Hamas delegation arrives in Saudi to seek aid

RIYADH, Mar 10 (Reuters) Leaders of Palestinian Islamist group Hamas today arrived in Saudi Arabia on a visit they hope will ensure political and financial backing from the wealthy Islamic country, a Hamas official said.

Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter and birthplace of Islam, has been one of the biggest financial backers of the Palestinian Authority.

Hamas leaders have been on a tour of Arab and other countries seeking support after their surprise win in elections in January. They are in the process of forming a new government.

The five-man delegation, headed by Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, was to have talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal this evening and King Abdullah, probably tomorrow, Hamas official Ezzat El-Resheq said.

Hamas' prime minister designate Ismail Haniyeh, who Israeli Interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today said could be a target for assassination, is not part of the delegation. It is the first official visit by a Hamas delegation since 1998.

Resheq condemned a statement by Olmert this week promising to settle Israel's borders unilaterally by 2010, including land in East Jerusalem and the West Bank which Israel has occupied since 1967, if his Kadima party wins elections this month.

''This is an escalation. It's no surprise to us in that all their efforts are directed towards changing facts on the ground,'' Resheq told Reuters, referring to a security barrier Israel is building mainly on Palestinian land seized in 1967.

''But it would not change the fact that an occupation is an occupation,'' he added.

The United States and the European Union have threatened to cut aid to the Palestinian Authority unless Hamas gives up its armed struggle against Israel and recognises the Jewish state.

''Hamas appreciates the Saudi position that always supported the Palestinian people,'' Mohammad Nazzal, a Hamas leader in exile, said yesterday. ''We will seek the continuation of political and financial support from our brothers in Saudi Arabia.'' Around three million Palestinians under Israeli control since the 1967 West Asia war want an independent state. But Hamas has been shunned by Western countries because it carries out suicide attacks against civilians inside Israeli cities.

Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal publicly spurned a US call to isolate Hamas during a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice last month.

Haniyeh said in comments published yesterday that the delegation would also ask Saudi Arabia to help formulate a positive Arab position towards the group during an Arab summit to be held in Khartoum later this month.

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