Financial Support Necessary for PA’s Stability, says Arab League Chief
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RAMALLAH, December 29, 2012 (WAFA) – Arab League Secretary General Nabil
Elaraby Saturday stressed financial support for the Palestinian Authority
(PA) even before political support.

However, Elaraby said after meeting President Mahmoud Abbas that the Arab
League wants to take the Palestinian cause back to the Security Council to
change the current approach to the peace process which has not produced any
results so far.

Elaraby, who arrived in Ramallah along with Egyptian Foreign Minister
Mohammad Kamel Amr on an official short visit, said the Arab countries had
approved a monthly safety net of $100 million to support the PA financially
but that this money has not yet been delivered.

He stressed the importance of keeping the PA financially sound to help it to
continue providing services to its people.

On the political level, Elaraby said that any measures adopted by PA will be
supported by the Arab countries in order to change the status quo because
the current policies cannot continue any longer.

He stressed that following talks with world powers, the Middle East conflict
will be taken back to the United Nations Security Council “with a goal to
end the conflict and not just to manage it.”

Amr praised and congratulated Abbas for the successful November 29 vote at
the United Nations General Assembly that upgraded Palestine’s status to
non-member state.

He said that Egyptian President Muhammad Morsi has invited Abbas to visit
Cairo in the near future to push forward Palestinian reconciliation talks.

He said, “Egypt and the Arab world believe in the importance of the
reconciliation and its impact on the current situation.”

Presidential secretary, Tayeb Abdul Rahim, and Foreign Minister Riyad
al-Malki received Elaraby and Amr when they arrived on a Jordanian army
helicopter at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah.

Malki said Abbas discussed with his guests the Palestinian financial
situation and expressed hope that the Arab countries would fulfill their
obligations to the PA.

Abbas briefed Elaraby and Amr on the recent escalation in settlement
activities particularly the E1 project and its devastating effects as well
as steps the PA would take following Palestine’s new status at the UN.

M.H./M.S.