JEDDAH: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has deplored attempts to change the historical and legal status of the occupied city of Jerusalem.
In an extraordinary meeting of the OIC’s Committee of Permanent Representatives on Monday, a statement was issued expressing concern over the US administration’s plans to change the city’s status.
The statement reaffirmed the centrality of the Palestinian cause, especially Jerusalem, to the entire Islamic Ummah as OIC’s ultimate and permanent headquarters.
It also confirmed the Arab and Islamic identity of East Jerusalem, the capital of the occupied Palestinian territories, and condemned illegal measures that aim to impose Israeli control, which will contribute to changing the status, demography and identity of this holy city.
The committee also condemned all statements and stances announced by US officials that defied Islamic holy places, explaining that there will be grave consequences to anything that poses a threat to international peace and security.
“The Islamic Ummah and OIC member states will not accept any hostile action that compromises the status of Jerusalem, and the OIC will work on immediately putting its resolutions into action,” the statement said.
The statement reiterated the sovereignty of the Palestinian state in all Palestinian territories that were occupied in 1967, including East Jerusalem, and in its borders with neighboring countries. The OIC pledged to stand in the way of any step that would negatively affect this.
The committee’s statement stressed that all legislative and administrative measures taken by Israel, the occupying state, to impose its regulations on Jerusalem are illegal and, therefore, null and illegitimate, according to the UN’s resolutions, and called upon it to distinguish between Israel and the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem.
OIC also called on all member states to cut ties with any official or non-official body that recognizes Israel’s annexation of the Holy City or transfers the city’s representation to Israel.
According to the statement, the road to achieving peace and security in the Middle East begins by not recognizing what Israel is doing and compelling it to withdraw from Palestine, especially Jerusalem, in the implementation of relevant international resolutions.
The OIC pointed out that if the US takes a step toward recognizing Jerusalem as the “capital of Israel,” the organization unanimously recommends holding an emergency meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers and then an emergency Islamic summit, provided a date and location are decided.
Organization of Islamic Cooperation says no compromise on Jerusalem
Organization of Islamic Cooperation says no compromise on Jerusalem
Experimental farm in Al-Lith looks into future of Saudi Arabian agriculture
- Research initiative reflects strategic transformation
JEDDAH: An experimental farm in Saudi Arabia’s Al-Lith Governorate is one of the research initiatives reflecting the strategic transformation taking place in the Kingdom’s agricultural sector.
The farm uses highly efficient, sustainable production models that combine scientific research with commercial application, contributing to strengthening the country’s food security system and the sustainability of water resources.
Located in the Ghumaiqa Center on an area of about 10 hectares, the cutting-edge farm is a testing platform for modern agricultural technologies that tackle the challenge of water scarcity.
The farm includes developed open fields and modern greenhouses, supported by smart irrigation encompassing drip and sprinkler irrigation alongside surface and subsurface technologies.
All the systems operate via smart controls that enable the monitoring of water consumption and ensure improved efficiency, thereby achieving a balance between agricultural production and water conservation.
The farm also uses treated and diluted low-salinity seawater.
It aims to diversify agricultural water sources, reduce reliance on freshwater, and open new horizons for agriculture in coastal and semi-arid environments.
The project represents a promising investment opportunity in the field of smart agriculture, enabling the development of commercially scalable production models, particularly for high-value vegetables and fruits, while reducing operational costs associated with water and energy, enhancing the economic feasibility of future agricultural projects.
In addition, the project contributes to transferring and localizing agricultural expertise, supporting local food supply chains, and creating an attractive environment for agricultural investment.
This aligns with Sustainable Development Goals and enhances the efficiency of the private sector in adopting innovative agricultural solutions.
Yahya bin Abdulrahman Al-Mahabi, the director of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture office in Al-Lith Governorate, told the Saudi Press Agency that the project represented the future of agriculture in the Kingdom.
He explained that the vision was based on investing in technology, enhancing the return on water per unit, and integrating scientific research with investment opportunities.
Al-Mahabi spoke of the experimental farm as a modern, scalable and replicable model applicable in several regions of the Kingdom, particularly in coastal environments.
Al-Mahabi highlighted the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture’s commitment to supporting distinctive projects that contributed to achieving food security while developing rural areas and enhancing agricultural production efficiency, in line with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
