LOCAL PRESS REPORTS ON KUWAITI ASSISTANCE TO

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 -------------- ¶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 -------------- ¶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. ********************************************* Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website ********************************************* LEBARON