JEDDAH: The Cabinet appealed to the international community on Monday to force Israel to comply with the principles of international law and rulings on international legitimacy, return the rights it has usurped and freeze the settlements by which it “seeks to change the Palestinian demographic structure”. Chaired by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Holy Mosques, the weekly meeting discussed reports on developments around the world, notably the faltering direct negotiations for peace between Palestine and Israel. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency, Abdul Aziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, said the Cabinet described Israel's persistence with settlement activities as threatening the progress of the peace talks. In other business, ministers were briefed on official talks between the Kingdom and Kazakhstan, chaired by Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Minister and Interior Minister, which led to a bilateral agreement on combating terrorism, organized crime, drug trafficking and trading in stimulants. The meeting further reviewed the various scientific, economic and cultural forums held in the Kingdom last week, notably the Saudi International Space and Aeronautics Technology Conference and the international conference on the Prophet of Mercy. Ministers also approved a package of bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding signed with a number of countries.
