Saudi Arabia pledges $1 billion to rebuild Gaza

[January 19, 2009]  KUWAIT CITY (AP) -- The Saudi king says his country will donate $1 billion to help rebuild the Gaza Strip after Israel's devastating three-week offensive in the Palestinian territory.

King Abdullah criticizes Israel for using excessive force in Gaza and says "one drop of Palestinian blood" is more valuable than all the money in the world.

The king spoke Monday in Kuwait City at a summit focused on boosting economic growth and development in the Arab world.

[Associated Press]

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