Palestinian official reports Saudi Arabia and Qatar engages US$33 million in immediate support

Saudi Arabia and Qatar pledged Wednesday to transfer US$33 million (euro27 million) to the Palestinian Authority to ease a severe budget crisis, a senior Palestinian government official said. Saudi Arabia promised US $20 million (euro16.5 million) and Qatar pledged US$13 million (euro11 million) in quick aid to help the Palestinian Authority pay January salaries to 137,000 employees, the official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been finalized.

Earlier, Israeli officials said they were suspending the monthly transfer of millions of dollars in tax and customs revenues to the Palestinians in light of last week's victory of the Islamic militant Hamas in parliament elections, reports the AP.

D.M.