JEDDAH: Many Palestinian refugees who have been scattered around the world as a result of the Israeli occupation are looking forward to reunions with their relatives during Haj.
In addition to being a religious duty and a spiritual experience, Haj is an excellent opportunity for Palestinian pilgrims to meet their relatives and friends whom they have not seen for years.
News agencies recently carried photos of some 1,200 Palestinian pilgrims at Beirut’s Rafiq Al-Hariri Airport as they waited for their flights to Saudi Arabia. Many of the travelers look forward to being reunited with their dear ones for a few days.
One pilgrim, Umm Ibrahim, said that she was performing Haj for the first time and was hoping to meet her relatives from the Palestinian territories whom she has never seen.
“Words cannot express how thrilled and excited I am. I hope all Muslims will get a chance to perform Haj.
“I was born in Beirut 62 years ago and have never met some of my relatives. And now, I am going to see them for the first time during the Haj rituals,” she said with undisguised happiness and enthusiasm.
The head of Lebanon’s Haj and Umrah Affairs Committee, Ibrahim Etani, said that 4,800 Haj visas had been given by Saudi Arabia to Lebanon; the number includes 1,200 for Palestinian refugees. In Lebanon, there are approximately 460,000 Palestinians living in 12 refugee camps.
Palestinian refugees eager for Haj reunion
Palestinian refugees eager for Haj reunion
Saudi Cabinet reviews cooperation and agreements with other nations
- Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chairs meeting and briefs ministers on his recent meeting with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi
- Cooperative efforts includes projects focusing on development and education, political consultations, environmental protection, health, investment and air transport
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers reviewed a number of domestic and international matters during a session in Jeddah on Tuesday chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The crown prince briefed the Cabinet on his recent meeting with the Egyptian president, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, which included discussions about regional security and stability, the latest developments in the Middle East, and other topics of importance to the Arab and Islamic world, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
He also shared with ministers the contents of a letter he received from the president of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The council discussed progress in cooperative efforts involving Saudi Arabia and other countries including Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Estonia, Cuba and Kiribati, and approved a number of memorandums of understanding.
The cooperation includes projects focusing on development and education, political consultations, environmental protection, health, investment and air-transport services, the press agency said. Ministers also approved an agreement between the Saudi General Authority for Awqaf and its Omani counterpart relating to endowments.
They reviewed national initiatives, including one for the promotion of charitable work, and the enhancement of humanitarian and developmental efforts across the country.
A merger of the National Competitiveness Center with the Saudi Center for Economic Business to create a combined Saudi Competitiveness and Business Center was authorized.
