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Cairo to host Arab meeting on backing Palestine next week

CAIRO, June 18 (KUNA) -- The Cairo-based Arab League announced on Tuesday an emergency meeting of finance ministers would be held earlier next week to discuss offering financial support to the Palestinian Authority (PA) so as to face the Israeli economic measures taken against Palestinians.
Speaking to reporters, Assistant Secretary General of the Arab League Ambassador Hossam Zaki said the gathering would come upon a call by the League's Secretary General Ahmad Abul Gheit, and in coordination and consultation with the Palestinian side.
This emergency meeting will come in implementation of the decision made by Arab League Foreign Ministers' emergency gathering hosted by Cairo last April, Zaki added.
During the Cairo gathering, Arab countries vowed to provide USD 100 million every month to Palestine, in implementation of Arab League summit hosted by Tunisia last March, he noted.
Palestine's financial position needs to be enhanced due to Israeli cutting of Palestinian tax revenues that caused a problem to the PA, Zaki pointed out.
He said that there are no specified proposals for providing financial support to Palestine, welcoming loans and grants offered by Arab countries and financial bodies in this respect.
Regarding the League's vision on the US workshop to be hosted by Bahrain and Palestine's rejection of this workshop, he said the Palestinian stance is logical in this matter.
He stated that the US proposal concerning the Palestinian cause is unclear, and there is no tangible action except for the US decisions taken against the Palestinians' interest that caused harm to their rights.
The League's support to the rights of Palestinian people is based on its decisions and the resolutions taken by the international legitimacy, he affirmed. (end) mfm.hm