JEDDAH, 4 October 2006 -- Government offices in the Kingdom will close for Eid Al-Fitr holidays a week earlier than originally planned.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah issued an order yesterday allowing civil servants to begin the holiday from Oct. 12. The holiday will continue until Oct. 28. The king issued the order during the weekly Cabinet meeting here on Monday night.
The advancement of holidays for government employees was expected after Sunday's royal court announcement that Eid holidays for students and teachers in public educational institutions would begin from Oct. 12 instead of Oct. 18.
Culture and Information Minister Iyad Madani said the Cabinet meeting listened to a number of reports on latest developments in the Middle East region and called for an end to the Israeli economic blockade of the Palestinians.
"The ongoing efforts to revive the Middle East peace process should lead to taking effective steps to end the Israeli economic and financial blockade imposed on the Palestinians and its continuous violations in the occupied territories," the Saudi Press Agency quoted the Cabinet as saying in a statement after the meeting.
The Cabinet meeting also called for greater international efforts to protect the Palestinians and achieve their legitimate right of establishing an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.
"Israel must comply with all international resolutions and withdraw from all Lebanese territories without exception in order for the UN peacekeeping force to carry out its mission," the statement said.
The Israeli withdrawal was also essential to strengthen Lebanese national unity, rebuild the areas destroyed by Israeli bombings and boost the country's development, the Cabinet statement said.
The Cabinet expressed its deep sorrow over the growing sectarian violence in Iraq, saying it would weaken the Arab country and create divisions among its people.
Addressing the meeting, King Abdullah urged ministers to increase their efforts to improve the services being provided to the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who have come to Makkah from inside and outside the Kingdom to perform Umrah.
Madani said the meeting authorized the governor of Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) to sign an agreement with Bangladesh on investment promotion and protection. It appointed Ibrahim ibn Ali Al-Baghdadi assistant vice president for financial auditing at the General Bureau of Auditing, and Dr. Abdul Aali Al-Abdul Aali director general of companies at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
By P.K. Abdul Ghafour
© Arab News 2006
