Saudi cabinet anticipates two-state solution talks, calls for Gaza ceasefire

Reiterating its position from the recent BRICS Plus 2024 Summit, the cabinet firmly opposed any escalation of conflict in the region. (SPA)
Short Url
Updated 29 October 2024
Follow

Saudi cabinet anticipates two-state solution talks, calls for Gaza ceasefire

  • Cabinet said Saudi Arabia was optimistic that this gathering will yield concrete measures to bolster international peace efforts, establish a timeline for a sovereign Palestinian state

The Saudi cabinet expressed optimism that Wednesday’s high-level meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution in Riyadh will establish a timeline for a sovereign Palestinian state and advance efforts to end the occupation.

Reiterating its position from the recent BRICS Plus 2024 Summit, the cabinet firmly opposed any escalation of conflict in the region.

It highlighted the serious threat that ongoing Israeli actions in Gaza pose to both regional and global security, calling for an immediate ceasefire, unobstructed humanitarian assistance, and a renewed commitment to achieving lasting peace.

The cabinet also stressed the importance of coordinated support for Lebanon, as articulated at the "International Conference in Support of the People and Sovereignty of Lebanon."

Saudi Arabia emphasized the need for collective assistance to help Lebanon navigate its current crisis, alleviate humanitarian impacts, and strengthen state institutions to fulfill their constitutional responsibilities and extend full sovereignty across all territories.

The cabinet also expressed gratitude for international pledges supporting displaced people and refugees in the Sahel and Lake Chad region, showcasing Saudi Arabia's commitment to global humanitarian efforts.

It welcomed participants at the 8th Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference, hosted under the patronage of King Salman, aiming to drive economic stability, development, and climate action.

The cabinet highlighted significant agreements at the Energy Localization Forum, with deals worth SR104 billion ($27.6 billion) to boost Saudi energy localization and workforce development.

It praised outcomes of the Multilateral Industrial Policy Forum (MIPF), focusing on industrial policy's role in global supply chains and technology adoption.

The cabinet also commended SR55 billion in investments launched at Riyadh's Global Health Exhibition to enhance healthcare technologies and partnerships. It also valued the inaugural Global Corporate Social Responsibility Forum, promoting sustainable social development in Saudi Arabia.

The cabinet approved various agreements, including a political consultation MoU with San Marino and authorized discussions with Bahrain, Qatar, and Estonia on cooperation to develop the small and medium enterprises sector, startups, and entrepreneurship.


Fragrance artisans weave heritage into Jazan Festival experience

Updated 02 January 2026
Follow

Fragrance artisans weave heritage into Jazan Festival experience

Riyadh: Perfumes are emerging as living connections to ancestral memory at the Jazan Festival 2026, which opened on Friday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

A narrative rooted in botanical origins is unfolding as veteran craftswomen showcase decades of accumulated wisdom, transforming the contents of native plants into small vessels that distill the human bond with terrain.

Aromas wafting through the space suggest imagery of regional ecosystems — fragrant vegetation cultivated across highland and lowland zones, harvested during optimal periods, then subjected to extended drying and distillation processes before materializing as perfumes and essences embodying geographical character, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Arranged fragrance containers resemble nature’s output, composed by skilled practitioners versed in harvest timing, plant dormancy requirements and scent extraction methods, yielding products preserving organic integrity and territorial identity.

Craftswoman Fatima bint Mohammed Al-Faifi has dedicated two decades to perfume production, characterizing regional practice as social custom interwoven throughout daily existence — deployed in guest reception, featured at celebrations, accompanying community gathering — elevating scent to cultural signature, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Festival attendees are discovering aromatic botanicals, absorbing production methodology explanations and discerning nuanced olfactory distinctions, demonstrating how craftsmanship blends persistence with expertise, tradition with innovation.

Perfume artisan involvement aligns with Jazan Festival’s initiative repositioning traditional crafts as dynamic, evolving culture while spotlighting women’s contributions safeguarding regional inheritance and expressing this through modern methods, the Saudi Press Agency reported.