New York, Sept 17: At least 50 per cent of the Palestinian militant outfit Hamas' current budget of about 10 million dollars a year comes from people in Saudi Arabia, top US officials have said. After the September 11 terror attacks, the Saudi portion of Hamas' financing grew larger as donations from the US, Europe and other Persian Gulf countries dried up, a media report said today quoting American officials and analysts.
The estimated donations coming from Saudi Arabia -- about five million dollars a year -- are a significant sum for Hamas but a very small portion of the hundreds of millions of dollars that flow into Saudi charities each year, officials said.
Nearly all the donations are given in cash, making it extremely difficult for Saudi and American authorities to track the money, the `New York Times' report said.
Saudi Arabia has dismissed the claims, asserting that it contributes solely to the Palestinian Authority.
"It's a ridiculous accusation; no Saudi government money goes to Hamas, directly or indirectly," said Adel al-Jubeir, the foreign affairs adviser to Prince 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?"
Saudi officials were quoted as saying their government's support for Palestinian causes goes solely to the Palestinian Authority, about 80 million dollars to 100 million dollars a year.
Bureau Report