White House Willfully Ignores Saudi Funding of ‘Martyrs’
Listed in: Other Foreign Policy, NJDC News, Press Releases
Washington, DC: The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported Friday that while speaking to members of the Jewish press on Wednesday, September 4th, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer surprisingly stated that "the White House 'has seen no evidence' to back up charges that Saudi leaders have given funds to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers." Yet the Saudi Embassy's own Internet site shows Mr. Fleischer's statement to be an out-and-out falsehood. That Internet site lists the following public Saudi press statements, which are only the most obvious examples contradicting Mr. Fleischer's assertion:
** A January 7th, 2001 statement notes that the "Saudi Committee for Support of the Al-Quds Intifada," chaired by Saudi Arabia's Interior Minister, "has so far distributed about SR 123.75 million [U.S. $ 33 million]. ...to the families of 2,281 prisoners and 358 martyrs," among others.
** A March 20th, 2001 statement reports that the Committee has collected (at that time) more than $64 million, and that the committee "has pledged a sum of SR 20,000 [$5,333] to each family that has suffered from martyrdom." The same statement also discusses the Saudi Kingdom's $50 million contribution to a $200 million "fund for the intifada" that "targets the families of victims of the intifada, specifically to educate the sons of martyrs and rehabilitate the injured."
** An August 20th, 2001 statement recalls Saudi contributions of $250 million to funds "for the purpose of preserving the Arab and Islamic identity of Al-Quds and to support Al-Intifadah (uprising)," adding that Saudi Arabia had "offered financial support to one thousand families of Palestinian martyrs and those who suffered injuries in the cause."
"The only way the White House could have 'seen no evidence' linking Saudi Arabia's top leaders with the funding of 'martyrdom' is if they've decided to collectively close their eyes," said National Jewish Democratic Council Executive Director Ira N. Forman. "It is embarrassing that the White House spokesman would dissemble like this in front of the Jewish media when it comes to such an issue of life and death.
"The Saudi government itself is proud of this twisted funding, and they gladly detail the allocations in public for all to see - at least for those who are willing to uncover their eyes. If the White House and various cabinet members want to continue supporting a Saudi government that funds the families of martyrs, they should say so; but they cannot make outrageous claims and expect thinking Americans to swallow them. Just because Ari Fleischer says black is white does not make it so."
