Staunch US ally Qatar to give $50 mln funding to Hamas govt

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2006/April/middleeast_April447.xml§ion=middleeast&col=

DOHA - Staunch US ally Qatar said on Monday it would give $50 million in aid to the Palestinian Authority despite calls from Washington and European Union to halt funding unless the Hamas-led government recognises Israel.

The Gulf Arab state, which hosted the command centre for the US military in the 2003 Iraq war, said the aid decision “stems from Qatar’s support for the Palestinian people”.

A Foreign Ministry official told the state-owned news agency part of the money was Qatar’s contribution to the $55 million a month pledged by Arab leaders to Hamas at a March summit.

It did not say how or when the money would reach the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority. Fearing US sanctions, many banks are refusing to do business with Hamas.

[saltpoint]

1. Poor Condi. She's going to be one busy bunny this year, sounds like.

[MissWaverly]

2. Freedom is on the March in the Middle East