Arabs vow to 'break' aid blockade on Palestinians
Agence France-Presse - 13 November, 2006
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Arab foreign ministers gathered in Cairo vowed to ignore the aid freeze
imposed on the Palestinian Authority and start stepping up payments.

"We are determined to find means of getting aid directly to the Palestinian
people," Qatari Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr al-Thani told
reporters.

Palestinian foreign minister Mahmud Zahar hailed the decision as "extremely
important", arguing it could pave the way for the formation of a national
unity government and a lifting of the international boycott.

"The Arab decision to lift the blockade is extremely important, it means
that Arabs will revert to using the usual means to transfer aid," he told
reporters.

Western donors cut financial aid to the Palestinian Authority after Hamas
took the helm of the Palestinian government in March, demanding the radical
movement renounce violence and recognise Israel's right to exist.

Zahar admitted that "it will take time" before funds start flowing back to
the Palestinian Authority's empty coffers but stressed that "the decision
will facilitate the formation of Palestinian national unity government."

"We will build on this Arab decision to break the blockade to seek a lifting
of the international blockade," said Zahar, who was attending his first Arab
foreign ministers meeting at the League headquarters.

"The decision taken by the Arab League today constitutes an important
political support to the Palestinians," he said.

The Palestinian Authority has been practically bankrupt since its two
biggest donors -- the United States and European Union -- suspended direct
aid after Hamas was voted to power.

Tens of thousands of civil servants have not been paid in months and banks
have shied away from transferring donations for fear of financial sanctions
by the West.

Arab officials in Cairo Sunday give no indication as to what the incentive
might be for banks to resume transfers to the Palestinian Authority.

"Arab banks are to transfer the funds without abiding by any restrictions
imposed on the banks. Arab banks must transfer the funds," Arab League
Secretary General Amr Mussa simply said.

Zahar announced that Kuwait had just transferred 30 million dollars to the
authority but did not specify how.

The Palestinian foreign minister said earlier Sunday that the costs of
rebuilding the north Gaza town of Beit Hanun after deadly Israeli shelling
amounts to 50 million dollars.

"The Beit Hanun region is a devastated zone which will require around 50
million dollars to rebuild all that was destroyed after the latest Israeli
offensive, and to lend urgent and immediate help to the families of the
martyrs and the wounded," he said.

On Wednesday, Israeli shelling of Beit Hanun killed 19 Palestinians as they
slept, most of them women and children. The botched attack was blamed by
Israel on faulty targeting radar.

Zahar had also voiced his hope that Arab countries would recognise the Rafah
crossing point between Egypt and the Gaza Strip as a "Palestinian-Egyptian
post only" and that pressure would be exerted to ensure it is permanently
re-opened.

"We failed on this," he admitted after the meeting, suggesting Egypt had
refused to challenge Israel's frequent closures of crossing point, Gazans'
only gateway to the rest of the world.

In their final statement, Arab foreign ministers voiced their "utmost
indignation" at the veto used by the United States Saturday to block a
resolution condemning the Beit Hanun raid.

They also called for the "immediate release of Palestinian prisoners and the
release of the Israeli soldier" Gilad Shalit, who was captured by
Palestinian groups, including a group linked to the ruling Hamas movement on
June 25, sparking a widescale offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The Qatari foreign minister called for a conference on a regional issues
that would group "Israel, involved Arab countries and the five permanent
members of the UN Security Council."