RIYADH: Saudi authorities arrested 19,710 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

According to an official report, a total of 12,961 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 4,177 were held over illegal border crossing attempts, and a further 2,572 for labor-related issues.

The report showed that among the 979 people arrested for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 54 percent were Ethiopian, 43 percent Yemeni, and 3 percent were of other nationalities.

A further 46 people were caught trying to cross into neighboring countries, and 12 were held for involvement in transporting and harboring violators.

The Saudi Ministry of Interior said that anyone found to be facilitating illegal entry to the Kingdom, including providing transportation and shelter, could face imprisonment for a maximum of 15 years, a fine of up to SR1 million ($260,000), as well as confiscation of vehicles and property.

Suspected violations can be reported on the toll-free number 911 in the Makkah and Riyadh regions, and 999 or 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Friday welcomed the adoption by the UN General Assembly of a resolution recognizing that the State of Palestine, currently an observer state, qualifies for full membership of the organization.

The 193-member assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of the resolution, which also recommended that the Security Council reconsider the matter “favorably” and grant Palestine most of the rights and benefits that come with full membership.

The Kingdom’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the decision clearly expressed the international consensus on the inherent rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to establish an independent state within the framework of a two-state solution.

It added: “While the Kingdom appreciates the positive position of the countries that voted in favor of the resolution, it calls on the member states of the Security Council to assume their historical responsibility and not oppose the international consensus and stand up to the moral and legal right of the Palestinian people.”

In the vote on the resolution by the General Assembly, 143 members voted in favor, nine against, including US and Israel, and 25 abstained.