stability in it and they show their negative stance regarding the choice of the Syrian people, who will decide who will lead their country in the upcoming years and this will determine the path that Syria will follow and the return of Syrian refugees to their country and the work for the progress and prosperity of the country”, Perevezentsev said in a statement to SANA in Moscow.

Perevezentsev added that these elections are taking place in difficult circumstances as the Syrian people continue their war against terrorism in a time when they are still suffering from the continuation of blockade and unilateral coercive western economic measures imposed on them.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Ministry of Interior: Ban on Nationals to Direct or Indirect Travel to 13 Countries, Continues without Prior Permission from Pertinent Authorities

Riyadh, An official source, at the Ministry of Interior said that in furtherance to the ministry’s statement on warning to travel to a number of countries, and in keenness of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on safety and security of the citizens willing to travel abroad, coincidently with lifting of the ban on Monday 5/10/1442 corresponding to 17/5/2021, and under the security circumstances and the instability in a number of countries, continuation of the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) and the spread of new variant strains of the virus, the ministry reasserts the citizens on the continuation of the ban of travel, directly or indirectly through a third country, without a prior permission from the pertinent authorities, to the following counties: Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Iran, Turkey, Armenia, Somalia, Democratic Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Belarus, and India, and any other country that is yet to control the pandemic, or proven that the variant strains of the virus have spread throughout it.

The ministry exhorts all citizens willing to travel to the allowable countries to take care and avoid spots of instability or witnessing the virus outbreak and to abide by all precautionary measures, regardless of their destinations.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

US occupation steals new quantities of wheat and oil from Syrian al-Jazeera

Hasaka, US occupation forces stole on Sunday new quantities of wheat and oil via 38 vehicles and tankers, bringing them out through illegitimate al-Walid crossing border to northern Iraq.

SANA reporter in Hasaka quoted local sources in al-Sweidiya as saying that a convoy of 38 vehicles and tanks, belonging to US occupation forces, loaded with stolen wheat and oil from al-Jazeera, left illegitimate al-Waleed crossing on Sunday to northern Iraq.

Groups of QSD militia secured and protected the convoy.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency