Saudi transfers 46 million dollars to Palestinians, holds talks with Abbas

A source in Abbas's entourage meanwhile said that Saudi Arabia had transferred 46 million dollars to the Palestinian Authority, amounting to half its pledged yearly contribution under an Arab summit resolution.

Abbas held talks with the Saudi monarch in the Red Sea city of Jeddah "in the context of efforts to formulate a joint Arab position with the aim of bringing an end to the Israeli aggression in Palestine and Lebanon," spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina told AFP.

"Points of view were identical on the need for an immediate ceasefire that would serve as a prelude to solving all problems," he said.

The official SPA news agency said the two leaders "discussed the repercussions of the events in the occupied Palestinian territories and what the Palestinian people are enduring in terms of blockade, killing and destruction of their facilities and properties by the Israeli military machine."

Abbas arrived in Jeddah earlier Saturday from Egypt as part of an Arab tour to seek support as Israel wages a massive onslaught on the Gaza Strip. He is due to go on to Kuwait on Sunday and Qatar on Monday.

Israel has mounted devastating assaults on Gaza and Lebanon following the capture of Israeli soldiers by Palestinian militants and the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah.

Both Hezbollah and the Palestinian groups have demanded the release of Arab prisoners in Israeli jails in return for the release of the Israeli soldiers.

"Efforts are under way to effect an exchange of prisoners, although Israel does not want a simultaneous (swap)," Abu Rudeina said.

Abbas said after meeting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Alexandria that the release of Palestinians in Israeli jails should not depend on the release of the Israeli soldier captured by Palestinian militants on June 25.

Oil-rich Saudi Arabia has pledged 250 million dollars for reconstruction in the Palestinian territories, which have also been reeling under a Western financial boycott of the Hamas-led government elected in January.

Abu Rudeina said Abbas "thanked King Abdullah for his ongoing material and political support for the Palestinians, most recently his decision to provide 250 million dollars for reconstruction in the Palestinian territories."

An aide of Abbas told AFP that Riyadh had earlier this week transferred 46 million dollars to the Palestinian Authority.

The transfer amounts to half the Saudi contribution of 92.4 million dollars under a resolution adopted at an Arab summit in the Sudanese capital Khartoum in March.

The sum of 92.4 million dollars covers the period from mid-October 2005 to mid-October 2006.

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