Free Republic

Welcome to NoE An estimated 2,830 people died or are missing in the aftermath of the attack on the World Trade Center. Ninety-eight percent of those victims were at work, and the youngest was only 2 ½ years old. One in six - 494 - are reportedly either foreigners or Americans with dual citizenship, hailing from more than 90 countries. In the attack on the Pentagon, 189 were killed, and in a field in Pennsylvania, another 45 died when their plane plummeted to earth due to the efforts of a small group of heroes who wanted to avert another...

www.spa.gov.sa/html/archive_e.asp?srcfile=622182&NDay=09/03/2004&wcatg=0 Jeddah, March 9, SPA (Saudi Press Agency)-- The Funds of Al-Aqsa and Al-Quds have approved an amount of U.S. 721 million since their establishment in the year 2000 for 35 developmental projects and programs in Palestine. In accordance with the third annual report of the Funds, run by the Islamic Development Bank, the amount includes provisional loans amounting to U.S. 240 million provided to support the budget of the Palestinian Authority.

Palestinian Authority Finance Minister Salam Fayyad has revealed that files and documents detailing revenues from oil products of the PA's Petroleum Authority have disappeared under mysterious circumstances from his ministry. Fayyad was speaking at a special session of the Palestinian Legislative Council in Gaza City on Tuesday night. It was the first meeting of its kind in the Gaza Strip since the outbreak of violence three years ago. Several legislators queried the Finance Minister about a series of corruption scandals that have hit the PA over the past few years, including the embezzlement of hundreds of millions of dollars from...

CRAWFORD, Texas, Aug 5 (Reuters) President George W. Bush said the United States would provide 26 million dollars for urgent assistance to Palestinian refugees in the West Bank and Gaza. In a memorandum to Secretary of State Colin Powell, Bush said he determined that up to 26 million dollars be made available from the U.S. Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund for a contribution to a U.N. relief fund for Palestinian refugees. Bush said the aid was needed to meet ''unexpected and urgent refugee needs in the West Bank and Gaza.'' Bush is seeking to prod the Palestinians and Israelis...

18:56 European Commission decides to extend 100 million euros ($112 million) in aid to PA to help peace efforts

The U.S. administration, citing "national security needs and special circumstances" to bypass Congressional prohibitions, is sending $20 million in special aid to the Palestinian Authority to help strengthen the government of Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas. Israel was notified of the aid and did not express any objections. Congressional legislation prohibits direct aid to the PA, requiring aid to go through international agencies or non-governmental organizations. Therefore, President George W. Bush needed a special article in the legislation that allows the president to bypass the prohibition for reasons of national security and unexpected circumstances. After consultation with Congress, Deputy Secretary...