Egypt proposes increasing al-Aqsa Fund, Intifada to $ 2b

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak is proposing to the ninth Islamic summit that the combined capital of the Aqsa and Intifada funds, provided for by the recent Arab summit in Cairo, be increased to $ 2 billion.

Egyptian Prime Minister Atef Ebeid, who is leading Egypt's delegation to the summit, made the statement at a meeting of the summit which has been mainly assigned discuss conditions in Jerusalem and the Palestinian Intifada.

Ebeid, under directions from President Mubarak, suggested that Islamic countries pay the extra dlrs 1 billion.

"The continued Israeli practices against the Palestinians require of US practical stances and definitive resolutions," Ebeid said, adding that Egypt remained committed to full support for negotiations so as to attain Palestinian rights regarding final-status issue, including sovereignty over East Jerusale.