Arab aid to the Palestinians

Israel's mendacity is causing extreme hardship for Palestinians. Not just in the political arena, which is well reported, but on the economic front as well. Palestinians are financially crippled and unable to work, their savings having eroded long ago. Farmers are unable to sell their fruit and vegetables in Israeli markets as Israeli security forces have dug up the roads; wide, deep trenches make it impassable for vehicles, impossible for pedestrians.

Palestinians are destitute and suffering: suffering from ill- health, from want and from oppression at the merciless hands of Israelis.

Good enough reason, therefore for Palestinian leaders to remind the Arab summit in Jordan this week that it promised over $1 billion in aid last October. Palestinians have seen little of it. About one-third has been channeled to a special bank account but only 10 per cent has been paid out. Maybe the reluctance of Arab leaders to give to such a worthy cause lies in the rumors and accusations of corruption within the folds of the Palestinian Authority.

Arafat is looking to Arab leaders to make good their promises of six months ago and to allow West Bank and Gaza residents to work in other Arab countries. The Arab world is surely ready to oblige, but first Arafat must ensure he is unencumbered by accusations of corruption or inefficiency within the Palestinian Authority.

-- The Gulf News, Dubai, United Arab Emirates