LANTOS AND KISSINGER SCOLD ARAB DEADBEATS

Dem Scolds Arab 'Deadbeats' on Aid to Palestinians
WASHINGTON — The senior Democrat on the House International Relations Committee said Thursday he would condition U.S. aid to the Palestinians on oil-rich Arab "deadbeats" making good on their own promised contributions. The assertion by Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif., at a hearing on Mideast peace prospects drew swift endorsement from the leadoff witness, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. "I think it is reasonable that the surrounding Arab states that have resources should at least match U.S. support," Kissinger said.

Lantos said he backed President Bush's request that Congress double to $350 million U.S. aid to the Palestinians to help their economy and to improve security measures against terror groups.
But Lantos said he would urge Congress to insist that the Palestinian Authority fight terrorism and that Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and other Arab oil states, which he said reaped $40 billion in windfall profits last year, make good on their pledges of $400 million. Those three Persian Gulf countries "lead the list of deadbeats, in arrears to the Palestinian Authority," Lantos said. And in light of Kuwait's liberation from Iraq in the 1991 Persian Gulf war, "it is especially disgraceful" it is on the list.