King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, has praised efforts by the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to contain the escalating crisis in Syria. The King was speaking at the weekly Cabinet meeting held at Yamamah Palace here on Monday. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) after the meeting, Dr. Abdul Aziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, said the Kingdom has reiterated its denunciation of the recent attacks on the Kingdom's embassy in Damascus. Khoja said that the Syrian government must protect diplomatic missions in the country as required under international agreements and treaties. The Council of Ministers also condemned illegal Israeli practices in occupied Palestine. It slammed the continued transgressions against the Palestinian people including the construction of 650 new settlements and roads. It said the Israelis want to link the settlements to the occupied Al-Quds city, which will isolate the holy city from its Palestinian surroundings and change its demographic profile.
