The Palestinian president has arrived in Turkey and the foreign minister in Kuwait on fund-raising tours. Mahmoud Abbas was on Sunday on the first leg of a European tour, which will include Norway, Finland and France, to discuss stalled talks for Middle East peace and aid to his cash-strapped people.| Of course he travels first class. |
Abbas is hoping his tour will convince donor countries to resume sending aid to the Palestinian people to overcome a long-standing financial crisis. On arrival, Abbas said: "We will tell our Turkish brothers what is happening in the Palestinian territories.
| Brothers? I think he means, former rulers. |
The crisis has been aggravated since the European Union and the US suspended direct aid after the new Palestinian government, led by Hamas, was sworn in last month.
During his two-day stay, Abbas will discuss Ankara's contribution to peace in the Middle East. Turkey has close relations with both Israel and the Palestinians and has often offered to mediate in their conflict.