LOC23:33
20:33 GMT
GAZA, Jan 16 (KUNA) -- Saudi Arabia has decided to give the Palestinian
government in the West Bank USD 100 million to help ease out its financial
trouble.
This came in a phone call between Saudi Minister of Finance Ibrahim
Al-Assaf and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday evening.
In the phone conversation, the Saudi minister informed the Palestinian
leader about Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz's decision to transfer USD 100
million to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), Palestinian News and
Information Agency (WAFA) reported.
Abbas thanked the Saudi king for this good gesture, which comes at a time
when the Palestinian government is locked in serious financial trouble, it
said.
Ramallah-based Palestinian government has been hard-pressed to pay more
than USD 300 million in monthly expenses since Israel froze USD 100 million it
collects in monthly tax earnings. (end)
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