Ministerial committee assigned by Arab-Islamic Summit meets with EU Foreign Affairs Council

Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan takes part in a meeting between the ministerial committee assigned by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit and the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. (SPA)
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Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan takes part in a meeting between the ministerial committee assigned by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit and the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. (SPA)
Members of the ministerial committee assigned by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit hold a meeting with the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. (SPA)
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Members of the ministerial committee assigned by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit hold a meeting with the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. (SPA)
Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan talks to officials in Brussels. (SPA)
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Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan talks to officials in Brussels. (SPA)
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Updated 28 May 2024
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Ministerial committee assigned by Arab-Islamic Summit meets with EU Foreign Affairs Council

Ministerial committee assigned by Arab-Islamic Summit meets with EU Foreign Affairs Council
  • Kingdom and Norway issue joint statement
  • Focus on dangerous developments in Gaza and Israel’s continued military aggression targeting civilians

RIYADH: Members of the ministerial committee assigned by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit held a meeting with the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday.

The Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit took place in Riyadh in November 2023 in response to the war in Gaza and demanded an immediate end to Israeli military operations in the territory.

The ministerial committee was headed by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his counterparts from Qatar, Jordan, and Egypt also participated in the meeting, Saudi Press Agency reported.

During the meeting, attendees discussed the dangerous developments in the Gaza Strip, Israel’s continued military aggression targeting defenseless civilians, and an Israeli airstrike that triggered a massive blaze killing 45 people in a tent camp in Rafah on Sunday night.

A joint statement was released following the meeting by the Kingdom and Norway.

The members of the committee stressed the need for the international community to fulfil its responsibility and intervene immediately to stop the massacres committed by Israeli forces and limit the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The committee also reiterated the importance of creating serious political conditions for the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the relevant international resolutions.

Members of the committee rejected discussing the future of the Gaza Strip without discussing the Palestinian issue.

The committee also called for the confrontation of all flagrant violations committed by Israeli forces against the Palestinian people which increase the human tragedy and impede the entry of urgent humanitarian aid into the besieged Gaza Strip.

It stressed the importance of holding Israel accountable for ongoing violations in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, including east Jerusalem.


‘Countryside Winter’ festival in Madinah draws more than 7,000 visitors

‘Countryside Winter’ festival in Madinah draws more than 7,000 visitors
Updated 09 February 2025
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‘Countryside Winter’ festival in Madinah draws more than 7,000 visitors

‘Countryside Winter’ festival in Madinah draws more than 7,000 visitors
  • Event highlights local agriculture and boosts rural economy
  • Festival part of effort to improve quality of life in the region

MADINAH: More than 7,000 visitors attended the “Countryside Winter” festival in Madinah, organized by Reef Saudi, the Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program, to highlight local agricultural and heritage products while boosting the rural economy.

The three-day event set out to promote rural tourism and show off the authentic rural charm of different regions in Saudi Arabia. It attracted families and individual visitors, with a significant turnout from locals and tourists, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The festival reflects the growth of rural tourism in Madinah, according to Reef Saudi spokesperson Majed Al-Buraikan, who said that it had 22 program beneficiaries participating to present a range of products.

These included fresh fruit, natural honey, aromatic oils, and traditional handicrafts, all representing the region’s heritage.

Visitors enjoyed cultural performances, traditional games, and interactive displays of handicrafts and sustainable farming practices, providing an immersive experience for all age groups.

Al-Buraikan said that the strong turnout highlighted the community’s interest in supporting local products, contributing to the economic sustainability of rural communities and enhancing the quality of local production.

He added that each booth at the festival showed a success story, reflecting Reef Saudi’s ongoing efforts to empower small farmers and artisans through training in modern agricultural techniques.

Reef Saudi continues to strengthen the rural economy by supporting small-scale farmers and producers while providing marketing platforms to increase awareness and expand opportunities for local products, he said.

The event is part of wider efforts to boost the local economy and improve living standards in Madinah under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

On Wednesday, officials from the Madinah Region Development Authority said that quality of life, the economy and culture were improving, and that they aim to achieve the goals of Vision 2030.


KSrelief continues global humanitarian works

KSrelief continues global humanitarian works
Updated 09 February 2025
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KSrelief continues global humanitarian works

KSrelief continues global humanitarian works

RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) continues its global humanitarian works with recent initiatives ranging from the provision of shelter kits to the delivery of dates in some countries.

At the Samoun Camp in the Al-Shihr District of Yemen’s Hadhramaut governorate, the aid agency distributed emergency shelter kits to displaced people amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

In Bangladesh, KSrelief 500 food boxes as part of a larger initiative to provide food to those affected by floods and cyclones in the country.

In Pakistan, 4,450 winter kits were distributed in several districts in the Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces as part of KSrelief’s efforts to support countries and communities around the world.

KSrelief also delivered 25 tonnes of dates Sierra Leone and 25 tonnes of dates to Cambodia as a gift from Saudi Arabia.


Saudi Arabia rejects Netanyahu’s remarks on displacing Palestinians

Saudi Arabia rejects Netanyahu’s remarks on displacing Palestinians
Updated 09 February 2025
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Saudi Arabia rejects Netanyahu’s remarks on displacing Palestinians

Saudi Arabia rejects Netanyahu’s remarks on displacing Palestinians
  • Kingdom reiterates the right of Palestinian people ‘will remain firmly established and no one will be able to take it away from them’
  • Lasting peace will only be achieved by ‘returning to the logic of reason and accepting the principle of peaceful coexistence,’ it adds

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Sunday reiterated its categorical rejection of statements regarding the displacement of the Palestinian people from their land, particularly those made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it rejected “such statements that aim to divert attention from the continuous crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian brothers in Gaza, including the ethnic cleansing they are subjected to.”

The ministry likewise expressed its appreciation of the “condemnation, disapproval and total rejection announced by the brotherly countries” regarding the Israeli leader’s comments.

“The Kingdom also points out that this extremist, occupying mentality does not understand what the Palestinian land means to the brotherly people of Palestine and their emotional, historical and legal connection to this land, and it does not think that the Palestinian people deserve to live in the first place, as it has completely destroyed the Gaza Strip, killed and injured more than 160,000, most of them children and women, without the slightest human feeling or moral responsibility,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry statement said.

“The Kingdom affirms that the Palestinian people have a right to their land, and they are not intruders or immigrants to it who can be expelled whenever the brutal Israeli occupation wishes.

 

 

“The Kingdom notes that the proponents of these extremist ideas are the ones who prevented Israel from accepting peace by refusing peaceful coexistence, rejecting the peace initiatives adopted by the Arab countries, and systematically practicing injustice toward the Palestinian people for more than 75 years, with disregard to the truth, justice, law and the values established in the United Nations Charter, including the human’s right to live in dignity on his land,” the statement added.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry also reiterated that the right of the Palestinian people “will remain firmly established and no one will be able to take it away from them no matter how long it takes.”

It added lasting peace would only be achieved by “returning to the logic of reason and accepting the principle of peaceful coexistence through the two-state solution.”

Egypt earlier condemned as “irresponsible” statements by Israeli officials suggesting establishing a Palestinian state on Saudi territory, with its Foreign Ministry emphasizing that the suggestion was a “direct infringement of Saudi sovereignty.” It added that the Kingdom’s security was a “red line for Egypt.”

The Jordanian Foreign Ministry described the Israeli remarks as “inflammatory and a clear violation of international law, relevant UN resolutions and state sovereignty.”

Spokesperson Sufian Qudah criticized what he described as Israel’s continued provocative policies and rhetoric, stressing that such statements reflect an exclusionary and hostile approach that undermines regional stability, Petra reported.

Jordan, he added, stands in full solidarity with Saudi Arabia against these statements, urging international actors to take a firm stance against irresponsible rhetoric that threatens peace efforts.

The UAE also strongly condemned and denounced Netanyahu’s “reprehensible and provocative” statements regarding the establishment of a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia and “affirmed its categorical rejection of these unacceptable statements.”


Saudi Arabia reiterates rejection of Israeli comments on displacement of Palestinians from their land

Saudi Arabia reiterates rejection of Israeli comments on displacement of Palestinians from their land
Updated 09 February 2025
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Saudi Arabia reiterates rejection of Israeli comments on displacement of Palestinians from their land

Saudi Arabia reiterates rejection of Israeli comments on displacement of Palestinians from their land
  • Kingdom appreciates ‘condemnation, disapproval and total rejection of brotherly countries’ toward Israeli statements

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Sunday reiterated its categorical rejection of statements regarding the displacement of the Palestinian people from their land, particularly those made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it rejected “such statements that aim to divert attention from the continuous crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian brothers in Gaza, including the ethnic cleansing they are subjected to.”

The ministry likewise expressed its appreciation of the “condemnation, disapproval and total rejection announced by the brotherly countries” regarding the Israeli leader’s comments.

“The Kingdom also points out that this extremist, occupying mentality does not understand what the Palestinian land means to the brotherly people of Palestine and their emotional, historical and legal connection to this land, and it does not think that the Palestinian people deserve to live in the first place, as it has completely destroyed the Gaza Strip, killed and injured more than 160,000, most of them children and women, without the slightest human feeling or moral responsibility,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry statement said.

“The Kingdom affirms that the Palestinian people have a right to their land, and they are not intruders or immigrants to it who can be expelled whenever the brutal Israeli occupation wishes.

 

 

“The Kingdom notes that the proponents of these extremist ideas are the ones who prevented Israel from accepting peace by refusing peaceful coexistence, rejecting the peace initiatives adopted by the Arab countries, and systematically practicing injustice toward the Palestinian people for more than 75 years, with disregard to the truth, justice, law and the values established in the United Nations Charter, including the human’s right to live in dignity on his land,” the statement added.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry also reiterated that the right of the Palestinian people “will remain firmly established and no one will be able to take it away from them no matter how long it takes.”

It added lasting peace would only be achieved by “returning to the logic of reason and accepting the principle of peaceful coexistence through the two-state solution.”

Egypt earlier condemned as “irresponsible” statements by Israeli officials suggesting establishing a Palestinian state on Saudi territory, with its Foreign Ministry emphasizing that the suggestion was a “direct infringement of Saudi sovereignty.” It added that the Kingdom’s security was a “red line for Egypt.”

The Jordanian Foreign Ministry described the Israeli remarks as “inflammatory and a clear violation of international law, relevant UN resolutions and state sovereignty.”

Spokesperson Sufian Qudah criticized what he described as Israel’s continued provocative policies and rhetoric, stressing that such statements reflect an exclusionary and hostile approach that undermines regional stability, Petra reported.

Jordan, he added, stands in full solidarity with Saudi Arabia against these statements, urging international actors to take a firm stance against irresponsible rhetoric that threatens peace efforts.

The UAE also strongly condemned and denounced Netanyahu’s “reprehensible and provocative” statements regarding the establishment of a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia and “affirmed its categorical rejection of these unacceptable statements.”

Qatar also condemned Netanyahu’s comment suggesting establishing a Palestinian state inside Saudi territory, the Qatari foreign ministry said in statement.

Qatar, a key mediator in Gaza ceasefire negotiations between Hamas and Israel, described Netanyahu’s statement as “provocative.”

with Reuters


Indian almonds in Jazan: Tropical fruits at their best season

Indian almonds in Jazan: Tropical fruits at their best season
Updated 09 February 2025
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Indian almonds in Jazan: Tropical fruits at their best season

Indian almonds in Jazan: Tropical fruits at their best season
  • Indian almonds play a significant role in Jazan’s agricultural identity
  • Heavy rains and relatively high temperatures in Jazan enhance production quality

JAZAN: In the heart of Jazan, the Indian almond has become a distinctive seasonal agricultural product for which the region in southwest Saudi Arabia is well known.

The almond tree is characterized by its dense foliage, abundant shade, and delectable fruit with a rich flavor.

Indian almonds play a significant role in Jazan’s agricultural identity, thriving in the region’s warm environment and tropical climate, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The fruit are highly sought after, whether enjoyed as a snack or valued for their natural oils.

The almond season in Jazan begins in February, marked by the blooming of white and yellow flowers that attract bees, which, along with the wind, aid in pollination.

Between May and July, the fruit gradually ripen, changing from green to yellow or red, signaling full maturity.

Peak production occurs in June and July, when the fruit are harvested and sold in local markets in substantial quantities and varying sizes, with each fruit weighing between 15 and 30 grams.

Indian almonds play a significant role in Jazan’s agricultural identity, thriving in the region’s warm environment and tropical climate, which foster their growth and bloom. (SPA)

Ripe almonds are prized for their soft texture and the ease with which the edible core can be extracted, reaching peak sweetness and exhibiting a more pronounced almond flavor.

Indian almonds are available in several markets, including the central Jazan market, as well as in the governorates of Sabia, Bish, Abu Arish, Samtah, and others throughout the region.

In Jazan, the combination of heavy rains and relatively high temperatures enhances production quality, increasing investment opportunities for cultivating the product.

Ripe almonds are prized for their soft texture and the ease with which the edible core can be extracted. (SPA)

This includes the development of packaging and marketing operations, locally and internationally, the establishment of factories for extracting Indian almond oil, and the expansion of organic agriculture to meet the rising demand for natural and healthy products.

These initiatives contribute significantly to the region’s agricultural and economic development.