Saudi Royal Family's Financial Support to the Palestinians 1998-2003: More than 15 Billion Riyals ($4 Billion U.S.) Given to 'Mujahideen Fighters' and 'Families of Martyrs'

INDEX

I. Introduction

II. Prince Salman Ibn Abd Al-Aziz and "The Popular Committee for Assisting the Palestinian Mujahideen"

III. Prince Nayef Ibn Abd Al-Aziz and "The Support to the Committee for the Al-Quds Intifada" and "The Al-Aqsa Fund"

IV. "Account 98"

Appendix.

Saudi Policy Statements on Support to the Palestinians

Part I: Introduction

Saudi Government Committees to Support Palestinians

For decades the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been the main financial supporter of Palestinian groups fighting Israel, through the creation of two major committees. The Popular Committee for Assisting Palestinian Mujahideen and The Support Committee for the Al-Quds Intifada and The Al-Aqsa Fund have to date given over 15 billion Saudi Riyals (4 billion $U.S.) and reportedly pledged Palestinians up to 1 billion dollars to finance the continuation of the Intifada, which is also commonly referred to by Saudi officials as "Jihad" [1] and "resistance." [2]

The Popular Committee for Assisting the Palestinian Mujahideen

Headed by Prince Salman Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, the Governor of Riyadh, the Popular Committee for Assisting the Palestinian Mujahideen was established after the Arab-Israeli war in 1967. [3] I n February 1994, King Fahd Ibn Abd Al-Aziz issued an updated directive to Prince Salman to support the Palestinians with a national campaign drive in the Kingdom. [4] The committee is responsible for "assisting the freedom fighters of Palestine," [5] and "extending assistance to members of the families of the martyrs." [6] The committee has donated at least 298,784,151 Saudi Riyals (SR) . [7]

The Committee for the Al-Quds Intifada and the Al-Aqsa Fund

The Arab summit held in Cairo in October 2000 adopted the recommendation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to establish two funds: one to be called "The Fund of the Al-Quds Intifada," with a capital of $200 million, for the families of the Palestinian martyrs killed during the Intifada, and the other to be called "The Al-Aqsa Fund," with a capital of $800 million, for the purpose of financing projects to help preserve the Arab and Islamic characteristics of Jerusalem, and to enable the Palestinians to liberate themselves. [8] Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abd Al-Aziz said that Saudi Arabia would pay one-quarter of the $1 billion capital for the two funds, while King Fahd Ibn Abd Al-Aziz would undertake the support of 1,000 Palestinian families of martyrs. A directive by governors of all regions in Saudi Arabia to initiate campaigns for every citizen to donate to the Al-Quds Intifada Fund was also implemented. [9] Prince Nayef bin Abd Al-Aziz, Interior Minister of Saudi Arabia , is the chairman of "The Saudi Committee for the Al-Quds Intifada" and the "Al-Aqsa Fund," which has transferred over 15,442,105,150 Saudi Riyals (SR) [10] to the Palestinians, including money to the martyrs fund. [11] This is in addition to Prince Nayef's separate support committee, which has donated 20,000 Saudi Riyals (SR) ($5,333 U.S.) to each martyr's family. [12]

Saudi Banks, Account 98, and the Palestinian Authority Treasury

Saudi funds which originate in the Jeddah based Islamic Development Bank (IDB) reach the Palestinian Authority Treasury Department via Account 98 of the Saudi Development Fund (SDF). All funds for Prince Salman Ibn Abd Al-Aziz's Popular Committee for Assisting the Palestinian Mujahideen go directly to the PLO, while Prince Nayef's funds from the Support Committee for the Al-Quds Intifada and Al-Aqsa Fund go to the Palestinian Authority. According to official Saudi sources, leading members of the Saudi royal family, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard Abdullah Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General Prince Sultan Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, Minister of Interior Prince Nayef Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, Minister of State and Cabinet member Prince Abd Al-Aziz Ibn Fahd Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, have worked directly with leading Palestinian officials Yasser Arafat as well as Nabil Shaath to ensure the funds were both sent and received.

This report, based entirely on official Saudi government sources, details the Saudi government support to the Popular Committee for Assisting the Mujahideen and the Saudi Committee for the Al-Quds Intifada and The Al-Aqsa Fund between 1998-2003.

Charting Saudi Government Support for: "The Popular Committee for Assisting the Mujahideen, Al-Quds Intifada, and the Al-Aqsa Fund" *

* All funds listed are in Saudi Riyals (SR)
** From January to June 2003

Part II: Prince Salman Ibn Abd Al-Aziz and "The Popular Committee for Assisting the Palestinian Mujahideen"

Prince Salman Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, Governor of Riyadh, heads the Popular Committee for Assisting the Palestinian Mujahideen. The following documents Saudi contributions to this committee from April 1998-April 2003, as they appeared in official Saudi reports.

April 29, 1998

"Sheikh Ahmed Yasin, spiritual leader of Hamas, remarked that he had been pleased with the good words of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his Crown Prince and that the support and backing they had given had reassured him that the Palestinians were not alone in confronting Zionism. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia transferred 3,600,000 Saudi Riyals from the Popular Committee to Assist the Freedom Fighters of Palestine to the Palestinian Liberation Organization on the basis of advice from Prince Salman Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, Emir of the Riyadh Region and President of the Popular Committee to Assist the Freedom Fighters of Palestine. This sum is the sixth remittance from the Committee to the Palestinian Liberation Organisation during the current year of the Hijra." [13]

October 22, 1999

"Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abd Al-Aziz held talks in his office at Al Yamama Palace in Riyadh with the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. King Fahd Ibn Abd Al-Aziz was accompanied by Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, Prince Sultan Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General, Prince Nayef Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, Minister of Interior, Prince Abd Al-Aziz Ibn Fahd Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, Minister of State and Cabinet member. They listened to a briefing by President Yasser Arafat on the latest developments of the peace process. Arafat expressed his appreciation to the efforts and contributions of Prince Salman through the Popular Committee to help the Palestinian Mujahedeen, and its assistance to the families of martyrs and prisoners in Israel." [14]

December 3, 1999

"Prince Salman Ibn Abd Al-Aziz Emir of Riyadh Province and chairman of the People's Committee to Support the Mujahdeen of Palestine, gave instructions to transfer the sum of SR 3,490,000 from the committee's revenues to the PLO. Abd Al-Raheem Jamous, general manager of the committee's offices, praised the [Saudi's] continuous and constant stand, lead by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, in supporting the Palestinian people and its just cause." [15]

March 31, 2000

"In line with the directives of Prince Salman Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, Emir of Riyadh region and Head of the People's Committee for the Assistance of the Palestinian Mujahdeen, SR 8,418,348 were remitted by the Committee to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)." [16]

July 11, 2001

"The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has received an amount of SR 2,225,464 as the second instalment this year from the revenues of the Popular Committee to help the Palestinian Mujahideen. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency here today, the Committee's Director General in the Kingdom, Abd Al-Rahim Mahmoud Gamoos expressed thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques , King Fahd bin Abd Al-Aziz, Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abd Al-Aziz, the Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard , Prince Sultan bin Abd Al-Aziz, the Second Deputy Premier and the Minister of Defence, Aviation and Inspector General, for their constant support to the Palestinian people. He hailed the efforts of Prince Nayef bin Abd Al-Aziz, the Minister of Interior and the supervisor General of the Saudi Committee to support The Al-Quds Intifada (uprising) and Prince Salman bin Abd Al-Aziz." [17]

September 9, 2001

"The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) received on Sunday a sum of SR 2,019,591 from the income of the Popular Committee for Assisting Palestinian Mujahideen. The amount was extended to the PLO in line with directives of Prince Salman bin Abd Al-Aziz, the Governor of Riyadh Region and President of the Committee. This was disclosed to the Saudi Press Agency ( SPA ) by the Director General of the Committee in the Kingdom, Abdulrahim Mahmoud Gamous. He said that the amount is the 3rd installment of the Popular Committee's contribution to the PLO during this year." [18]

September 14, 2001

"The Palestinian National Authority has expressed its thanks and gratitude to Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard for donating $6 million in support of the Palestinian peoples' struggle. As Prince Salman Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, Emir of the Riyadh Region and Chairman of the Popular Committee for helping the Palestinian Mujahideen issued his directives to transfer more than SR 2 million from the income of the Popular Committee affiliated to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to the National Palestinian Fund, to assist the Palestinian Mujahideen. This was disclosed to the Saudi Press Agency by the Director General of the Committee in the Kingdom, Abd Al-Rahim Mahmoud Jamous. He said that the amount is the 3rd installment of the Popular Committee's contribution to the PLO during this year." [19]

November 6, 2001

"In line with the directives of Prince Salman bin Abd Al-Aziz, the Governor of Riyadh Region and the Head of he Popular Committee for the Assistance of the Palestinian Mujahideen, SR 3,228,573 from the revenues of the Popular Committee have been remitted on Tuesday to the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). This sum of money constitutes the fourth batch of remittances from the Popular Committee to the PLO during this lunar year. In a Statement to SPA , Abdel-Rahim Jamous, the Director General of the Offices of the Popular Committee for the Assistance of the Palestinian Mujahideen, expressed appreciation for the Kingdom's moral and material support to the Palestinian people." [20] " In a Statement to Saudi Press Agency, Abdel-Rahim Jamous, Director General of the Offices of the Popular Committee for the Assistance of the Palestinian Mujahideen, expressed appreciation for the Kingdom's moral and material support to the Palestinian people. According to the directives of Prince Salman Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, the Governor of Riyadh region and Chairman of the Saudi Committee for the Support of Al Quds Intifada, school in Riyadh will hold exhibitions in support of the Intifada. The exhibitions will portray the stance of the Kingdom towards the Palestinian issue… The Assistant Director of Education in Riyadh region Dr Ibrahim Ibn Mohammed Al Abdullah declared that these exhibitions are held in support of the Palestinian peoples' fight, and the disastrous conditions they face after a year from the beginning of the Intifada which led to many victims who died fighting against the Jewish aggression. He stressed that the Saudi Committee for the Support of the Intifada has participated in alleviating the suffering of our brothers there through paying more than SR 161,000,000 last year to the families of the martyrs. He added that this has been achieved in line with the Kingdom policy under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, his government and the peoples' donations." [21]

January 11, 2002

"Prince Salman Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, Emir of Riyadh, had met with the Palestinian International Co-operation Minister Dr. Nabil Shaath, and during the meeting, they discussed situations in the Palestinian territories and the current political movements. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has granted $250 million to two Arab funds launched in October 2000 to provide $1 billion in assistance to the Palestinians. A number of Saudi committees are raising funds from the public in support of the Palestinian Intifada." [22]

March 4, 2002

"Under directives from Prince Salman bin Abd Al-Aziz, the Governor of Riyadh region, an amount of SR 3,455,390 was remitted on Monday to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) by the Popular Committee for the Assistance of the Palestinian Mujahideen. Prince Salman is also Chairman of the Committee. Abdulrahim Jamous, the Director General of the Committee's offices said: 'This amount constitutes the sixth instalment of the Committee's remittances to the PLO during this current lunar year.' Jamous praised the Kingdom's inalienable policy with regard to supporting the Palestinian people and their 'Intifada' (uprising)." [23] Within one week of this donation, a suicide bomber struck at the Moment Café in Jerusalem, killing 11 and wounding 58 others.

May 1, 2002

"In accordance with the directives of Prince Salman bin Abd Al-Aziz, the Governor of Riyadh Region and the Chairman of the People's Committee for Aiding Palestine's Mujahideen, a sum of SR 2,831,684, which has been drawn from the revenues of the Committee, was transferred today to the Palestine Liberation Organization as a first installment during the current Hijrah year. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, the Director General of the Offices of the Committee, Abdulraheem Mahmoud Jamous, expressed his great thanks to and appreciation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abd Al-Aziz, the Crown Prince, the Second Deputy Premier, the Minister of Interior and Prince Salman for the Kingdom's support of the Palestinian people." [24]

July 5, 2002

"Prince Salman Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, the Governor of the Riyadh Region and Chairman of the Popular Committee for helping the Palestinian Mujahideen has directed to transfer donations worth SR 1,933,468 for the Palestine Liberation Organization. The Saudi Committee is carrying out a number of relief projects in the Palestinian territories including extending assistance to members of families of the martyrs, and of Palestinians detained at Israeli prisons. Director General of the Committee's offices in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Abd Al-Raheem Mahmoud Jamous said that this is the second transfer from the committee to PLO during the current Hijra year." [25]

September 3, 2002

"The peoples' committee for assisting Palestinian People in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has transferred an amount of SR 1.3 million to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to help them overcome their sufferings. This assistance has been extended following the directives of Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of the Riyadh Region and head of the Committee. On this occasion, Jamous lauded the steady and constant support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Palestinian people and their glorious intifada (uprising)." [26]

October 22, 2002

"Upon instructions from Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of the Riyadh Region, who is also Chairman of the Peoples Committee for the Assistance of the Fighters of Palestine, an amount of SR2,644,010 out of the revenues of the committee has been transferred to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The Director General of the committee's offices in the Kingdom Abdulraheem Jamoos said the transfer represents the fourth payment from the committee's revenues to PLO this lunar year." [27]

December 22, 2002

"In line with directives of Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of the Riyadh Region, an amount of SR 4,411,239, from the revenues of the Popular Committee for the Assistance of the Palestinian Mujahideen, were remitted today to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). This was announced by Abdel-Rahim Jamous, the director of the offices of the Popular Committee for the Assistance of the Palestinian Mujahideen in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He noted that this remittance constitutes the fifth tranche of the committee's remittances to the PLO during this lunar year. Jamous highlighted the Kingdom's unwavering support to the Palestinian cause." [28]

February 23, 2003

"In accordance with the directives Prince Salman bin Abd Al-Aziz, Governor of Riyadh Region and Head of the Popular Committee for the Assistance of Palestinian Mujahdeen, SR 5,395,691 from the revenues of the Committee has been remitted to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Abdel-Rahim Mahmoud Jamous, Director General of the offices of the Committee said that this remittance constitutes the sixth instalment of the Popular Committees aid to the PLO in this current lunar year. Jamous hailed the Kingdom's inalienable stance in support of the Palestinian cause." [29]

April 22, 2003

"In line with the directives of Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of the Riyadh Region and head of the Popular Committee for Assisting the Palestinian Mujahideen, SR1,830,693 from the revenues of the popular committee for assisting the Palestinian Mujahideen, were remitted today to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Abdel-Rahim Mahmoud Jamous, the director general of the offices of the popular committee for assisting the Palestinian Mujahideen in the Kingdom, said this remittance constitutes the first installment of the remittances of the popular committee to the PLO during this lunar year." [30]

Part III: Prince Nayef bin Abd Al-Aziz and "The Support Committee for The Al-Quds Intifada and the Al-Aqsa Fund"

Prince Nayef bin Abd Al-Aziz, Interior Minister of Saudi Arabia, chairs "The Saudi Committee for the Al-Quds Intifada" and "The Al-Aqsa Fund." The following documents Saudi contributions to these committees between 2001-2003, as they appeared in official Saudi sources.

April 6, 2001

"The Minister of Finance and National Economy Dr Ibrahim Al Assaf said that the Saudi government has to date given a total of SR 8.9 billion [U.S. $2.37 billion] in aid to the government and people of Palestine. This assistance, he explained, is disbursed by the Saudi Development Fund (SDF), partly for SDF projects but also to support the Palestinian budget. Dr. Al Assaf, speaking at a press conference in Riyadh, reiterated the Kingdom's staunch support of the Palestinian Intifada [uprising], and declared that assistance to the Palestinian people, a firm Saudi policy ever since the days of King Abd Al-Aziz…Dr. Al Assaf said that the emergency Arab Summit in Cairo in October 2000 accepted a proposal made by Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abd Al-Aziz concerning the establishment of a fund for the Intifada. [31] Dr. Al Assaf's statement came after the Saudi Committee for the Support of Al Quds Committee for the Support of Al Quds Intifada ordered the payment of SR14,125 million to 2,825 Palestinians..." [32]

"This fund has resources of $200 million, with the Kingdom's share standing at $50 million, and targets the families of victims of the Intifada, specifically to educate the sons of martyrs and rehabilitate the injured. In addition to this government support, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abd Al-Aziz initiated a fund for private donations in support of the Palestinians' struggle. This committee, Dr Al Assaf said, has pledged a sum of SR 20,000 [$5,333] to each family that has suffered from martyrdom. A total of SR 124 million [$33.07 million] has been transferred for this purpose, and to provide for the injured. Underlining the Saudi government's unwavering support for the Palestinian struggle, Dr Al Assaf said the Kingdom had donated the above mentioned sum of SR8.9 billion in aid to the Palestinians so far. He was responding to criticism by Palestinians that Arab aid disbursed through the Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank (IDB) was slow and insufficient. Dr Al Assaf reiterated that the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) was 'competent and doing its work as it should be done,' and the IDB confirmed that a total of $205 million in aid to Palestinians has so far been approved, of which $23 million has been paid." [33]

May 25, 2001

"… The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia undertook the support of 1000 Palestinian families from the families of the martyrs and the injured of the uprising. The Saudi Committee for the Support of Al Quds Intifada under the Chairmanship of Prince Nayef Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, Minister of the Interior has provided help to the families of martyrs, wounded and prisoners as well as to needy Palestinian families…On the 9th of October 2000 The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abd Al-Aziz ordered all governors of administrative regions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to take the necessary measures to gather donations from the public for an Al Quds fund in support of Al Quds Intifada." [34]

June 8, 2001

In an official letter to the "Arab world," King Fahd Ibn Abd Al-Aziz wrote: "Dear Brothers, We in the Arab world express a clear desire for this part of the world to live in true peace. This goal is what we all seek to achieve, as a strategic choice. However, the whole world is witness to the practices of the Zionists against the Arabs of Palestine, their territories and their Holy Sites… The aggression has taken the form of a real war as the Zionists use all types of lethal weapons… We call upon the international community to put an end to these practices committed against the unarmed Palestinian people. And we call in particular on the United States to take a decisive stance towards ending this situation, especially since the enemy is ignoring all conventions, charters and principles upon which human rights have been founded… We will continue to provide all kinds of help to our Palestinian brothers. On this occasion, I would like to recall that Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, as my Deputy, proposed at the Arab Summit held in Cairo the setting up of the Al-Quds Intifada Fund, with an amount of US $200 million, and also proposed the setting up of the Al-Aqsa Fund, with an amount of $800 million, to which the Kingdom would contribute 25 percent, to enable our Palestinian brothers to become economically independent. The summit adopted the Saudi proposal. What we are offering to our Palestinian brothers is our duty towards them. This is only one part of serving Muslims worldwide." [35]

June 22, 2001

"The Arab Follow-Up Committee confirmed its great pride of the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in the face of the Israeli suppression and called upon the Arab nation to stand with the Palestinian people in their legitimate struggle in resisting the occupation. At the conclusion of its meetings in the Jordanian capital of Amman, the Committee stressed its continuous support of the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and their Intifada politically and materially, and in implementation of the resolutions of Arab summits in Cairo and Amman. The Committee, which includes the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Bahrain, Morocco, Tunisia, Palestine and the Arab League Secretary General… affirmed the necessity to continue supporting the Palestinian people and their struggle morally and financially in implementation of the Amman Arab summit resolutions…The Ministers recommended the continuation of Arab financial support to the Palestinian National Authority and Al Aqsa Fund and the Intifada Funds that have been established for this purpose should secure $45 million a month to PNA budget as decided during the Amman Arab summit. This means an additional $180 million should be made available to complete the money allocated for this purpose and another 90 million should be secured to channel 15 million per month to PNA during the remaining six months of this year. The Ministerial Committee's statement is a clear message that says that as long as there is occupation there will be resistance, and as long as the occupation increases ... the resistance will increase,' the Arab League Secretary General said." [36]

"Prince Nayef Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, the Minister of Interior and the General Supervisor of Saudi Committee for Supporting the Al Quds Intifada chaired at his office in Jeddah the second meeting of the representatives of the regions' governorates at the Committee. He praised the efforts exerted by the Emirs of the regions in raising funds and urged citizens and residents to support the Committee. Prince Nayef emphasized the need for strengthening Palestinian resistance to confront the war of extermination launched by the Israelis. During the meeting the committee reviewed fundraising campaigns in various regions to support the Palestinian relief programs and the afflicted Palestinians, that had amounted to more than SR 160,709,000 given to families of Palestinian martyrs." [37]

July 6, 2001

"Prince Nayef Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, Minister of Interior and the General Supervisor of Saudi Committee for Supporting [the] Al Aqsa Intifada, has received a cable from the Palestinian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mustafa Hashem Deeb. In his cable, the Palestinian Ambassador conveyed the greetings, appreciation and gratitude of his brothers in Palestine, and the greetings of President Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian leadership for all the efforts he had exerted and is still exerting in order to support his brothers in Palestine. Ambassador Mustafa Hashem Deeb said support took the form of the arrival of the constant aid to the thousands of families of the martyrs, injured and handicapped, which had a great affect on all sectors of the Palestinian people. He said that Prince Nayef's continuous support, through the Saudi Committee for Supporting the Al Aqsa Intifada, has formed an honorable and shining picture of faithfulness and support… Meanwhile, Prince Nayef Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, the Minister of Interior and the General Supervisor of the Saudi Committee for Supporting Al Quds Intifada has directed the Committee to distribute an amount of SR 5.57 million to help the needy in Palestine. The financial assistance will be distributed to 28 families of the martyrs, 248 injured people, 232 families whose houses were demolished by the Israeli occupying forces and 29 Palestinian charitable societies in-charge of distributing food baskets to the needy. The Al Quds Intifada Supporting Committee in Riyadh Region has received donations of SR 4,044,000 from a number of people to support the Palestinian families who are in great need in the occupied territories. It explained that a quarter of a million of Palestinian families had benefited from the assistance. The message indicated that the families comprised martyrs' families and their relatives, people injured in the Intifada, the handicapped, the needy, orphans, patients, prisoners of war and others. The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has deposited $15 million at the account of the Unified Treasury of the National Palestinian Authority. This sum constitutes the third monthly installment of the loan approved by the Supreme Council for the Funds of Al Aqsa and Al Quds Intifada to support the budget of the Palestinian National Authority, said a press statement issued by Dr Ahmed Mohamed Ali, the President of the IDB. The Supreme Council for the Funds of Al Aqsa and Al Quds Intifada earlier approved two loans amounting to $60 million and $18 million in support of the budget of the Palestinian National Authority. The two funds aim to assist the families of the Palestinian martyrs, to help to preserve the Arab and Islamic characteristics of Al Quds and to enable the Palestinian economy to develop and grow." [38]

September 21, 2001

"…the Administrative Committee of the Al Aqsa and Al Quds Intifada Funds endorsed $59.2 million to cover costs of programs and projects and urgent supports in the framework of the two funds. In a statement issued by the Islamic Development Bank after the Committee's fifth meeting, headed by Eng Youssef Ibrahim Al Bassam, the Saudi representative at the bank, it said the Committee discussed during the meeting the level of progress achieved in implementing the programs and projects endorsed in previous meetings. It also discussed the preparations for the annual meeting of the two funds.' The Committee expressed satisfaction over the achieved work and called upon the bank officials to extend more efforts in helping the families of the Palestinian martyrs..." [39]

September 28, 2001

" A sum of SR 5,420,000 is being distributed among 1,084 injured of Al Aqsa Intifada as per the instructions of Prince Nayef Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, the Minister of the Interior the General Supervisor of the Saudi Committee in support of Al Quds Intifada. Prince Nayef's gesture comes within the committee's duties to alleviate the sufferings of the Palestinian people through providing direct assistance to needy individuals and families, handicapped and families of martyrs, injured and prisoners. The sum brings to nearly SR 160 million the cash and corporeal assistance provided by the Saudi Committee in support of Al Quds Intifada since its establishment." [40]

October 5, 2001

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has deposited an amount of $40 million in Al Aqsa and Intifada of Al Quds funds accounts, completing its commitment towards the two funds, Dr Ahmed Mohamed Ali, the President of Islamic Development Bank (IDB) announced. [41]

October 12, 2001

"During a speech, the Palestinian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, MustafaOmer Al Sheikh Deeb, praised the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abd Al-Aziz's approval to establish Al Quds Studies and Research Center at King Abd Al-Aziz Foundation expressed their thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abd Al-Aziz… He emphasized that the establishment of this Center comes in the light of the Kingdom's continuous support which everybody is aware of, adding that 'the Kingdom's stance was and still is the basic pillar on which we depend, after God, and the history will register the Kingdom stances towards Palestine and its cause with lightening letters in the history of our people's long Jihad.' 'I will not forget to mention with great appreciation the firm stances of Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, Prince Sultan Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General and the brotherly princes towards the Palestinian cause,' he said. Al Sheikh Deeb said: 'I also extends my thanks to Prince Salman Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, Emir of Riyadh region, Chairman of the People's Committees to Aid the Palestine's Mujahideen and Chairman of the Darah for his fruitful efforts which participated in issuing the Royal approval to establish the Center.'…adding that the Kingdom Saudi Arabia's stance towards the Palestinian people and cause is fixed, unchangeable and is based on liberating the Islamic Holy places and land which God has blessed from extortion and impurity. He emphasized that the Kingdom's fixed stance springs from Arab genuineness and Islamic responsibility which the Saudi leadership and people were characterized by since the era of its founder and the builder of its unity and modern state King Abd Al-Aziz."

"He added that King Abd Al-Aziz's steps were followed by his sons who continued supporting the Palestinian people's struggle and Jihad in the field of defending the cause on all arenas and with all energies and potentials till Al Aqsa is freed and the land is returned. Dr Yaghy [Professor of History in Saudi Arabia] noted that the Kingdom has extended financial and moral support and spared no effort and participated in [the] Palestine War in 1948, and offered, for a whole century, financial aid, which exceeded billions of dollars, to the Palestinian struggle, in addition to embracing the Palestinian community… He added that in addition to that, when the Intifada started, the Kingdom donated with billions of Riyals to Palestine and Al Quds Fund." Dr Al Anqari added that the Kingdom has donated to this fund since its establishment with SR 138,750,000, and it donated with SR 20 million to this fund's Wakfia. As a follow up to the continuous support to the issue of Holy Al Quds and to the stand of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in serving Islam and Muslims, during the 21st Conference of the Foreign Ministers of member states on OIC which was held in Karachi in Shawal 1423H - April 1993 , King Fahd Ibn Abd Al-Aziz donated $10 million to Al Quds Fund. Crown Prince Abdullah also proposed another fund, to be called "The Al Aqsa Fund," with a capital of $800 million, for the purpose of financing projects to help preserve the Arab and Islamic characteristics of Jerusalem, and to enable the Palestinians to liberate themselves from dependence on the Israeli economy. The Seminar encouraged researchers to exert more efforts to support the Palestinian cause through their research and by holding seminars, and expressed appreciation for the role being played by the Saudi Committee for supporting [the] Al Quds Intifada, under the supervision of Prince Nayef Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, the Interior Minister, in assisting the families of the Palestinian Mujahedeen." [42]

November 9, 2001

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has also been adopting the Al Quds [Jerusalem] cause and standing firmly against the Zionist plots to change the characteristics of the Holy City. In the context of his support to the Palestinian people, King Fahd Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, in 1992, issued his directives to repair all mosques in Al Quds at the Kingdom's expenses. At the extraordinary Arab Summit Conference held in Cairo last year, the summit adopted [a] Saudi proposal for setting up two funds with a capital of one billion dollars. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia contributed 250 million dollars to the funds." [43]

November 30, 2001

"Prince Abd Al-Majeed Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, the Governor of Makkah Al Mukkaramah and Chairman of the International Islamic Relief Organizations' (IIRO) Higher Committee for collecting donations in support of Al Aqsa Intifada called for more efforts to be exerted in support of the Palestinian people. In a cable addressed to the Secretary General of IIRO Dr Adnan Bin Khalil Pasha he urged that the campaign for collecting donations from mosques and commercial centers should be intensified, while the representatives of the Organization should keep the Committees' ID of Makkah region. The IIRO in Saudi Arabia has offered different sorts of help to the amount of SR 647, 760 and has paid SR 2 million as a first installment to the help the Palestinian people during the first days of the Intifada." [44]

January 11, 2002

"Dr. [Nabil] Shaath [the Palestinian International Cooperation Minister] said that his talks with King Fahd Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, his Crown Prince, Prince Salman Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, Emir of Riyadh region and Prince Saud Al Faisal the Foreign Minister came to confirm the strategic relation between Palestine and the Kingdom… Resolutions allocated $45 million from Al Aqsa and Al Quds Funds ." [45]

March 22, 2002

The following is a speech by Mustafa Hashem Al-Sheikh Deeb, ambassador of Palestine in Riyadh, on Saudi financial support of Palestinians: "The Palestinians today are passing through the most delicate stage in the history of their long struggle. The Palestinian cause in the past was the raison d'etre that helped ease the way to power for many Arab leaders. I have found that the leadership and people of Saudi Arabia are totally committed and dedicated to the central cause for Arabs and Muslims. Every Arab citizen is proud of what the Palestinian heroes are doing, and wishes to be one of them. Our people would not have continued the struggle without the support and backing of their Arab brethren. The proposal made by HRH Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abd Al-Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard at the Cairo Summit to support the Palestinian people, offering them $1 billion which infused in them confidence and the spirit to keep up the struggle. The Kingdom's payment of $250 million it had pledged was a decisive factor in the continuation of the struggle. In addition to that the Kingdom gave $30 million as a non-refundable grant at the start of the Intifada, and a further $4 million in January in grants, when other Arab countries could not pay their share. Thus the total aid paid by the Kingdom amounts to $325 million… In addition, hundreds of dollars have been given to families of martyrs and the injured in the Intifada by the Saudi Popular Committee for Aid to the Palestinians, which is headed by Prince Nayef Bin Abd Al-Aziz, Minister of the Interior. What the Kingdom has paid amounts to half of the $668 million pledged by the other Arab countries." [46]

April 12, 2002

"The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abd Al-Aziz reiterated the firm stance of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in support of the Palestinian people, calling on the Arab, Muslim and world communities to support the rights of Palestinians…In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Dr. Fouad Ibn Abd Al-Salam Al Farsy, the Minister of Information, said the Council of Ministers expressed satisfaction over the support of the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the Palestinian assisted by the Saudi Committee for the Support of Al Quds Intifada under the Chairmanship of Prince Nayef Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, the Minister of Interior. Another Royal order has been issued to start a fundraising campaign in support of the Palestinian people and Al Quds Intifada. The Saudi Committee for the Support Al Quds Intifada, chaired by Prince Nayef Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, the Interior Minister called upon the Saudis and expatriates to… provide direct assistance to the families of Palestinian martyrs and those wounded while resisting the occupation,' the statement said. [47]

October 21, 2002

"The Kingdom's delegate to the Arab League Ambassador Faisal bin Hasan Tarrad affirmed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has paid great care and attention to [the] Palestinian people. Tarrad said that in light of the increasing care of the Kingdom in this regard it has announced an extra funding for Al-Aqsa Fund and Al-Quds Intifada Fund at a total amount of $21 million in response to the decision issued at the Arab Summit 2002 in Beirut." [48]

January 3, 2003

"The Palestinian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Dr Nabil Shaath, lauded the efforts exerted by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abd Al-Aziz and Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, to provide unlimited financial and political support for the Palestinian people and cause. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), he said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the few Arab states that adhered to implementing the Beirut Summit resolution on providing financial support for the Palestinian Authority, the Intifada and Al-Quds (Jerusalem). Ambassador Faisal Ibn Hassan Trad, pointed out that, between 1965 and the present, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has extended hundreds of millions of dollars, as well as medical supplies and other assistance, to the Palestinian people. The Ambassador said Prince Abdullah Ibn Abd Al-Aziz had announced at the Arab Summit held in Cairo the establishment of two Funds for the support of Al-Aqsa Intifada and the families of the Palestinian martyrs, and the Kingdom's donation of $250 million to the two Funds… [49] "

January 8, 2003

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has deposited $7 million in the account of Al-Aqsa Fund at the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Dr Ahmed Mohammed Ali, President of the IDB announced in statement to the Saudi Press Agency ( SPA ). He noted that this contribution follows stipulations of Beirut Summit resolutions, which extend additional support of $150 million to the funds of Al-Aqsa and Al-Quds Intifada." [50] The IBD indicated that the total amount of funds given by the participating states at al-Aqsa and 'Jerusalem Intifada' funds up to date is USD 692.2 million." [51]

May 1, 2003

"The Saudi Committee for the Support of Al-Quds Intifada (uprising) is executing 27 programs and projects to help the Palestinian people. An amount of SR 685,091,218 has been spent on these programs and projects, according to a report of the Committee. The report, which was released here today, said Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz, the Interior Minister and General Supervisor of the Committee, endorsed financial assistances worth SR 232,827,150 for 35, 422 people. An amount of SR 115,088,000 was also allocated to the Palestinian family support program." [52]

May 2, 2003

"The total amount of money approved by Prince Nayef Ibn Abd Al-Aziz for the Support Committee of Al Quds Intifada has reached SR 658,091,218. A report issued by the Committee said SR 411,181,881 i.e 62,5% were spent while the remaining programs being implemented will reach the amount of Sr 246,909,337. The report said the Committee had started the implementation of its programs on 1/9/1421H…" [53]

May 9, 2003

"The Saudi Committee for the Support of the Al-Quds Intifada is implementing 27 programs and projects to help the Palestinian people, at the cost of SR 685,091,218, according to a report of the Committee. The report said that Prince Nayef Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, the Interior Minister and General Supervisor of the Committee, endorsed financial grants totaling SR 232,827,150 to assist 35,422 people. A sum of SR 115,088,000 was also allocated to the Palestinian Family Support Program." [54]

June 20, 2003

"Prince Nayef Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, the Minister of Interior, received at his office in Jeddah the President of Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions in Gaza Governorates Rasim Al-Bayari. During the meeting, Al-Bayari conveyed the greetings of Palestine's President Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian people to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, Prince Sultan Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General, Prince Nayef Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, the Minister of Interior and Saudi people for generous humanitarian assistance provided by the Saudi Committee to the Palestinian people who are in a pressing need of such assistance. The Palestinian official also praised the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's stand in support of the Palestinian people at all levels and arenas, including the human aids which cover the needs of the Palestinian families… The reception was attended by Dr. Saed Al-Urabi Al-Harthi, the Advisor to Prince Nayef." [55]

Part IV: "Account 98"

Questions at a Congressional Hearing

According to a report published in the New York Times [56] quoting senior law enforcement officials, the U.S. Treasury Department and other federal agencies have been pressing Saudi Arabia to monitor bank accounts designated for relief aid to Palestinians as some of the bank accounts may be conduits for terrorist financing. The report stated that the accounts in question are known in Saudi Arabia as 'Account 98' funds — the designation Saudi regulators use for money destined for Palestinian charitable works.

It was also reported that Prince Nayef bin Abd Al-Aziz supervises the regulation of charities and fund-raising efforts that generate money deposited into Account 98 and oversees others, which provide aid to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers through designated bank accounts. [57]

In 2001, Account 98 was cited in an official Saudi government report [58] which extensively detailed Saudi financial support to Palestinians, including families of suicide bombers. According to the report, the Arab League is also involved in supporting these accounts, which allows the Saudi government to pay between 10,000-20,000 Saudi Riyals to the families of martyrs, noting at the time of the report that 986 families had received funds from the account. The funds from Account 98 were passed from Saudi Arabia's Islamic Development Bank directly to the account of the Unified Treasury of the National Palestinian Authority. The following are excerpts from a report published on an official Saudi royal family website that covered the report:

Crown Prince Abdullah: "It is High Time that Israel Realised that the Palestinian Jihad will Continue"

Prince Nayef, recognized as the Head of the Executive Committee of the Al-Quds Intifada, introduced the release of the report: "The annual report of the Saudi Committee for the Support of the Al-Quds Intifada announced that it had donated SR 178,943,995 to the Palestinians. The report stated that financial assistance had been extended to Palestinians killed in the Intifada. The annual report on the committee's achievements and activities noted that the Palestinian issue retains a prominent place in Saudi foreign policy. Crown Prince Abdullah was quoted as saying: 'It is high time that Israel realised that the Palestinian Jihad will continue until they regain their legitimate rights, including the right to return to their homeland and establish an independent state… Despite the siege imposed on the Palestinian people, the Committee of the Al-Quds Intifada was still able to extend assistance to the Palestinians…"

"Also in July 2001 Prince Nayef Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, the Minister of Interior and the General Supervisor of the Saudi Committee for Supporting the Al Quds Intifada has directed the Committee to disburse an amount of SR 5.57 million to help the needy in Palestine. The financial assistance was disbursed to 28 families of the martyrs, [and to] 248 injured people."
"In June 2001 the Secretary General of the Arab League Amru Moussa received a message from the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Al Faisal Ibn Hassan Trad. The message dealt with the size of assistance provided to the Palestinians by the Saudi Committee for Supporting the al Quds Intifada under the supervision of Prince Nayef Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, the Minister of Interior. The message noted that part of the assistance at popular level at this stage amounted to SR 154,709,000. It explained that a quarter million of Palestinian families had benefited from the assistance. The message indicated that the families comprised martyrs' families and their relatives."

10,000 Riyals to All Heroes of the Intifada

"During the same month Prince Nayef Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, the Interior Minister and Supervisor of the Saudi Committee for supporting the Al Quds Intifada, has issued his directives to pay SR 8,625,000 to the victims of the Intifada… According to the report, every affected family received 10,000 Riyals within the continuing financial assistance to needy Palestinians and heroes of the Intifada. The Saudi Committee for the Support of the Al-Quds Intifada had collected accurate data on the deserving Palestinians, including names of the victims, their addresses and damage inflicted. The report said that the Committee then opened accounts for these victims. Previously, the first and second installments were deposited in the accounts of the 986 beneficiaries with each victim also receiving 10,000 Riyals."

Direct Deposit into Account 98

"The total sum reached 9,860,000 Riyals, added the report. With this, the total funds raised for Palestinian strugglers by the Saudi Committee for the Support of the Al Quds Intifada reached more than 160 million Riyals, said the announcement. The Committee urged citizens and expatriates to make further donations to the afflicted Palestinians via the Committee's main office and branches or by directly depositing the sums in the account number 98 in domestic banks. Also in May the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has deposited $15 million at the account of the Unified Treasury of the National Palestinian Authority."

"This sum constitutes the third monthly installment of the loan approved by the Supreme Council for the Funds of al-Aqsa and the Al-Quds Intifada to support the budget of the Palestinian National Authority, said a press statement issued by Dr Ahmad Mohammad Ali, the President of the IDB. The Supreme Council for the Funds of al-Aqsa and the al-Quds intifada earlier approved two loans amounting to $60 million and $18 million in support of the budget of the Palestinian National Authority. The loans are to be paid in monthly instalments into the account of the Unified Treasury of the National Palestinian Authority."
"The two funds aim to assist the families of the Palestinian martyrs, to help to preserve the Arab and Islamic characteristics of Al-Quds and to enable the Palestinian economy to develop and grow….The total assistance provided until March 2001 by the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the government and brotherly people of Palestine amounted to SR 8,900,000,000. The announcement was made by the Minister of Finance and National Economy Dr. Ibrahim Ibn Abd Al-Aziz Al-Assaf in a press conference in Riyadh to explain the Kingdom's support for the Palestinian Intifada (uprising). He said that the Kingdom was committed to standing by the side of the Palestinians in their ordeal and struggle to regain their legitimate rights. The Minister considered the assistance as one of the firm principles of policy of the Kingdom since its unification by the late King Abd Al-Aziz."

Money to Families of Intifada Martyrs

"The Minister explained that this principle was translated into work and support initiatives in various political, economic and social areas and at various local, regional and international levels, making the Saudi support unlimited. He stated that the sum of SR2,197,084,631 represented assistance, which has been decided after the Madrid Conference. This assistance included a sum of SR1,125,000,000 Riyals (equal to 300 million U.S. Dollars), representing the Kingdom's donations announced at the international conferences for the support of the Palestinian Authority, the Minister said. The Minister explained that the resources of the Fund were US$ 200 million and the Kingdom's share in the Fund was US$ 50 million. He noted that the Fund was established to assist the families of the Intifada martyrs, to educate their sons and rehabilitate the injured."

"The Minister also recalled the Crown Prince's proposal to establish [the] Al Aqsa Fund with resources of US$ 800 million. He explained that the Kingdom's share in [the] Al-Aqsa Fund was US$ 20 million dedicated to finance projects that would protect the Arab and Islamic identity of Al Quds. The Minister said donations were still coming to the Committee formed to raise funds under the supervision of the Minister of Interior. Dr. Al-Assaf noted that the Committee had sent a number of ambulances and medical supplies and allocated SR 20,000 for each of the families of the Intifada martyrs. As much as SR 124,000,000 had been transferred for the needy among the families of the martyrs, the injured and others, he added."

20,000 Riyals for Martyrs; 15,000 for Handicapped; 10,000 for Jailed

"Also in March 2001 the Administrative Committee of Funds of Al-Aqsa and Al-Quds Intifada concluded its third meeting at the headquarters of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) under the chairmanship of the representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Committee, Yosef Ibrahim Al-Bassam. In January 2001 and in line with the directives of Prince Nayef Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, the Interior Minister, the Saudi Committee for the Support of Al-Quds Intifada extended assistance to the families of Palestinian martyrs, as well as injured and handicapped Palestinians. SR 10,000 were handed over to Palestinian POWS, SR 20,000 to the family of each martyr, SR 20,000 to each handicapped Palestinian, and SR 15,000 to each injured Palestinian. Also in January 2001 Prince Nayef Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, the Minister of Interior and the Supervisor General of the Saudi Committee for supporting the Al-Quds Intifada (uprising), announced that an amount of SR123,750,000 has been disbursed in assistance to the families of martyrs, prisoners, the wounded, the handicapped of Al-Quds Intifada and needy Palestinian families."

"Prince Nayef expressed his appreciation to the Saudi people for their response in supporting their brothers in Palestine and in remaining resolute in the face of the blatant Israeli aggression against them. Prince Nayef praised the efforts of local committees that have been collecting contributions in various regions under the supervision of the Saudi Committee for Supporting the Al-Quds Intifada… In December 2000 the Interior Minister and Supervisor General of the Saudi Committee for supporting the Al-Quds Intifada, issued directives to pay SR99,350,000 to the families of the martyrs of the Al-Quds Intifada. The Saudi Committee for Supporting the Al-Quds Intifada carried out the directives of Prince Nayef and accordingly each of the families of the 179 martyrs received SR 20,000, each of the 8000 injured Palestinians received SR5,000, each of the 1,500 families of the POWs received SR10,000, and each of the 1,000 handicapped Palestinians received SR20,000…"

The Saudi Executive Committee of the Al-Quds Fund Decides which Martyr's Families Receive Money

"The Saudi Committee for Supporting the Al-Quds Intifada paid SR11 million to the families of 122 martyrs and 27 injured Palestinians, who were treated in Saudi hospitals. In addition, the Committee distributed 50,000 food baskets, valued at $40, to them. The Committee delivers the stipulated assistance directly to the families of the martyrs, and injured and handicapped Palestinians as well as to the families of the POWs in collaboration with its sub-committees inside the Palestinian territories and charitable societies. In November 2000 the Saudi authorities were busy disbursing financial assistance to casualties and relatives of martyrs of the Al-Quds Intifada in Palestine. The Executive Committee, an affiliate of the Saudi Committee for the Support of Al-Quds Intifada, disbursed money to the deserving families of Palestinian martyrs and to the injured who received medical treatment in Saudi Arabia and Palestine. The Committee, led by Prince Nayef Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, Interior Minister, decided to disburse SR20,000 to each martyr's family and SR15,000 to each injured Palestinian who was receiving medical treatment in the Saudi hospitals. The Committee and its sub-committees have been following up the cases of the injured Palestinians who have come to the Kingdom for medical treatment. In addition, the Saudi Committee for the support of the Al Quds Intifada gave support to the sons and families of the martyrs of the blessed Al Aqsa Intifada."

Account 98: Will Also Accept Jewelry and Real Estate

"In October 2000 the local committee of fund raising to support the Al-Quds Intifada, headed by Prince Salman Ibn Abd Al-Aziz, Governor of Riyadh Region, received donations to support the Palestinian brothers in response to the campaign organized by the Kingdom in this regard. The total of those donations in Riyadh region was 150,000,00 Saudi Riyals, in addition to the jewelry and real estate ownership documents received previously by the committee. The money was deposited in the unified Account number 98. Prince Salman then expressed thanks and appreciation to all those who had provided donations for their brothers in the occupied territories and urged everyone to donate what they could to help their brothers who are resisting Israeli injustice and arrogance."

Appendix:

Saudi Policy Statements on Support to the Palestinians

According to Saudi officials, "the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has always supported the Palestinian issue in its different phases. It stood by the Palestinian people and took firm stands defending their legitimate rights and hopes. The Kingdom has placed the Palestinian issue on top of its political agenda in different Arab, Islamic and international gatherings and used all its potentials and relations to politically, financially and morally serve the Palestinian issue. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's support to the Palestinian cause dates back to the era of the late King Abd Al-Aziz . The stands of King Abd Al-Aziz were based on the principles of Islam, an historic responsibility and the patriotic stands in which he believed. The exchanged letters between King Abd Al-Aziz… and leaders of other states represent the power of his personality, his legal views, his unwavering defence of the Palestinian issue and his stand against the idea of establishing a Zionist state… " [59]

In fact, many Saudi government related websites note, "King Abd Al-Aziz was one of the first to support the idea of supplying the Palestinians with money and arms to enable them to defend themselves and their lands. He subsequently took the courageous step of sending Saudi volunteers to support their Palestinian brothers in their heroic struggle. Pure Saudi blood nourished the soil of Palestine… When King Abd Al-Aziz took part in the departure ceremonies for his heroic volunteers leaving for Palestine, he spoke those famous words of his, 'The sons of Palestine are like my sons… and so, spare no effort to help them to liberate their land.'" [60]

The following are excerpts from interviews with leading Saudi officials explaining Saudi policy regarding the financial support of Palestinian martyrs:

Adel Al-Jubeir, Foreign Policy Advisor, May 11, 2002 – June 24, 2003

June 24, 2003

Over the past few years, Adel Al-Jubeir, a Saudi Foreign Policy Advisor, has often been asked to explain Saudi support of Palestinian causes, particularly regarding financial support to terrorist organizations. As recently as June 24, 2003, Jubeir explained to the New York Times, "that it was no secret that large Palestinian charitable funds existed in Saudi Arabia and asserted that the distribution of the money was closely monitored. He said it was not given directly to Palestinian individuals, but rather was channeled through major international organizations… It goes through the Red Cross, the Palestinian Authority, the U.N.," Mr. Jubeir said. "It's a cheap shot to say our money goes to fund terrorists." [61]

June 12, 2003

The above statement was given at a press conference Jubeir held at the Saudi Embassy on June 12, 2003, in which he claimed that Saudi government was against terrorism, but not willing to label Hamas as a terrorist organization. The following is in response to a question he was asked about Saudi financial support to Hamas and suicide bombers: "I hear reports constantly or charges about Saudi funding Hamas. We've said no, that's not the case. Could it be that some Saudi individuals are funding Hamas? Very likely. Hamas raises a lot of money in the United States. But in terms of as a government of a policy, we have taken a position that we condemn terrorism in all its forms, and regardless of where it occurs, and we do not fund terrorists. A lot of the institutions may be run or managed by the political wing of Hamas. That may be the case; I'm not an expert on this. But we do not fund terrorism... Do we as a government give money to Hamas? No. We give money to the Palestinian Authority or we give money to the Palestinians through international organizations that are doing relief work in the territories."

"Okay… we raised money for the Palestinians a year ago in a telefund that raised over $100 million. Before the telefund was over, we were accused of supporting suicide bombers. Not a dollar had left Saudi Arabia at the time. The funds were given to each national relief organizations that operate in the Palestinian territories. And those relief organizations provide us with an accounting. How one jumps from that to supporting suicide bombings is beyond me... If a family loses a breadwinner and they're living in poverty, yes, we give them money. Are some of those families, families who had a suicide bomber? Yes. But do we give them money because their son or daughter was a suicide bomber? No… Is that money an incentive for them to commit acts of terrorism? No. Because if the family's in need, they will get the money..."

When asked if there should be an effort to stop payments to the families of suicide bombers, Jubeir responded as follows: "Well, yes -- well, correct. But we have -- if you have 5,000 or 10,000 families that need help, do you punish the family because their son did something you disapprove of? I think morally guilt should not transfer. The bin Laden family -- Osama bin Laden was a murderer who murdered several thousand people. Do we go out and punish the rest of the bin Laden family? I don't think that that's morally right. Does the fact that they still have businesses in Saudi Arabia, that, the same argument would say, if they have the same businesses in Saudi -- if they continue to have businesses in Saudi -- are we as Saudis condoning or supporting what Osama bin Laden did because we didn't punish his family? I -- again, I take issue with the point of payment to the families of suicide bombers. Your government, when they built a school or they build a hospital, and the family of a suicide bomber uses it, are you supporting suicide bombings? Of course you're not. There are three and half million Palestinians in the territory that are living in abject poverty." [62]

May 18, 2003

The Saudi media reported extensively on the April 11, 2002, TV fundraisers for families of suicide bombers. According to one report, the 11-hour Saudi telethon raised SR210 million (56 million dollars) in donations of money, gold, and cars for the families of Palestinian martyrs. [63] On May 18, 2003, Jubeir was asked about this, to which he replied: "We raised money in that telethon. Before the telethon was over we were being charged with providing money to suicide bombers. The funds are distributed to the Palestinians through international organizations -- the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the Palestinian Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The money is accounted for. Every Palestinian family in need gets that money. If it was meant to encourage suicide bombers, it would be like Saddam: You blow yourself up, and we will give you money, your family cash. That's not the case. We give them food, we give them pharmaceuticals, we give them -- we provide them with hospitals and roads. That's where the money goes to." [64] As previously noted, Jubeir has also been critical of accusations by the U.S. about Saudi financial support to Hamas, often claiming that Americans support Hamas. For example, he explained on CNN, "We do not allow funding to go from Saudi Arabia to Hamas. That's not the case. Hamas receives funding, ironically, also from American citizens. And our point here is, when people sometimes give money to Hamas, they do so because they want to help them build institutions. If the money gets diverted for terrorist..." [65]

He told 'Meet the Press' a few days later, "We provide money to the Palestinians through international relief organizations, the United Nations organizations, the International Red Cross, the International Red Crescent. The objective is to put food on their table and medicine in their pharmacies. You know, if...but we do not provide money to Palestinian suicide bombers. We are against it. Our chief religious goal is against it. We do not give it to their families as a response to their son or daughter blowing themselves up. We give it to every Palestinian, irrespective of what their background is. Now, having said that, is there Saudi money that can conceivably be going to evil-doers? Of course there is, just like there are American money that goes to evil-doers. But we have put in place financial control mechanisms. We have worked with our charities. We have purged evil-doers from the charities. We handed names to the United Nations. Our charities have shut down offices that they had in Bosnia and Somalia and Pakistan, which were suspected in terms of being involved with evil-doers. And we will continue to do so. But to level a charge to say Saudi Arabia supports terrorism, absolutely nonsense." [66]

May 11, 2003

During the week of May 11, 2002 in an interview with the National Journal, Al-Jubeir explained the rationale of Saudi financial support to families of Palestinian martyrs: "What you have is a lie that's repeated and repeated, and people assume it's a fact. Saudi Arabia does not support terrorism. Saudi Arabia is very proud of the fact that it has given hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars to the Palestinians over the years to build their institutions, infrastructure, put food on their tables, medicine in their pharmacies. Fifty percent of the Palestinians today, as a consequence of the Israeli occupation and aggression against them, live below the poverty line. Thousands of Palestinians have had their breadwinners killed by the Israelis. Are we supposed to sit back and do nothing? Can I say that the American government supports suicide bombers because it gives money to the Palestinians? No, none of the money went to Palestinian families to reward them for the suicide of their sons or daughters. If some money went to those families, it's to help them in their need. But it didn't go to encourage [violence]. For anyone to think that the life of a Palestinian is worth $5,000 is outrageous." [67]

May 10, 2003

That same week, in an article in the Washington Times, Jubeir denied that Saudi Arabia gives financial support to families of Palestinian suicide bombers. He wrote, "The May 8 story 'Adviser: Bombers' families get money' is not an accurate reflection of the news conference held at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia on May 7. You report that there was an admission made to the effect that Saudi Arabia 'provides money to families of Palestinian suicide bombers.' These words are distorted and do not resemble what was said or what is true and accurate. The claim that Saudi Arabia supports the violence of suicide bombers or their families is totally false. I stated unequivocally that Saudi Arabia does not provide financial support to suicide bombers or their families. I explained that the aid and assistance offered to the Palestinians by the people of Saudi Arabia is money to restock hospitals that have no medicines, rebuild schools, restore electricity and telephone lines, and put food on the tables of families that don't have it. We are proud of that support and join with other nations, including the United States, which are providing relief efforts through the same humanitarian channels as Saudi Arabia. Your claim that such actions are tantamount to supporting suicide bombers is a great stretch of the truth. By this definition, American humanitarian aid to the people of Palestine would also be considered providing money to suicide bombers. Is this what you are trying to say? The taking of innocent life is a violation of the principles of Islam. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia condemns all forms of terrorism regardless of where they occur and the reasons behind them. Saudi Arabia does not support or contribute to terrorism. We never have, and we never will." [68]

Prince Bandar bin Sultan, Saudi Ambassador to USA

May 6, 2002

Other Saudi officials have also discussed their government's financial support of Palestinian suicide bombers. In response to such accusations, Prince Bandar bin Sultan explained, "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regards allegations made by Israel in connection to funding of terrorist activities, 'totally baseless and false.' The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has repeatedly and unequivocally condemned terrorism and has affirmed its full support and cooperation in the international coalition to combat terrorist organizations and activities. Saudi Arabia strongly condemns all acts of terrorism, which contravene all religious values and human civilized concepts. Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz has said unambiguously – 'no honorable man would accept terrorism.' Saudi Arabia does not support or contribute to terrorism. We never have, and we never will. Terrorism is against our religion and culture, and we have been victims of it for the past four decades. We monitor all financial transactions to ensure that no money goes to evildoers. This does not mean that Saudi Arabia is paying suicide bombers. That is a totally false assertion. The people of Saudi Arabia are providing money to restock hospitals that have no medicines, to rebuild schools, to restore electricity and telephones and to put food on the table of thousands of starving families. We are proud of that support and that we join with other nations, including the United States, who are providing relief efforts through the same humanitarian channels as Saudi Arabia." [69]

Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Foreign Minister

June 23, 2003

Similarly, according to the Saudi Arabia Embassy in Washington, D.C.'s website, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, told ABC that he denounced "those who accuse the Kingdom of supporting terrorism because it has offered assistance to the people of Palestine. Saudi Arabia, he said, has sent financial assistance to the Palestinian National Authority to enable the PNA to rebuild its infrastructure, which was destroyed by Israeli forces. Saudi Arabia has also sent money as humanitarian assistance directly to the Palestinian people through organizations such as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. 'It is strange and ridiculous', he declared, 'to accuse a country for its humanitarian assistance to needy people. The Kingdom categorically denies that it encourages terrorism through the humanitarian assistance it provides to Palestinians who have lost their loved ones.'" [70]

"Asked if the Kingdom had ever financed the Islamic movements in Palestine (Hamas and Islamic Jihad) whether directly or indirectly, Prince Saud said since the establishment of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, the Kingdom had been sending remittances through the PLO. When the Saudi charitable organizations were first set up there were no regulatory measures. These organizations were authorized to operate like any other charity organizations elsewhere in the world, he said. If money reached Hamas and Jihad from Saudi individuals, money reached them too from the United States, Britain, and France. There were no restrictions then on charity work. After that we learned that money from some philanthropic organizations reached some terrorists. Now there is control over these activities and the possibility of these money reaching any illegal organization is non-existent." [71]

Prince Ahmad bin Abd Al-Aziz, Deputy Minister of Interior

January 14, 2003

The Arab News reported that, "The Kingdom will never fight Islamic trends or prevent holy struggle in God's name, but is detaining a number of citizens as part of efforts to track Al-Qaeda members and protect its people, Deputy Minister of Interior Prince Ahmed said… 'The Kingdom can never fight the Islamic trend because it is the country of Islam, and it can never fight any effort made for the good—especially Jihad (holy struggle) in the name of God.' Western reports have suggested money contributed to such charities was being used to support extremist groups—a claim denied by the charity officials, who insist their aid has been offered purely for social and medical purposes." [72]

Prince Salman bin Abd Al-Aziz, Governor of Riyadh Region

November 11, 2002

In an interview with the Saudi daily Okaz, Prince Salman bin Abd Al-Aziz, the Governor of Riyadh region, categorically rejected charges leveled against Saudi charitable societies, such as his committee, for backing terrorism: "If certain quarters have been turning the charitable works into evil practices, then the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia should never be held responsible for that. The reality is that the Saudi people have always been keen on providing all forms of assistance to their Arab and Muslim brethren." Asked to comment on the report, according to which, he and Prince Nayef bin Abd Al-Aziz, the interior minister, support terrorism through supervising committees that provide families of the martyrs with assistance, Prince Salman said: "We feel honoured to extend support to our Palestinian brethren, but we never support terrorism. It is wrong to view extending support to the Palestinians as a form of support for terrorism." [73]

* Steven Stalinsky is Executive Director of MEMRI.