Aid Grants Reveal Saudi Priorities

In June, Saudi Arabia granted Jordan $400 million in aid.

This week, the Saudis added a billion dollars more, and this $1.4 billion is cash—not loans, not investments, but budget support.

This amount almost entirely covers Jordan’s projected budget deficit for 2011 of $1.5 billion, and of course the country will receive additional aid from other governments.

By contrast, the Saudis have given $30 million to the Palestinian Authority in 2011. And partly as a result, the PA is broke, has a billion dollars in debt, and has now put its public employees on half salary.

These figures provide a far better insight into Saudi priorities than speeches or UN votes.