Syria wants Arabs to step in if Palestinian aid cut
31 Jan 2006 16:14:40 GMT
Source: Reuters
DAMASCUS, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Syria said on Tuesday it would propose
that Arab nations compensate the Palestinians for any aid Western
powers might cut after the election victory of Islamist group Hamas,
the state-run SANA news agency reported.
The agency quoted Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara as saying Syria
would submit the proposal at an Arab summit in March.
"The move comes within the framework of the continuous Arab support to
the Palestinian people, and the respect of its will and choices," SANA
said.
The quartet of major powers trying to broker Middle East peace --
Russia, the European Union, the United States and the United Nations --
said earlier this week that Hamas must reject violence and recognise
Israel or risk losing the vital aid.
But Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday the world should
not cut off funding to the Palestinians after Hamas's victory.
Syria is a key Hamas supporter and has been under a U.S.-led
international pressure to expel the group's leadership from Damascus,
including politburo chief Khaled Meshaal.
Israel said it expected to suspend monthly tax payments to the
Palestinian Authority during a policy review after Hamas's win, a
decision that Hamas spokesman Mushir al-Masri described as an Israeli
attempt "to steal Palestinian money".
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