Arabs to help Palestinians if Israel halts funds 

(MENAFN - Jordan Times) Arab countries on Saturday agreed to provide Palestinians with 100 million a month if Israel blocks critical tax funds to the Palestinian Authority in response to the statehood drive, the Associated Press reported.

Palestinian Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat said the so-called "safety net" was pledged by Arab League foreign ministers meeting Saturday in Qatar's capital Doha.

Erekat said the Arab funds would only begin if Israel stops monthly tax payments to the Palestinian Authority.

In December, Israel backed down from halting the payments under intense international pressure.

But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he could reconsider the decision if Palestinians step up their push for UN recognition of an independent state.

After the meeting, in which Jordan participated, Erekat told reporters that Arab League Secretary General Nabil El Araby was tasked with following up on the decision and coordinating with Arab countries, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

On reconciliation efforts, Erekat said a meeting between Hamas and Fateh will be held in Cairo next Tuesday to resolve the issues hindering reconciliation.

The negotiator stressed that national unity is a top priority for Palestinians.

"If we don't help ourselves, no one will help us," he said, according to Petra.

Erekat said that during the Doha meeting, Araby suggested calling for an extraordinary UN General Assembly meeting to discuss the issue of Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

The Palestinian official called for referring to Palestinian detainees as prisoners of war.