A delegation of Arab ministers and high-ranking officials led by Arab League Chief Nabil Elaraby will visit Ramallah on Saturday to offer moral support and discuss financial aid for the Palestinian Authority, an Arab League source said on Wednesday.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr and Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh are among those heading to the central West Bank city. They will meet briefly with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the source said.

The delegation, according to the source, will congratulate the Palestinian Authority on a successful U.N. status upgrade in the teeth of Israel’s threat to expand settlements last month.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

“The Arab delegation’s visit to Ramallah is the first of its kind and will look into various issues, most importantly financial support for the Palestinian Authority in light of Israel’s decision to withhold Palestinian funds,” the source said.

Magdy el-Khaldy, a diplomatic advisor to the Palestinian president, confirmed that the Arab delegation’s visit was expected on Saturday, saying its purpose was to express “solidarity with the Palestinian people … and to get an on-the-ground picture of (their) suffering.”

Israel said earlier this month it would withhold tax revenues from Abbas’s administration until March at least in response to his statehood campaign at the United Nations.Ÿ

King Abdullah of Jordan visited Palestinian leaders in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Dec. 6. (Reporting by Ayman Samir and Ali Sawafta; Writing by Shaimaa Fayed; Editing by Andrew Osborn)

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount