RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is monitoring the situation, while several Lebanese politicians still continue trading accusations over the Saudi decision to halt the $4 billion aid to the Lebanese security forces.
In a dramatic turn of events, however, Lebanese Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi resigned from the cabinet on Sunday, saying that the Hezbollah terrorist group is harming Beirut’s relations with Arab countries.
“The Kingdom is keeping an eye on the situation, but it is too early to draw conclusions,” said Ali Awad Asiri, Saudi ambassador to Lebanon, in a statement released to Ashraq Al-Awsat.
Asiri said that “the embassy is carefully watching the Lebanese reaction toward the Saudi decision, especially the reports of non-Lebanese irresponsible media… that serves no interests.”
Asiri said that “the picture is clear now; there are parties that want to destroy Lebanon on the one hand, and on the other, there are parties, who want to protect it.”
His remarks follow Saudi Arabia’s announcement on Friday that it has halted a $4 billion program for military supplies to Lebanon in protest against Hezbollah’s anti-Arab policies.
In fact, Lebanese Minister Rifi attributed the cause of his resignation to the growing clout of Hezbollah, a group supporting Iran and opposing Arab solidarity.
The resignation of Rifi, a longtime critic of the Hezbollah, comes two days after Saudi Arabia halted deals aimed at equipping and supporting Lebanese security forces.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has strongly backed the Saudi decision, raising concerns it could have repercussions for thousands of Lebanese living and working in Gulf countries.
The Saudi decision came after Lebanese Foreign Minister Gibran Bassil declined to support Saudi resolutions against Iran during two major meetings of Arab and Muslim foreign ministers.
Bassil dared to offend Saudi Arabia at the request of Hezbollah, Rifi said.
“The practices of Hezbollah and its allies are not acceptable and staying in the government means approving them.”
Current Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam, however, has called on the Kingdom to reconsider its decision.
Rifi has also been campaigning against last month’s release of former Information Minister Michel Samaha, a close ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Samaha was convicted by a Lebanese military court on charges of plotting bombings at the behest of Syria.
He was sentenced in May to four-and-a-half years in prison.
In yet another blow, which may or may not be related to the ongoing tiff; the National Commercial Bank (NCB) of Saudi Arabia announced that it will close its branches in Lebanon.
“The two NCB branches in Beirut formed part of the NCB International Banking Segment and their closure will have no financial impact on the bank’s current financial statements,” said a bourse filing.
Referring to the hostile attitude shown by a section of Lebanese officials toward Arab nations including the Kingdom; Adam M. Shalan, a professor of political science, said that “Lebanon, or for that matter any other nation, should not take the Saudi support for granted.”
The Kingdom, he said, has been giving aid and sending relief supplies to a number of poor nations across the world including Lebanon.
To this end, it must be noted that the Kingdom also continues to provide relief and humanitarian aid to Syrian refugees taking shelter in Lebanon.
On Sunday also, a total of 4,700 winter clothes were distributed by the Kingdom among Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
Walid Jalal, chief of Saudi relief operations in Lebanon, pointed out that more than 470 Syrian families benefited from the relief supplies.
Disgust grows over Hezbollah’s ploys
Disgust grows over Hezbollah’s ploys
Saudi Arabia advocates for global cooperation to end hunger, ensure food security
- Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti says agriculure is agriculture is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development
- He was speaking at the A World Without Hunger” conference in Addis Ababa
RIYADH: The Kingdom sees agriculture as a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development and supporting economic growth, Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti said this week.
Al-Mushaiti led the Saudi delegation to the three-day “A World Without Hunger” conference that began on Tuesday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
During his conference speech, Al-Mushaiti said that agriculture also played a key role in job creation and prosperity for local communities. This came through the strengthening of farmer support systems and the promotion of modern agricultural practices to increase production and improve efficiency, ultimately achieving food security.
“The significant progress made in science, innovation and modern technologies has contributed to addressing many urgent global food challenges,” Al-Mushaiti said. “However, the advancement achieved in enhancing food security remains insufficient. This underscores the crucial importance of intensifying global efforts and activating policies to develop practical and effective solutions.”
The deputy minister said that direct food aid and humanitarian relief efforts had played a key role in providing short-term solutions to food insecurity in many countries. He said that the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center had implemented about 900 food security projects in 78 countries worldwide, reflecting the Kingdom’s humanitarian role and support for peoples facing severe conditions.
Al-Mushaiti said that boosting investment in the agriculture and food sectors had become paramount to building a world free of hunger. This could be achieved through adopting innovation and modern farming techniques, as well as providing flexible financing solutions to increase production and build resilience in agricultural and food systems.
“The Kingdom welcomes agricultural investments in all fields and offers incentives and support for investors globally,” Al-Mushaaiti said. “We seek to expand agricultural investment in countries with competitive advantages, abundant natural resources and growing markets, to leverage integrated agricultural capabilities and create more job opportunities toward achieving food security.”
Al-Mushaaiti stressed the need to strengthen multilateral international cooperation and engagement with global organizations, in addition to promoting fair trade in line with WTO standards. This, he said, would contribute to building a world free of hunger, alongside other essential steps such as exchanging best agricultural practices and technologies, expanding access to innovative financing, and enhancing infrastructure and social safety net programs.
Al-Mushaiti said that the Kingdom had taken several steps in this direction. This included launching programs and initiatives such as the Sustainable Rural Agricultural Development Program, which contributed to increasing the income of small-scale farmers and improving their living standards, and the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority“Monsha’at” Authority to support micro, small and medium enterprises in the sector, through financing, training and job opportunities, and other ambitious projects and programs that worked to support the agricultural sector and activate its contribution to achieving food security.
The “A World Without Hunger” conference was organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the African Union Commission and the Ethiopian government, with the participation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, to discuss topics related to the agriculture, food production and technology sectors, as well as food security, finance, food safety, infrastructure and more.
Sudanese cultural festival begins at Suwaidi Park
RIYADH: A cultural festival at Suwaidi Park is inviting visitors to explore the rich heritage and traditions of Sudan.
Part of Riyadh Season, the event takes place until Nov. 17 and features Sudanese music, dancing, food and crafts.
Content creator Hamoud Waleed said cultural festivals played a key role in building connections and understanding.
“Events like this are very important because sometimes you can’t go to see their tradition and culture. But when these cultures come to us here … it lets us know more and more about other people, how they live, what their interests are, and how we can engage with them,” he said.
“When we talk about Sudanese culture, it’s beautiful and comes from a very old history and nice heritage, and when it comes to us, it lets us know more about it, and this is exactly what we are seeing here in Suwaidi Park.”
Sudanese nationals make up 6.1 percent of the Kingdom’s population, according to the Saudi Census, so such exhibitions are important in promoting mutual respect and harmony between communities.
Sudanese singer Youssef Khairy highlighted the diversity of his culture, explaining how sharing traditions strengthened bonds between different people.
“Music unites us all, regardless of colors, shapes, languages, religions, or ways of thinking,” he said. “I am here to represent Nubian music, Nubian heritage and the Nubian civilization.”
Live music and dance performances during the festival are bringing Sudanese heritage to life and offering audiences an authentic cultural experience.
Visitor Olaa Abdulnaaem said these, along with the lively atmosphere, and engaging children’s activities, were standout features for her.
Hiam Othman, a Sudanese attire designer, said the festival had significantly promoted her business. “Our products have been well-received, and they reflect our Sudanese culture,” she said.
Riyadh Season 2024 has already drawn 4 million visitors from around the world, according to Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. He believes the surge in attendance reflects a growing appetite for cultural exploration and new experiences.
The festival is part of the Global Harmony initiative by the Ministry of Media and the General Entertainment Authority, which is aligned with the goals of the Quality of Life Program. The scheme celebrates the Kingdom’s multicultural landscape by highlighting the lives, contributions and cultural integration of its residents.
In the coming weeks, Global Harmony will celebrate a variety of cultures. After the Sudanese festival there will be a Jordanian, Lebanese and Syrian event from Nov. 17-19, Bangladeshi from Nov. 20-23, and Egyptian from Nov. 24-30.
Launched on Oct. 17, the initiative began with music and dance honoring the culture of Indian expatriates.
KSrelief delivers winter aid and dates to Yemen’s vulnerable
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has delivered dates and winter shelter to vulnerable people in Yemen, the Saudi Press Agency reported late Thursday.
KSrelief’s volunteers distributed 100 winter bags in Thamud district, Hadhramaut governorate, for 600 individuals from 100 vulnerable families.
The aid is a part of the agency’s emergency shelter project in the country.
Meanwhile, 2,459 cartons of dates were delivered in Al-Wadi district, Marib governorate, for the benefit of 14,754 people.
KSrelief continues international relief efforts in Chad, Pakistan
RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has delivered aid to people most in need in Chad and Pakistan, reported the Saudi Press Agency.
Some 201 food parcels, benefiting 1,206 people, were distributed in the village of Sharkaya, in Hajar Lamis province, as part of the 2024 Food Security Support Project in the Republic of Chad.
Aid has also been given to 10,500 vulnerable people in flood-affected areas of Pakistan as part of the fourth phase of KSrelief’s initiative to provide shelter materials and winter bags to the country.
Saudi agency KSrelief delivers food, hygiene kits in Syria
- The aid is a part of KSrelief’s projects to support earthquake-affected people in northern Syria
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has distributed food and hygiene kits to thousands of vulnerable people across Syria, the Saudi Press Agency reported late Thursday.
The agency’s volunteers delivered 750 food parcels and 750 hygiene kits in Al-Hasakah, Syria, benefiting 4,500 people.
Meanwhile 745 Syrian families, comprising 2,652 people, in Al-Dana, Idlib governorate, received food and hygiene kits.
The aid is a part of KSrelief’s projects to support earthquake-affected people in northern Syria.
