Posted on 04/01/2002 6:29:17 PM PST by grimalkin
General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Defence Minister, yesterday donated Dh20 million in support of Palestinians in their struggle against Israeli occupation.
The contribution comes as part of a fundraising campaign launched on Sunday by the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Human-itarian and Charity Foundation.
Ibrahim Bu Melha, Attorney General and Head of Dubai Public Prosecution, announced the generous donation at a press conference yesterday at his office.
"We hope that this initiative will motivate and encourage local philanthropists and businessmen to contribute to this cause. Sheikh Mohammed's involvement gives legitimacy to the campaign," he said.
He added: "The campaign was launched with the aim of collecting donations to aid our brothers and sisters in Palestine who are living in dire conditions and facing a critical period as a result of Israeli aggression."
Bu Melha recalled the numerous martyrs who have lost their lives, leaving behind widows and orphans, who badly require assistance to meet their daily survival needs.
Palestinians living in the occupied territories lack such basic necessities as food, and medication, he pointed out.
"As the previous campaigns launched for Afghanistan and Sudan have proven successful, we hope to achieve similar results for the Palestinians," said Bu Melha. "Palestinians are high on our priority list."
Charity organisations operating in the UAE will gather in a conference tomorrow, to discuss how to coordinate their efforts towards assisting the Palestinians. One pressing issue is how to speed up the delivery of humanitarian aid, most of which will be in cash.
Bu Melha explained that the Sheikh Mohammed Humanitarian and Charity Foundation has decided to open a bank account in the National Bank of Dubai and the Dubai Islamic Bank in order to better receive donations.
"We prefer monetary donations, as the Israeli authorities have complicated the process of delivering cargo via trucks and planes by surrounding Ramallah with armed military forces," he said.
Salim Abu Sultan, Consul General at the Palestinian Consulate in Dubai, remarked: "This is not a first for Sheikh Mohammed. He has not only supported us in our struggle, but he is a partner in our struggle. He is one of us. The UAE was among the first countries to step forward and offer support."
Abu Sultan praised Sheikh Mohammed's contribution as a 'generous gesture of goodwill' and urged others to follow his example.
"I just received an urgent plea from our president, Yasser Arafat, for all Arabs to offer their assistance. The Israelis have cut off all facilities – even water. They are all facing tough times – everyone, including the president himself," he added.
"More than 48,000 have fallen victim to Israeli aggression during the past 18 months of the Intifada. The figure has increased due to the recent escalation of violence. There are no accurate numbers available as of yet for casualties."
Abu Sultan announced that the consulate is organising a 24-hour hunger strike in Sharjah near the Khaled Lagoon, to protest against the situation in Palestine. It is set to begin today at 5am.
"Besides," continued the Sheik, "if we don't, we'll have to let those filthy, vermin-ridden, palestinian thugs into our own countries and we don't want them immigrating here... I mean, look what they did to Kuwait..."
Time to start drilling in Alaska and to lift the off-shore ban in California.
It won't be foreign oil if US troops go and occupy the wells and pumping stations.
I'm not sure what the exchange rate is today, but the last time I was in the UAE (1994) the Dirham (Dh) was worth about $0.27, (27 cents). So Dh20 million would equal $5,120,000 USD today if the exchange rate is still the same.
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