UNCLAS KUWAIT 004105

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI SWALKER, LONDON FOR LTSOU

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID EFIN WE GZ KU
SUBJECT: LOCAL PRESS REPORTS ON KUWAITI ASSISTANCE TO
PALESTINIANS

REF: A. KUWAIT 3867


B. KUWAIT 3850

C. KUWAIT 3775

D. KUWAIT 3585

$21 Million Donation for Palestinian Funds
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1. (U) This is an update on recent press reports about
Kuwaiti (government and private) financial and materiel
assistance to Palestinians (see reftels for past reporting).
On September 13, the Arab Times (English language daily)
quoted the President of the Islamic Development Bank, Dr.
Ahmad Mohammad Ali, as expressing his appreciation to Kuwaiti
Amir, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al Jaber Al-Sabah for Kuwait's
"constant support to the Palestinian cause." Ali's
statements were in reference to a recent GOK contribution of
21M USD for the benefit of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Al-Quds
Funds, made in support of the Arab League Summit effort to
raise 150M USD for the two funds.

Cancer Treatment Center for Palestinians
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2. (U) On September 18, the Al-Qabas (Arabic language daily)
cited a letter sent to a local Kuwaiti cancer treatment
center, the Committee of Al-Isra'a Tumors Center, by Dr.
Abdulraheem Al-Hanbali, Chairman of Nablus Zakat
Committee-Palestine, thanking the Kuwaiti center for helping
to construct the first tumor treatment center in Palestinian
territory (location not mentioned). The article states that
the Al-Isra'a Tumors Center was operating through a joint
venture with the Kuwait Society for Smoking and Cancer
Prevention and the International Islamic Charitable Society's
Palestine Charitable Committee. The new tumor center
purportedly will serve 2 million residents in the West Bank
and 1 million in the Gaza Strip.

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LEBARON