(MEMRI) - Steven Stalinsky For decades the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been the main financial supporter of Palestinian groups fighting Israel. According to a report based entirely on official Saudi government sources, the Popular Committee for Assisting Palestinian Mujahideen, the Support Committee for the Al-Quds Intifada, and the Al-Aqsa Fund have to date (1998-2003) given over US$4 billion and reportedly pledged up to $1 billion to finance the continuation of the intifada, which is commonly referred to by Saudi officials as "Jihad" and "resistance." Headed by Prince Salman Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, the Governor of Riyadh, the Popular Committee for Assisting the Palestinian Mujahideen was established in 1967. The Arab summit held in Cairo in October 2000 adopted the recommendation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to establish "The Fund of the Al-Quds Intifada," for the families of Palestinian martyrs, and "The Al-Aqsa Fund," to finance projects to help preserve the Arab and Islamic characteristics of Jerusalem, and to enable the Palestinians to liberate themselves. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abd Al-Aziz said Saudi Arabia would pay one-quarter of the $1 billion capital for the two funds, while King Fahd Ibn Abd Al-Aziz would undertake the support of 1,000 Palestinian families of martyrs. Governors of all regions in Saudi Arabia initiated campaigns for every citizen to donate to the Al-Quds Intifada Fund. Prince Nayef bin Abd Al-Aziz, Interior Minister of Saudi Arabia, is chairman of "The Saudi Committee for the Al-Quds Intifada" and the "Al-Aqsa Fund." This is in addition to Prince Nayef's separate support committee, which has donated (US$5,333) to each martyr's family. All funds for the Palestinian Mujahideen Committee go directly to the PLO, while funds from the Al-Quds Committee and Al-Aqsa Fund go to the PA.
2003-07-04 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive