Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdulaziz today chaired the regular weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers, which reiterated its call to the international community to mount pressure on Israel to end its brutal attacks against the unarmed Palestinian people. Saudi Arabia calls on all peace-loving countries, particularly the United States of America in its capacity as sponsor of the Middle East peace process, to play a decisive role to end Israeli attacks against Palestinians. This would guarantee the continuation of real progress in the peace process, which Israel has been trying to undermine by disregarding all agreements and treaties on it. King Fahd expressed deep sorrow that Israel continues to practice brutal aggression, using its massive military might against unarmed Palestinians, killing women, children, and the elderly, and injuring hundreds in a despicable way that is contrary to all international laws and norms and incompatible with the simplest of human rights.

Turning to domestic matters, the cabinet was briefed on the efforts of the concerned authorities to control the ongoing outbreak of Rift Valley Fever (RVF). The reports confirmed that the steps taken to combat the disease have been successful and its elimination is proceeding according to plan.
The cabinet then passed a number of resolutions, including the establishment of a fund for the residential complex of technical affairs personnel at the Ministry of Interior; approval, upon a recommendation from the Consultative Council (Majlis Al-Shura), of the treaty against international terrorism set out by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC); and authorization for the Minister of Agriculture and Water or his deputy to discuss with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) the renewal of the technical cooperation agreement regarding funds deposited at the FAO, for a period of five years effective August 1, 2001.

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