Under pressure, Israel allows Iraqi aid to Palestinians
Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Wednesday, February 28, 2001
TEL AVIV — Israel is allowing Iraqi supplies to enter the
Palestinian areas.
The move comes despite warnings by Israeli security officials that the
regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is using the aid to bolster support
for Baghdad among Palestinians and increase coordination with the
Palestinian Authority for any war against Israel.
Diplomatic sources said six trucks loaded with medicine and
equipment were cleared by Israeli authorities for entry into the West Bank.
The trucks contained equipment and milk donated by Iraq and Qatar and which
arrived from Jordan.
Palestinian sources said that at one point Israel stopped the Iraqi
supply of aid to the PA. But after appeals from the United States and
European Union Israel approved the resumption of shipments.
Iraq has also pumped in more than $6 million to families of Palestinians
killed in clashes with Israel, Palestinian sources said. The number is
disputed by Israeli sources, who said that most of the money went to pay
Iraqi agents
in the West Bank to purchase weapons.
The Palestinian Authority said that without emergency aid the
Palestinian economy will collapse. PA Finance Minister Mohammed Zohdi
Nashashibi said the PA has a deficit of hundreds of millions of dollars.
The EU has pledged to give $54.6 million to the PA over the next six
months. The grant was agreed by EU
foreign ministers, who called for a donors' conference to be held by April.
Wednesday, February 28, 2001
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