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Arab Aid to Palestinians Often Doesn't Fulfill Pledges

[Washington Post ] Glenn Kessler - Despite pledges of support for the Palestinian Authority by nearly two dozen Arab nations, only a handful of Arab countries are sending even a small portion of the money they promised. Only Algeria, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have contributed funds this year, while oil-rich countries such as Libya, Kuwait and Qatar have sent nothing and still owe the Palestinian government more than $700 million in past-due pledges. European governments, the World Bank and the U.S. have provided more than three times as much money as Arab countries this year to keep the PA afloat. After the collapse of a unity government that had included Hamas in June 2007, the PA received only $73 million from Arab countries in the second half of 2007, compared with $371 million given by the Arabs to the unity government in the first half of the year. Arab diplomats said there is little trust that the PA will use their contributions wisely.
2008-07-28 01:00:00
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