PALESTINE: Promised aid not delivered

Wednesday, October 23, 2002 - 10:00

BY ROHAN PEARCE

Although most leaders of the Arab countries claim to support for the Palestinian national liberation struggle, a recent report by the 22-member Arab League indicates that this commitment is primarily verbal.

The October 15 Jordan Times revealed that of the US$330 million in aid that the Arab League had promised to provide to the Palestinian Authority between April and September, only $145 million had been received. The aid was agreed to at the league's March summit in Beirut. Only Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman have met their commitments.

Israel's military rampage in the West Bank and Gaza Strip have almost completely destroyed what little infrastructure existed there. Since the beginning of the intifada in September 2000, Israel's government has withheld more than $600 million in tax revenues owed to the PA.

From Green Left Weekly, October 23, 2002.

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From GLW issue 513