RIYADH, 2 January 2004 — Prince Alwaleed ibn Talal, the chairman of Kingdom Holding Company, is disappointed about the lack of positive developments in Palestine due to Israel’s consistent incursions.
In a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei here on Tuesday, the prince said it was time the attention of the world returned to the plight of Palestinians in the occupied territories after being distracted by the Iraq war.
Qorei and the prince, who is a major investor in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, discussed regional and international developments, especially the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Prince Alwaleed first visited the Gaza Strip in 1998 when he gave Palestinian Airlines a Boeing 727 valued at $5.2 million, a statement from the prince’s press office said. He also laid the cornerstone for the Mashtal complex, a Palestinian Development and Investment Company (PADICO) project.
The statement said the prince’s investment was motivated by a desire to improve Palestinian infrastructure rather than profit.
