Gaza on verge of famine as war escalates, ceasefire talks stall    Gaza crisis, trade on agenda as Trump hosts Starmer in Scotland    Obama calls for aid access to Gaza, says 'no justification' for withholding food    Egyptian president follows up on initiatives to counter extremist thought    Egypt's SCZONE eyes deeper investment, port digitalisation ties with Singapore    Egypt's gold prices slip slightly on July 28th    Egypt's Housing Min. reviews HDP marketing plan    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egypt, South Africa pledge to deepen development cooperation at G20 meeting    Egypt's PM orders road maintenance review, tougher penalties to curb accidents    Egypt, Novartis explore expanding collaboration in oncology, cardiology    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Midar partners with Adeer to develop Boulevard project in Mostakbal City with EGP 70bn investment    Association of Real Estate Developers seeks urgent meeting over threatened land deallocation on Northwest Coast    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Sudan's ambassador to Egypt holds reconstruction talks on with Arab League    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Egypt welcomes 25-nation statement urging end to Gaza war    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt foils terrorist plot, kills two militants linked to Hasm group    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Arabs resume financial aid to Palestinians, $100 million sent to Abbas
Published in Daily News Egypt on 06 - 07 - 2006


Associated Press
CAIRO: The Arab League has transferred some $50 million to the Palestinians, the first funding since international aid was cut off after the Hamas militant group won legislative elections, a top Palestinian official and the Arab League said Tuesday.
Saudi Arabia was also expected to transfer another $50 million to the Palestinian Authority on Tuesday, the Arab League said.
Nabil Shaath, an aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said the Arab aid money bypassed the Hamas government and was transferred directly to Abbas on Monday.
The Palestinian president will control how the funds are spent, he said.
The EU, the U.S. and other donors froze hundreds of millions of dollars in direct aid to the Palestinian government after Hamas won elections in January, demanding that the group recognize Israel and cease all support of terrorism.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa in Cairo, Shaath said the Arab League had transferred half of the $100 million, while Saudi Arabia planned to directly transfer the other half later in the day.
This is a glimpse of hope ... and a step toward squeezing-out of the siege, said Shaath.
Moussa said the Hamas-led government had had knowledge of the transfer. The transfer was in complete coordination with the Palestinian government, he said
Since March, Arab states have collected more than $100 million in aid for the Palestinians, but the money could not be transferred because international banks refused to allow the Arab League to transfer funds electronically to Palestinian territories, fearing sanctions from the U.S., which labels Hamas a terror group.
Shaath and Moussa did not specify how the funds were transferred to the Palestinian Authority on Monday, or where the money had come from.
The Hamas government, nearly bankrupted by the international sanctions, has resorted to bringing cash in suitcases to help keep itself afloat.
Twice last month, globe-trotting Palestinian cabinet ministers returned to the impoverished Gaza Strip at the border crossing with Egypt with millions of dollars stuffed in their luggage.
The ministers did not specify who had donated the cash. International sponsors of a stalled Mideast peace plan agreed last month to channel aid to Palestinians for health care, utilities and social services, while continuing to boycott the militant-led government.
Major world donors set a mechanism through which international aid would be provided to keep the Palestinian economy afloat, and urged the Arab governments to follow suit. This channel was set to be managed by the World Bank and the EU, working with Abbas, whose Fatah movement is the main political rival of Hamas.
While non-Arab League donors have not so far sent aid to the Palestinians through the channel they created, Moussa said the league had been in contact with the international mechanism over its transfer on Monday.
Money can be transferred if it is going to the President and if it is under his supervision, his deputy Mohammed Sobeih told The Associated Press.
The EU has said foreign funds would not be used to pay the salaries of Palestinian government workers, which Israel opposes, but could be used, for social allowances to health workers and needy families.
Shaath did not specify on Tuesday how Abbas will disburse the money received from the Arab League and Saudi Arabia Shaath s announcement came amid mounting Palestinian-Israeli tension over the abduction of Israeli serviceman Cpl. Gilad Shalit by Gaza-based militants affiliated to Hamas.


Clic here to read the story from its source.