Region | Egypt
Arab ministers to meet on funding project
The Arab governments are considering providing the new Hamas-led government in the Palestinian territories with millions of dollars in funding despite US opposition, the head of the Arab League said on Sunday.
- AP
- Published: 00:00 February 20, 2006
Cairo: The Arab governments are considering providing the new Hamas-led government in the Palestinian territories with millions of dollars in funding despite US opposition, the head of the Arab League said on Sunday.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice cautioned Iran and other Middle East powers of the consequences for the region of giving money to a Palestinian government led by Hamas.
She also expressed doubt that the militant group could raise badly needed international financing unless it changes its policies.
Foreign ministers from several Arab countries will be meeting in Algiers today to work out plans to send some $50 million (Dh183.5 million) monthly to the Palestinian National Authority, Arab League Secretary General Amr Mousa said.
The money is part of a funding project the Arab League approved last year before Hamas's election victory in January during a summit in Algiers.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar have already provided funding to the financially strapped PNA and more money is on its way, Mousa said.
But a final decision on funding is not expected until Arab leaders meet in a summit next month in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.
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