DATA REQUEST: QATARI ASSISTANCE TO THE PALESTINIAN

UNCLAS DOHA 001445 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID EFIN PREL IS WE GZ QA SUBJECT: DATA REQUEST: QATARI ASSISTANCE TO THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY REF: STATE 146261 The government of Qatar paid in $10 million to the Arab League Fund for the P.A. established at the AL Summit in Beirut in 2000. The GOQ has also made the contributions noted below. Information is based on Embassy sources as the GOQ has not yet responded officially to our request for details. -- Sheikha Moza (wife of the Amir) donated 1.5 million British pounds in 2005 to a Palestinian medical center. -- GOQ funded construction of a football stadium in Gaza. -- GOQ contributed to establishment of a law school in the West Bank. -- GOQ regularly provides medical treatment in Doha for injured Palestinians. -- GOQ sponsors charity drives organized by the Qatar Charitable Society to raise funds for Palestinians. -- On behalf of the P.A., GOQ deducts 5% from salaries of Palestinians working in Qatar and provides those funds to the P.A. -- Qatar University offers ten places for Palestinian students and offers scholarships to the most academically successful Palestinian students graduating from Qatari high schools. -- The Amir recently donated $10 million to an Arab-Israeli soccer team to fund a new field and equipment. MCGEHEE