Saudi Arabia has called for decisive action to stop the bloodshed in Syria. It also favors imposition of stiff penalties against the regime if it continues to ignore international calls for peace.

The Cabinet meeting here Monday, presided over by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, also said President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime “must immediately end the massacres and fully implement the... (UN) plan aimed at reaching a political solution in line with the aspirations of the Syrian people,” Dr. Abdul Aziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, said.

The Cabinet supported the communiqué issued by the Friends of Syria conference in Paris that urged the United Nations Security Council to issue an urgent binding resolution under Chapter 7 to include Kofi Annan’s peace plan and the Geneva accord to allow political transition in Syria.

The Council also condemned the continued Israeli atrocities against Palestinians and the confiscation of their lands to expand settlements and stressed the importance of taking effective measures to deter Israel from continuing its hostile policies.

The King, Khoja said, also briefed the Cabinet on the consultations, messages and contacts he made last week with leaders and envoys of friendly countries regarding regional and international developments.

On domestic issues, on the recommendation of the Shoura Council, the Cabinet approved two memorandums of understanding between the Kingdom and Qatar in the field of conservation of environment and meteorology.

It also approved a plan to set up a permanent headquarters for the Higher Judiciary Council, High Court, Court of Appeals, Higher Administrative Court, Administrative Appeal Courts and other courts.