Oman announced Saturday it was sending nearly $3.4 million to support the Palestinians' uprising to Israeli occupation. "The sultanate has given 1.3 billion riyals ($3.38 million) to the Omani ambassador in Palestine, Salem bin Fakkhar Al-Shanfari, who came to Muscat for this reason," said Mohammed bin Ali bin Nasser Al-Alawi, the minister of state for judicial affairs.
Oman, which has already sent 20 tons of medical supplies to the Palestinians, on October 12 announced it was closing its trade office in Tel Aviv and Israel's office in Muscat, the first such move by an Arab country since the violence erupted in September.
Kuwait, meanwhile, said it was ready to send $350,000 for medical aid to the Palestinians. Health Minister Mohammed Al-Jarallah said Kuwait had already sent the Palestinians urgent humanitarian help and a medical team aboard two planes.
Kuwait also previously pledged $150 million to two assistance funds for the Palestinians, set up at the emergency Cairo summit of Arab leaders in October. Some Palestinians injured in the recent violence have received medical treatment in Kuwait, despite lingering bitterness over Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's embrace of Iraq in its 1990 invasion of the kingdom. — (AFP, Muscat)
© Agence France Presse 2000
© 2000 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
