Arab foreign ministers discuss support for Palestinians

The committee, made up of foreign ministers of Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Tunisia, Bahrain and the Palestian Authority is entrusted with seeing that policies adopted by Arab leaders in support of the Palestinian people are implemented.

Arab leaders, at an emergency summit in Cairo four months ago, pledged to support the Palestinians both politically and economically. They promised a billion dollars in support for the Palestinian Intifada (uprising) against Israeli occupation, but Palestinians say that only four million were received so far.

This issue along with the election last Tuesday of Ariel Sharon as Israeli prime minister will rank high in the talks, to conclude on Sunday. On Sharon's declared hardline policy towards peace with the Palestinians, Arab League chief Esmat Abdul Majeed told reporters here: "We are watching carefully Sharon's actions, and if this direction which we know and read persists, we will be on the brink of disaster in the region." Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Mussa said that "Sharon's extremism is well known and his history proves it, but he was elected as prime minister and that entails important responsibilities... If he continues his extremism, then the situation will be dangerous and that will definitely evoke a reaction." The follow-up committee's meeting comes ahead of the Arab summit to be held in Amman in late March.

(dpa)