Palestinian Finance Minister Omar Abdul Razek said yesterday that the Arab League (AL) has received more than US$71 million as part of an Arab aid and donation to the Hamas-led Palestinian government.

Abdul Razek told a news conference in Ramallah that he would get another 20 million dollars which was also received by the Arab League, but the final information has not been reached.

"We are arranging with financial departments to let the money into the Palestinian territories," said Abdul Razek.

The countries which paid donation for the government included Russia, Saudi Arabia and Iran.

On Monday, Planning Minister Samier Abu Eisha said in Gaza that an emergency aid-raising plan about 950 million dollars will be submitted to international donors to cover costs in the next nine months.

Abu Eisha said that the amount would pay salaries and other expenses and is designated to cover the period from April to December.

The radical Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which formed the cabinet after its surprising victory in the Jan. 25 legislative elections, had never expected such a formidable financial crisis.

The cash-strapped government, which was sworn in on March 29, has failed to pay salaries of over 150,000 government employees since March.

The United States and the European Union suspended direct aid to the Palestinian National Authority after the Hamas-led cabinet defied their demand to recognize Israel, renounce violence and respect signed deals between Israel and the Palestinians.

The additional pressure was put on Hamas after Israel froze a monthly transfer of some 50 million dollars in tax payment to the Palestinian government in a bid to force a change to Hamas' hardline positions.