AL urges Arab countries for more aid to the Palestinians

General Secretary of the Arab League (AL) Nabil el-Arabi urged on Sunday the Arab countries to offer more financial aid to the Palestinian authority in response to the U.S. Congress decision to block its aid to the Palestinians. Arabi's remarks came in a joint press conference with the Palestine Liberation Organization Executive Committee member Saeb Erekat who arrived here on Saturday. The Palestinian authority condemned Saturday the alleged U.S. Congress decision to freeze 200 million U.S. dollars in Palestinian aid, as the voting on a Palestinian bid to the United Nations for a statehood gets clear. Arabi asserted that it was the Palestinian people's right to be a full UN member like any other country. Regarding the response of the Arabic world for a possible U.S. veto, Arabi said the Arab countries are trying to mobilize the international supports via communications with the important actors in the international arena. According to Erekat, the Palestinians would not be blackmailed by financial aid, adding that full UN membership and self- determination are not for bargaining. The president of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas submitted a bid for UN full membership on Sept. 23.