JEDDAH/RIYADH, 27 July 2006 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah donated SR10 million to the Saudi telethon that kick-started yesterday to help people in Lebanon who have been afflicted by the Israeli bombardment, reported the Saudi Press Agency.
Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, donated SR5 million to the campaign while Interior Minister Prince Naif contributed SR2 million.
In Riyadh, Saudis and expatriates came yesterday in large numbers to the Prince Faisal ibn Fahd Stadium in Malaz to make their donations in cash and kind in the fund-raiser Telethon for the people of Lebanon suffering at the hands of brutal Israeli forces.
At 1 p.m. yesterday Saudi Television launched a Telethon to collect donations from the members of the public. Islamic theologians and sociologists took part in the show to highlight the religious and civic importance of offering aid to the deserving people who have become victims of Israel’s large-scale response to Hezbollah’s capturing of two soldiers on July 12.
King Abdullah has repeatedly called for an end to hostilities while focusing Saudi efforts in assisting Lebanon with financial support, including $1.55 billion so far in financial assistance and now this national charity event.
Interior Minister Prince Naif announced the national account number for the Lebanese Victims’ Fund — #567 at the National Commercial Bank — that makes it easier for financial donors to expedite their contributions.
Abdullah Al-Dosary, a Riydah police officer, was the first to walk into the Prince Faisal Stadium. With his two-year-old son and wife in tow, Al-Dosary said he heeded the king’s call for peaceful civic service.
“I came here in response to the call of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Adbullah and to help my brethren who are suffering in a far off place due to man-made disaster,” said Al-Dosary.
Saudi English teacher Ali Benhelsan said he decided to donate regardless of the religious background of the Lebanese victims.
“I came here to contribute not only because the victims are Muslims but because they are human beings,” he said. “We understand that Muslims and non-Muslims have been affected due to Israeli bombardments. We have to help anybody who has fallen victim to these sad circumstances.”
Ahmed Yusuf, a 17-year-old student, said he was driven to the donation center by his sympathy as he watches the attacks on television.
“I have given a small donation,” he said. “I assisted the victims according to my means.”
Samer, a Syrian expatriate who had come to the center with his four sons, thanked King Abdullah for the opportunity to help the victims in Lebanon. “I feel it a God-sent opportunity and I feel happy to donate these few items that would help the deserving people,” he said as he unloaded boxes of foodstuffs from the back of his GMC and handed them to workers assigned to accept these donations.
Approximately 500 laborers have been employed to accept donations, which are being loaded onto trucks bound either directly for Lebanon or to the airport for transport to Beirut. A special room has been set aside for accepting donations of gold and other jewelry. Mohamed Al-Asiri, who came with his two sons Sultan and Abdullah, said he was glad that the king had given the $1.5 billion Lebanon aid package, not counting the $50 million announced last week or the $250 million slated for the Palestinians.
He said that when the king makes such gestures it’s only right for his subjects to follow suit. “We are very happy that King Abdullah had given a substantial donation for this cause,” said Al-Asiri. “It reflects the Kingdom’s role as a leader in the Islamic world.”
