RIYADH, March 11: Palestinian religious group Hamas said on Saturday that Saudi Arabia has vowed to remain one of the biggest financial backers of the Palestinians, despite US and European threats to cut aid.

The United States and the European Union have threatened to tighten the taps on the Palestinian Authority unless Hamas, which is gearing up to form its new government, gives up its armed struggle against Israel and recognises the Jewish state.

Hamas leaders are in Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter and birthplace of Islam, on a tour of Arab and other countries seeking support after their surprise win in parliamentary elections in January.

“They affirmed that political and financial aid to the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian people would continue,” said Ezzat El-Resheq, a member of Hamas’ politburo.

“We did not go into numbers, but they promised excellent support,” he told Reuters, referring to a meeting the delegation had with Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal on Friday night.

Resheq declined to say whether Riyadh had promised to increase funding to fill gaps caused by Western countries. Saudi officials were not immediately available for comment.

Saudi Arabia is largely seen as the biggest financial backer of the Palestinian Authority. Saudi citizens and charitable foundations donate some $150 million each year to support social and economic projects in the Palestinian territories.

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

“We believe the Saudi position... will be extremely important in breaking the embargo that America and Israel want to impose on our people,” Resheq said. “It is completely unreasonable to cut off an entire people.”

Around three million Palestinians under Israeli control since the 1967 Middle East war want an independent state. But Hamas has been shunned by Western countries because it carries out suicide attacks.

Although Saudi Arabia is a key Arab ally of the United States, withholding aid is seen as politically impossible for the government because of popular support for the Palestinians, not least now that an Islamist group has come to power.

The kingdom has traditionally sought to champion Muslim causes, at various points backing Afghan Mujahideen in Afghanistan, Bosnian Muslims in the Balkan country’s 1992-95 war and Chechens against Russia.

Saudi media said the five-man Hamas delegation — which is headed by leader-in-exile Khaled Meshaal — would go on to visit Yemen, Bahrain and Kuwait, probably leaving Riyadh on Sunday after a meeting with King Abdullah.—Reuters