Palestinians seek aid from Arab states

SAUDI ARABIA and other Arab states are expected to speed money within days to the Palestinian Authority to help keep it afloat after Israel halted its tax payments.

Ahmed Qureia, the outgoing prime minister, said the cash-strapped authority had been forced to turn to its "Arab brothers" to cushion the blow.

Mr Qureia and other Palestinian officials, however, were still hopeful that the Jewish state, under US pressure, would agree to transfer the money owed.