The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet's session at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Monday afternoon. At the outset of the session, the King expressed his thanks and appreciation to the leaders of sisterly and friendly countries and Saudi citizens for their condolences on the death of Prince Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, praying to Allah Almighty to bestow mercy upon his soul. The Cabinet's members offered their condolences to the King, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, the Royal Family, the sons and daughters of the deceased and the people of the Kingdom, praying to Allah Almighty to bestow mercy upon his soul and reward him the best for his services to the religion and homeland. The King briefed the Cabinet on his phone call made to President Donald Trump of the United States of America during which he appreciated the role of the United States of America in its leadership of the Global Coalition to fight Daesh (ISIS) terrorist organization and eliminate it, reconfirming the Kingdom's stand with all its potentials to combat terrorism and dry up its sources until its destruction; and his phone call to Prime Minister Dr. Haider Al-Abbadi of Republic of Iraq during which he congratulated Iraq on the swift victory over Daesh terrorist organization in Mosul; and his meeting with United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. The Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad said in a statement to Saudi Press Agency after the session that the Cabinet was briefed on reports on latest developments, referring in this regard to the joint statement issued by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Arab Republic of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain, stressing the statement on the four countries' confirmation of continuing their current procedures until the Qatari authorities are committed to the implementation of just and all demands that guarantee combating of terrorism and achieving of stability and security in the region. The Cabinet welcomed the resolutions adopted by the Council of Arab Information Ministers at the end of its 48th ordinary session in Cairo, praising the Arab Information Ministers Council's affirmation of the necessity of solidarity among the Arab countries to confront terrorism and its demand to dry up its sources of financing and the need to continue efforts and coordination at the regional and global levels to defeat and eradicate it. The Cabinet also expressed its deep concern at the closure of Al Aqsa Mosque by the Israeli occupation authorities, stressing that this act constitutes a flagrant violation of the feelings of Muslims around the world towards the first of the two Qiblah and the third of the two Holy Mosques. The Cabinet added that such an act is a dangerous development that would further complicate the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, especially as this is the first of its kind in the history of the occupation. The Cabinet called on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities towards halting such practices. The Cabinet also reiterated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's condemnation and denunciation of the terrorist attack on a security outpost in Giza governorate of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the two terrorist bombings targeting two cities in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and it extended condolences to the Egyptian and Pakistani governments and people as well as to the families of the victims, wishing the injured a speedy recovery. The Minister said that the Cabinet confirmed that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' granting of the honorary doctorate degree in the field of the service of the Holy Quran and its sciences from Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University is considered as a culmination and appreciation of his efforts, great deeds and ongoing support for the Holy Quran and its services. The Cabinet also commended the activities of the 11th session of Okaz Souq, which was inaugurated under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques by Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Governor of Makkah region under the theme "Okaz Renewable Creativity" under the supervision of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage. Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad said that the Cabinet reviewed topics on its agenda, among them, topics co-studied by the Shura Council, and decided the following: first: After reviewing a report submitted by the Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, the Cabinet approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Cooperation in the Field of Satellite and Space Communications between the Ministry of Defense in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Arab Satellite Telecommunications Organization (Arabsat) signed in Riyadh city on 13/2/1438 AH . A royal decree has been prepared in this regard. Second: After reviewing a report submitted by the President of Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, the Cabinet approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Cooperation in the Field of Tourism between the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture in the Kingdom of Federation of Malaysia signed in the city of Kuala Lumpur on 9/8/1437 AH. A royal decree has been prepared in this regard. Third: After reviewing a report submitted the Minister of Energy, Industry, and Mineral Resources, the Cabinet approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Industrial Cooperation between the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan signed in Riyadh city on 18/1/1438 AH. A royal decree has been prepared in this regard. Fourth: The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of labor and human resources between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Federation of Malaysia, signed in Putrajaya city on 30/5/1438 H. Fifth: The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding for technical cooperation between the Human Rights Commission in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the International Organization for Migration, signed in the city of Geneva on 09/03/1438 H. Sixth: The Cabinet approved the Financial Regulations of the Municipal Councils. Among the most important provisions of the regulation is to adopt, within the budget of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, the financial allocations for each Council and the monthly remuneration for the Councils' chairmen, members and trustees as well as for the experts being hired by the Council in addition to the remuneration of members of the committee that may consider into the violations of the Councils' members. Seventh: The Cabinet approved to apply its decision No. (65) dated 25/02/1437 H on the Saudi employees at the offices of the Ministry of Finance, who are practicing accounting work on behalf of employees of the General Authority for Zakat and Income in the governorates where there are no branches of the Authority, as of the date of the decision's entry into force, provided that the amount of the allowance is 15% of the salary of the first grade in the rank occupied by the employee, taking into account the following controls: 1. An employee occupying one of the following posts: Director of Accounting Division, Accountant, Assistant Accountant, Accounts Analyst, Auditor, Assistant Auditor. 2 - To actually practice the post's duties. 3 - To perform his work in favor of the General Authority for Zakat and Income on a full-time basis.
