Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RIYADH1137
2008-07-22 14:41:00
SECRET
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
SAUDI ASSISTANCE TO LEBANON
how-toVZCZCXRO3379 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV DE RUEHRH #1137 2041441 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 221441Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8840 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH IMMEDIATE 9641 RUEHRH/CHUSMTM RIYADH SA IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T RIYADH 001137
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO NEA CWELCH AND NEA/ARP BMCGRATH
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2018
TAGS: ECON IR IS KWPA PGOV PHUM PINR PREL SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI ASSISTANCE TO LEBANON
REF: SECSTATE 71463
Classified By: Charge' d'Affaires Michael Gfoeller
for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
S E C R E T RIYADH 001137
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO NEA CWELCH AND NEA/ARP BMCGRATH
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2018
TAGS: ECON IR IS KWPA PGOV PHUM PINR PREL SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI ASSISTANCE TO LEBANON
REF: SECSTATE 71463
Classified By: Charge' d'Affaires Michael Gfoeller
for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
1. (S) SUMMARY. The Saudi government has so far contributed
over half a billion USD in 2008 to support the Palestinian
Authority (PA). The SAG acknowledges the strategic
importance of keeping the PA funded to prevent Hamas from
gaining full control of the Palestinian territories. The
Saudis, as a matter of policy, do not publicly advertise
their donations to other governments or international causes.
END SUMMARY.
2. (S) On July 21, Pol Counselor met with Saudi MFA Deputy
Director for Western Affairs Department Mojahid Ali Alwahbi
regarding financial support to the PA (Reftel). Post had
previously submitted Reftel's points via dipnote to the MFA.
In our meeting, Alwahbi presented a prepared list of
financial contributions the SAG had made so far in 2008 to
the PA. He emphasized the SAG wanted to make clear that they
have upheld their donation pledges and have been "most
generous."
3. (S) The specific Saudi contributions for 2008 to the PA
are:
- USD 21M to Jerusalem Fund
- USD 94.4M to PA operating budget
- USD 70M to Rafah Housing Fund
- USD 250M in voluntary contributions
- USD 50M "urgent need" (emergency) donation to PA operating
budget
- USD 30.8M additional "urgent need" (emergency) donation to
PA operating budget
- USD 7.2M piecemeal donations
Total for 2008 - USD 523.4M
4. (S) Alwahbi asserted SAG support for Fatah, and strong
opposition to Hamas. He characterized Hamas as being a
surrogate of Iranian expansionist policy which "is up to no
good," while also opining that Israeli policies are hurting
the Palestinian people. Alwahbi remarked that Iran has been
"relatively quiet lately," adding that Iran will not take any
overly provocative actions until after the U.S. presidential
election.
5. (S) Alwahbi added that the SAG routinely makes donations
to various other governments and causes, noting most recently
the SAG's support to the China earthquake relief fund. He
explained it is Saudi policy to follow the Islamic code of
doing charity for the needy while not seeking credit for it.
5. (S) COMMENT. These donations, totaling over half a billion
USD by the SAG to the PA, are significant. This reflects how
the Saudis do in fact expend large sums of money as both
charity, and to support their, and at times our, policy
goals. The Saudis avoidance of publicizing their donations
stems partly from adherence to the Islamic principle that
charity should be given in a humble, i.e. non-public, manner,
but also for both domestic and SAG policy advancement
reasons. Many Saudis are unhappy at seeing the nation's
wealth expended to support foreign entities, especially as
high living costs erode living standards for so many.
Likewise, the SAG believes keeping a low profile gives it
more leverage and influence with aid recipients. That the
SAG provided us such a detailed rundown of their PA
contributions for 2008 is not routine, and likely reflects
their desire to make clear to us that they are being
generous, and helpful with regard to our common interests in
Palestine. END COMMENT.
GFOELLER
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO NEA CWELCH AND NEA/ARP BMCGRATH
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2018
TAGS: ECON IR IS KWPA PGOV PHUM PINR PREL SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI ASSISTANCE TO LEBANON
REF: SECSTATE 71463
Classified By: Charge' d'Affaires Michael Gfoeller
for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
1. (S) SUMMARY. The Saudi government has so far contributed
over half a billion USD in 2008 to support the Palestinian
Authority (PA). The SAG acknowledges the strategic
importance of keeping the PA funded to prevent Hamas from
gaining full control of the Palestinian territories. The
Saudis, as a matter of policy, do not publicly advertise
their donations to other governments or international causes.
END SUMMARY.
2. (S) On July 21, Pol Counselor met with Saudi MFA Deputy
Director for Western Affairs Department Mojahid Ali Alwahbi
regarding financial support to the PA (Reftel). Post had
previously submitted Reftel's points via dipnote to the MFA.
In our meeting, Alwahbi presented a prepared list of
financial contributions the SAG had made so far in 2008 to
the PA. He emphasized the SAG wanted to make clear that they
have upheld their donation pledges and have been "most
generous."
3. (S) The specific Saudi contributions for 2008 to the PA
are:
- USD 21M to Jerusalem Fund
- USD 94.4M to PA operating budget
- USD 70M to Rafah Housing Fund
- USD 250M in voluntary contributions
- USD 50M "urgent need" (emergency) donation to PA operating
budget
- USD 30.8M additional "urgent need" (emergency) donation to
PA operating budget
- USD 7.2M piecemeal donations
Total for 2008 - USD 523.4M
4. (S) Alwahbi asserted SAG support for Fatah, and strong
opposition to Hamas. He characterized Hamas as being a
surrogate of Iranian expansionist policy which "is up to no
good," while also opining that Israeli policies are hurting
the Palestinian people. Alwahbi remarked that Iran has been
"relatively quiet lately," adding that Iran will not take any
overly provocative actions until after the U.S. presidential
election.
5. (S) Alwahbi added that the SAG routinely makes donations
to various other governments and causes, noting most recently
the SAG's support to the China earthquake relief fund. He
explained it is Saudi policy to follow the Islamic code of
doing charity for the needy while not seeking credit for it.
5. (S) COMMENT. These donations, totaling over half a billion
USD by the SAG to the PA, are significant. This reflects how
the Saudis do in fact expend large sums of money as both
charity, and to support their, and at times our, policy
goals. The Saudis avoidance of publicizing their donations
stems partly from adherence to the Islamic principle that
charity should be given in a humble, i.e. non-public, manner,
but also for both domestic and SAG policy advancement
reasons. Many Saudis are unhappy at seeing the nation's
wealth expended to support foreign entities, especially as
high living costs erode living standards for so many.
Likewise, the SAG believes keeping a low profile gives it
more leverage and influence with aid recipients. That the
SAG provided us such a detailed rundown of their PA
contributions for 2008 is not routine, and likely reflects
their desire to make clear to us that they are being
generous, and helpful with regard to our common interests in
Palestine. END COMMENT.
GFOELLER