Saudi links show up in Hamas funding

Nearly a year ago, Khalid Mishaal, a senior leader of Hamas, the militant Palestinian organisation, attended a charitable fund-raising confe...

Nearly a year ago, Khalid Mishaal, a senior leader of Hamas, the militant Palestinian organisation, attended a charitable fund-raising conference here where he talked at length with Crown Prince Abdullah, the de facto Saudi ruler.

A summary of the meeting written by a Hamas official, Mishaal thanked their Saudi hosts for continuing ‘‘to send aid to the people through the civilian and popular channels, despite all the American pressures exerted on them’’.

As relations between Israelis and Palestinians continue to deteriorate, Saudi Arabia has come under fresh scrutiny by American and European investigators here

and in Israel for its political and financial support of the group. At least 50 per cent of Hamas’ current operating budget of about $10 million a year comes from people in Saudi Arabia, according to estimates by US law enforcement officials. The estimated donations coming from Saudi Arabia — about $5 million a year — are a significant sum for Hamas.

‘‘It’s a ridiculous accusation; no Saudi government money goes to Hamas, directly or indirectly,’’ said Adel Al-Jubeir, the foreign affairs adviser to Abdullah. ‘‘Why on earth would we not stop this kind of funding? Why on earth would our crown prince say we do not want to support Hamas and then allow people to do this under the table?’’ (New York Times)