MALAYSIA TO FUND HAMAS

Malaysia pledges $16 million to Palestinian Authority

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt - Malaysia pledged $16 million on Sunday in humanitarian aid and budget support to the Palestinian Authority to compensate for the loss of US and European assistance.  But in practice the Malaysian pledge, like previous contributions from Arab states, will not reach the Palestinians until the United States lifts the threat of sanctions against banks which transfer the funds to the West Bank or Gaza.