Saudi Source Denies Meeting Held between Minister of Commerce and Israeli Official 

Saudi Commerce Minister Dr. Majid al-Qasabi is seen at the13th ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization in Abu Dhabi. (Dr. al-Qasabi on  the X platform)
Saudi Commerce Minister Dr. Majid al-Qasabi is seen at the13th ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization in Abu Dhabi. (Dr. al-Qasabi on the X platform)
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Saudi Source Denies Meeting Held between Minister of Commerce and Israeli Official 

Saudi Commerce Minister Dr. Majid al-Qasabi is seen at the13th ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization in Abu Dhabi. (Dr. al-Qasabi on  the X platform)
Saudi Commerce Minister Dr. Majid al-Qasabi is seen at the13th ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization in Abu Dhabi. (Dr. al-Qasabi on the X platform)

A Saudi source denied on Monday social media posts about a meeting being held between Commerce Minister Dr. Majid al-Qasabi and an Israeli official.

In a statement, the source referred to a video showing Dr. al-Qasabi and an Israeli official at the World Trade Organization's (WTO's) 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi. The source said the video was filmed as Dr. al-Qasabi was standing alongside his Nigerian counterpart ahead of the opening of the conference.

The source noted that an unknown individual approached the minister to offer greetings and later identified himself as the minister of economy in the Israeli occupation government.

Moreover, the source emphasized “the Kingdom's steadfast stance on the Palestinian cause and its support for the resilience of the Palestinian people against Israeli aggression.”



GCC Welcomes Agreement between Yemen Govt, Houthis

Hans Grundberg, the U.N. special representative for Yemen, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Cairo, Egypt, on Aug. 28, 2023. (AP)
Hans Grundberg, the U.N. special representative for Yemen, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Cairo, Egypt, on Aug. 28, 2023. (AP)
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GCC Welcomes Agreement between Yemen Govt, Houthis

Hans Grundberg, the U.N. special representative for Yemen, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Cairo, Egypt, on Aug. 28, 2023. (AP)
Hans Grundberg, the U.N. special representative for Yemen, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Cairo, Egypt, on Aug. 28, 2023. (AP)

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi welcomed on Wednesday the agreement between the legitimate Yemeni government and Iran-backed Houthi militias to de-escalate the situation with regard to the Yemeni banking sector and airlines.

The agreement was announced by the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, on Tuesday.

Albudaiwi expressed the GCC's support for all regional and international efforts and the efforts led by the UN special envoy aimed at achieving peace and security in Yemen.

The announcement underscores the importance the international community attaches to the Yemeni crisis, he added, hoping the agreement will pave the way for Yemeni parties to start the political process, under UN auspices, to reach a comprehensive political solution that achieves security and stability in the country.

He reiterated the GCC's continued support and full solidarity with Yemen, its government and people, and its keenness to encourage all efforts to de-escalate and maintain stability in order to reach peace.