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del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 06:03 22/10/2007 U.S. Muslim group charged with funding Hamas to hear verdict By The Associated Press DALLAS - Leaders of a group that was once the United States' largest Muslim charity could learn Monday whether a jury found them guilty or innocent of charges that they funneled millions in illegal aid to Middle Eastern terrorists. The case against the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development is the most significant terror-financing trial since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. U.S. President George W. Bush personally announced the seizure of the charity's assets in December 2001, effectively shutting down the group. The U.S. court jury delivered a verdict on Thursday, but it was sealed until Monday so the judge and all the prosecutors could be present. Advertisement Legal experts said there was no assurance that jurors even reached a decision on the major charges - that five former leaders of the charity gave aid to the militant group Hamas. The U.S. government designated Hamas a terrorist group in 1995 and again in 1997, making financial transactions with the group illegal. Each defendant faced up to 35 counts, including conspiracy and money laundering. The defendants are Holy Land's former chief executive, Shukri Abu Baker; former chairmen Ghassan Elashi and Mohammed El-Mezain; the group's New Jersey representative, Abdulrahman Odeh; and fundraiser Mufid Abdulqader. Abdulqader is the half brother of Hamas political chief Khalid Mishal, whom the U.S. government also designated a terrorist. Elashi is serving an 80-month sentence after being convicted at an earlier trial of having financial dealings with another designated terrorist, Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzook, who married Elashi's cousin. Lawyers for the Holy Land officials said the group was a legitimate charity that provided medical help, social services and schooling to Palestinian children and families. The group sent millions of dollars to Palestinian charities in Gaza and the West Bank, areas occupied by Israel. An Israeli security lawyer, who was allowed to testify under a false name, said the Palestinian charities were controlled by Hamas, which conducts suicide bombings inside Israel. Defense lawyers called a retired U.S. diplomat in Jerusalem, who said he was privy to daily CIA briefings and was never told that Hamas controlled the charities. The U.S. government never designated the charities as terrorist organizations. Three of the defendants attended a 1993 meeting in Philadelphia where participants spoke of helping Hamas derail a 1993 peace agreement between Israel and Palestinian representatives. The FBI secretly recorded the meeting Bookmark to del.icio.us A Palestinian gesture The top PA diplomat in Poland joined his Israeli counterpart on a visit to Auschwitz. Link to Temple found A controversial Temple Mount dig unearthed fragments from the ear of the First Temple.   1.   Interference of Haaretz.com by hackers 03:12  |  Dare I say? 22/10/07

Today Online Britain's chief rabbi: Multiculturalism is threat to democracy Responses: 163 Fayad: Suspects in plot to kill Olmert have been arrested again Responses: 159 PM: Annapolis summit will not bring historic breakthrough Responses: 121 Gideon Levy: The time has come for Israel to give up on Ron Arad Responses: 113 Prince Hassan of Jordan: Muslims must differentiate between Israeli action, Jews Responses: 91 Rosner's Domain * Jumblatt to Bush: Send car bombs to Damascus * Israel's fear: Will Rice put a bridging proposal on the table? * WTR: 75% of Americans don't believe in peace process * Guest: Should the Saudis attend Annapolis? More Headlines 21:38 Palestinian PM: Suspects in plot against Olmert back in custody 05:45 ANALYSIS: Olmert assassination plot leaves PA caught unaware 04:27 IAF strike injures at least four Hamas gunmen in north Gaza 22:08 In act of joint reflection, Israeli and PA diplomats visit Auschwitz 05:45 Psychologists: Women's accounts of rape by Katsav were credible 04:16 Ex-Pentagon official: Missile defense need be only 80% effective 02:28 High-level North Korean official meets Syrian PM in Damascus 06:04 Lebanese Druze leader calls on U.S. to impose sanctions on Syria 06:03 U.S. Muslim group charged with funding Hamas to hear verdict Previous Editions Select Day 21 oct 19 oct 18 oct 17 oct 16 oct 15 oct 14 oct 12 oct 11 oct 10 oct 09 oct 08 oct

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