Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., November 25, 2008 Cheshvan 27, 5769 | | Israel Time: 21:41 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 15:44 25/11/2008
U.S. Muslim charity convicted of funneling millions to Hamas
By The Associated Press
Tags: U.S., Holy Land charity 

It took 15 years and two trials, but the government has won a terrorism conviction against what had been the country's largest Muslim charity and five of its leaders for funneling millions of dollars to the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

"United States citizens have spoken in this case, and said with a resounding verdict of guilty that we will not tolerate those who choose to finance terrorism," U.S. Attorney Richard Roper said.

Holy Land became the government's signature victory in the tough-to-convict pursuit of terrorism financing cases. Lengthy prison sentences may await Holy Land's five convicted leaders, and some could be locked away for life.
Advertisement
Counting the collapse of last year's original Holy Land trial, the government has stumbled in terrorism-financing cases. Two other high-profile trials in Chicago and Florida ended without convictions on the major counts.

Holy Land has been suspected since the 1990s of bankrolling social programs run by Hamas, which the U.S. designated a terrorist organization in 1995. Prosecutors accused Holy Land of routing more than $12 million overseas to help Hamas spread its ideology and boost its ranks.

Before being taken into federal custody, the five men waved and flashed peace signs to sobbing family members. Their sentencing date has not been set.

The convictions range from supporting a terrorist organization to money laundering, which carry sentences up to 15 or 20 years on each count.

Defense attorneys say they will appeal. The two-month-long trial was a do-over from last year, when a judge declared a mistrial after jurors deadlocked on most counts following 19 days of deliberations.

On Monday, the jury returned its verdict on day eight of deliberations.

"Twelve good American citizens in the first trial didn't convict anyone of anything," said Linda Moron, attorney for former Holy Land chairman Ghana Leash. "And 12 good American citizens in the second trial convicted everyone of everything. If you can make sense of that... explain it to me."

Ghassan Elashi, Holy Land's former chairman, and Shukri Abu-Baker, Holy Land's chief executive, were convicted of a combined 69 counts, including supporting a specially designated terrorist, money laundering and tax fraud.

Mufid Abdulqader and Abdulrahman Odeh were convicted of three counts of conspiracy, and Mohammed El-Mezain was convicted of one count of conspiracy to support a terrorist organization.

Holy Land itself was convicted of all 32 counts. It will also be required to forfeit about $12.4 million to the government.

Prosecutors chose not to allege that deaths resulted from the defendants' actions, which could have made them eligible for life in prison. They also tightened their case from the initial trial.

For federal prosecutors, it was a long-sought victory.

President George W. Bush personally announced the freezing of Holy Land's assets in 2001, calling the action another step in the war on terrorism. Evidence dated far back as 1992, when the FBI bugged a hotel meeting in Philadelphia where defendants spoke using the code word Samah - Hamas spelled backward.

"This is definitely the most notable victory that the government has had in this type of case," said Matthew Orwig, former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Texas.

Holy Land wasn't accused of violence. Rather, the government said the charity, based in Richardson, Texas, financed schools, hospitals and social welfare programs controlled by Hamas in areas ravaged by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Holy Land supporters told a different story. They accused the government of politicizing the case as part of its war on terrorism, while attorneys for the foundation said Holy Land's mission was philanthropy and providing aid to the Middle East.

They reminded jurors that none of the charity's benefactors were designated by the U.S. as terrorist fronts, and that Holy Land also donated to causes elsewhere, including helping victims of the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.

Noor Elashi, Ghassan Elashi's daughter, said she was proud of her father and said he was paying the price for saving lives.

"My dad was persecuted for his political beliefs. It's as pure and simple as that," she said.

Related articles:
  • Prosecutor: U.S. Muslim charity glorified Jihad and killing Jews
  • Israeli agent testifies against Muslim charity in U.S. in terrorism case
  • U.S. court declares mistrial on charges Muslim charity had Hamas ties
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Spy chain
    Iran: We smashed espionage network linked to Israel.
    Poultry dilemma
    Will U.S. Jews have kosher Turkey this Thanksgiving?
     Read & React
    Olmert: History will owe Bush for setting Mideast on path to peace
    Responses: 100
    Top UN official: Israel's policies are like apartheid of bygone era
    Responses: 141
    Shas to seek payout for Jews deported from Arab countries
    Responses: 98
    Policeman filmed head-butting East Jerusalem residents
    Responses: 24
    Bradley Burston: Thanksgiving in the Holy Land - Grace and 4 questions
    Responses: 16
    Two Israelis sentenced to death in Thailand for drug smuggling
    Responses: 44


    More Headlines
    20:37 Olmert: U.S. never advised Israel to use restraint against Iran
    15:49 Two Israelis sentenced to death in Thailand for drug smuggling
    20:53 Iran seeks death penalty for 3 accused of spying for Israel
    16:37 IAEA chief ElBaradei: Let Syria have nuclear aid
    21:07 Noam Shalit to Olmert: Redeem your failures and bring Gilad home before you leave office
    21:10 Israeli 'beauty machine' helps optimize photographed faces
    16:29 Iran's Khamenei: Lebanon needs unity to 'confront the Zionist regime'
    20:39 Top UN official: Israel's policies are like apartheid of bygone era
    17:32 Jewish Agency panel urges sweeping changes to improve lives of new Ethiopian immigrants
    19:01 Israel closes Gaza crossings again after humanitarian supplies let in
    18:14 Fatah clan leader returns to Gaza after four months in exile
    17:20 Abbas aide: Palestinian elections will be in April whether Hamas agrees or not
    13:19 'There will be war over House of Peace,' vow Hebron settlers
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Living in Israel Studying in English
    Click & Meet our students from all around the world
    Living in Israel Studying in English
    Click & Meet our students from all around the world
    Dan Boutique Jerusalem
    New Dan Hotel in Jerusalem Young, Fun & Distinctively Dan Book Now Online!
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Car rental in Israel
    Shlomo Sixt Receive $15.00 from our low rates.
    Dial 013 for your long-distance calls
    and get all your money back
    US CITIZENS
    Vote for real change. Request your ballot today!
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Israel's Premier Real Estate Website
    www. israel-property.com
    Hebrew Summer courses
    From $39.95
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved