U.S. ACKNOWLEDGES SAUDI SUPPORT FOR HAMAS

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The Bush administration has acknowledged that Saudi
Arabia has renewed funding to Palestinian insurgency groups.
Officials said the Treasury Department has determined that after a lull of
more than a year Riyad has relayed millions of dollars to Palestinian
insurgency groups.

They said most of the money was said to have been sent to Hamas.

"The United States shares Saudi Arabia's concern for meeting the
humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people," Deputy Assistant Secretary
Daniel Glaser said. "But it is vitally important for Saudi Arabia to act
resolutely against all terrorist organizations and to cut off support for
groups like Hamas."

On Tuesday, Glaser told the Senate Judiciary Committee that in August 2005
Saudi Arabia held a telethon in support of the Palestinian war against
Israel. He said the government established a bank account, termed Joint
Account 98, for Saudi contributions to Palestinian insurgency groups. The
telethon was sponsored by the Saudi Committee for the Support of the Al Aqsa
Intifada.
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