Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, requested a meeting of the Arab League to discuss additional financial aid for the Palestinians. Arab League Secretary General Nabil Al-Arabi agreed to the meeting, which will take place Tuesday.Abbas and PM Salam Fayyad will join Deputy Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Ben Helliin, in addressing the delegates. They will appeal to the council to further assist the PA financially.
The request comes as the PA is dealing with significant financial shortcomings. PM Fayad stated that in June the PA was only able to pay half salaries to its civil servants. He attributed the shortcomings to the failure of donor countries to meet their aid obligations to the Palestinians.
Deputy Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Ben Helli, stated that the Arab League must assist the PA to help maintain their ‘steadfastness’ ahead of their push for independence at the United Nations. He continues by stating that financial support is ‘the least we can do’ to assist the Palestinians in their bid for statehood, The Palestinian News Agency, WAFA reports.
