Syria to raise funds for PA
Iran is not alone: Syria announces the launching of a fundraising campaign that would allow all Syrian citizens to donate money to Palestinians. Syrian VP: Money aimed at averting real disaster in Palestine. Earlier, Iran says it will give PA 50 million dollars
Syria to the rescue: Syria's Vice President Farouk al-Shara announced Sunday that Syrian citizens would be able to donate money to the Palestinian people and government in the framework of a fundraising campaign to be launched soon.
The announcement was made during a joint press conference held by al-Shara and former Iranian President Hashemi Rafsanjani, who was visiting Damascus. According to al-Shara, Syrian citizens would be able to make their donations through banks, and the funds would be collected under the supervision of a committee and with full transparency.
Al-Shara expressed his hope that "Western countries would not use the excuse that we're talking about a fundraising campaign to fund terrorism. Those funds are meant to avert a real disaster in Palestine."
"We don't wish to cast the responsibility on the Palestinian people as a result of the decision it made in the elections," al-Shara added. "The West bears the responsibly, because it spoke all the time about the need to hold democratic elections in the occupied territories."
'Syria may support Iran in case of attack'
Meanwhile, the Syrian VP estimated that regional tension is expected to follow in the near future as a result of the Iranian nuclear question, similarly to the period before the war with Iraq. Al-Shara added that Syria may support Iran should it be attacked.
Earlier Sunday, Iran's foreign minister announced that Tehran would be giving the Palestinian Authority 50 million dollars.
According to Iran's official news agency, Minister Mottaki called on all Muslim and Arab countries to offer assistance to the Palestinian people and government. Later, the Palestinian Hamas-led government issued a statement thanking Iran for its decision to offer aid.
