Saudi FM Announces Launch of Work of Committee Tasked with Mobilizing Int’l Action to Stop War on Gaza

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah speaks during a press conference during the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit to discuss Gaza crisis, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 11, 2023. (Reuters)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah speaks during a press conference during the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit to discuss Gaza crisis, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 11, 2023. (Reuters)
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Saudi FM Announces Launch of Work of Committee Tasked with Mobilizing Int’l Action to Stop War on Gaza

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah speaks during a press conference during the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit to discuss Gaza crisis, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 11, 2023. (Reuters)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah speaks during a press conference during the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit to discuss Gaza crisis, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 11, 2023. (Reuters)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah announced on Saturday the launch of the work of the ministerial committee tasked with mobilizing international action to end the war on Gaza.

The committee will kick off its work from China.

The committee was formed at the Arab-Islamic summit that was held in Riyadh last week and that focused on the conflict in Gaza.

Officials at the summit decided to exert pressure to kick off a serious political process that would lead to lasting and comprehensive peace in the Palestinian territories in line with relevant international resolutions.

The foreign minister of Saudi Arabia and his counterparts in several countries, as well as the secretary-generals of the Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation, were tasked with leading the efforts of the committee.

Earlier on Saturday, Prince Faisal met with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell on the sidelines of the Manama Dialogue 2023 held in Bahrain.

The officials discussed the developments in Gaza with Prince Faisal reiterating the Kingdom's rejection of the continued military escalation and violations committed by Israeli forces against civilians, stressing the importance of stopping the escalation and forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza Strip.

Prince Faisal stressed the importance of securing urgent humanitarian corridors for sending relief assistance to children, women and civilians in Gaza, and called on the international community to take a stance against all flagrant violations of international humanitarian law practiced by the Israeli forces against civilians in Gaza.



Saudi Arabia Tops Edelman’s Trust Index for National Leadership

Edelman’s 2024 Annual Trust Barometer shows that 86% of Saudi citizens trust their government to make key decisions for the country’s goals (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Edelman’s 2024 Annual Trust Barometer shows that 86% of Saudi citizens trust their government to make key decisions for the country’s goals (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Tops Edelman’s Trust Index for National Leadership

Edelman’s 2024 Annual Trust Barometer shows that 86% of Saudi citizens trust their government to make key decisions for the country’s goals (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Edelman’s 2024 Annual Trust Barometer shows that 86% of Saudi citizens trust their government to make key decisions for the country’s goals (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia has topped the global trust rankings in Edelman’s 2024 Annual Trust Barometer. The report from the global consulting and PR firm shows that 86% of Saudi citizens trust their government to make key decisions for the country’s goals.
The 24th edition of the report also finds that 78% of respondents trust the Saudi business sector, and over 80% have strong confidence in the nation's leaders and scientists to manage innovation.
Despite global worries about new regulations and tech trends, Saudi Arabia scored a high trust level of 56%, the highest among the 28 countries surveyed.
The Kingdom also leads in trust regarding AI regulations, surpassing the US at 24%, France and Japan at 23%, the UK at 18%, Germany at 27%, and South Korea at 28%.
The report highlights trust in clean energy and AI as crucial for "Saudi Vision 2030". The Kingdom has a 68% trust level in regulated AI technologies, well above the global average of 50%.
Arent Jan Hesselink, CEO of Edelman Europe, Middle East, and Africa, noted that innovation is key to Saudi Arabia’s progress, but stressed the importance of clear communication and transparency to build trust in managing new technologies.
“Innovation is the protagonist of our annual Trust Barometer study this year. The public needs assurance that emerging technologies from business have been evaluated by scientists and effectively regulated by the government,” said Hesselink.
“People need to understand and feel in control over the impact of technological innovations in their lives,” he added.
Elie Azzi, General Manager at Edelman KSA, said: “Guided by high levels of public trust and the Kingdom’s solid confidence in government and their leadership in the transformative objectives of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, there is a real opportunity to demonstrate innovation's deep impact on both the economy and society. It's important for the Kingdom to continue to demonstrate through communications and storytelling that innovation will bring us a better future.”
“Saudi Arabia's proactive approach to innovation and a strong regulatory framework have resulted in a high level of trust in new technologies. This trust is crucial as the Kingdom advances towards its Vision 2030 and demonstrates how effective management and clear communication of technological advancements can result in widespread public support that drives economic growth”, Azzi commented.
The annual Edelman Trust Barometer surveyed 32,000 people across 28 countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Japan, Ireland, Canada, the UK, the Netherlands, Indonesia, South Korea, Russia, Germany, Australia, the US, Singapore, China, Argentina, Malaysia, Kenya, France, Brazil, South Africa, Thailand, Spain, Colombia, Hong Kong, Italy, Mexico, and India.
The report examines trust in business leaders, media, governments, and NGOs, guiding dialogue and priorities for the year ahead.