This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/594
Elehassan Society in Gaza used distribution of medical supplies to finance Palestinian Islamic Jihad's acts of terror
May 5, 2005
MIM :It was Michael Fechtner and the Tampa Tribune who went public with the Al Arian story in 1995.Steven Emerson had been aware of Sami Al Arian's Jihadist activities since 1993 and was the first person to 'out ' him as a terrorist in his 1993 documentary 'Jihad in America.
"..The Tampa Tribune's Michael Fechter began reporting on Al-Arian's activities in May 1995. The Tribune stands fully behind Fechter and his work. His has been a labor of years, in the course of which he has read thousands of pages of court documents and spoken with scores of individuals. His work in dozens of stories has met the highest standards and withstood the test of time..." http://archive.salon.com/tech/letters/2002/01/29/al_arian/
It took a decade (and the Patriot Act) to put Al Arian in jail. It was only until an interview with Al Arian on the O'Reilly Factor, in which his terror ties were revealed to nationwide audience, and the security threats which ensued, that caused then USF president Judy Genshaft to suspend Al Arian .
Al Arian had been given two years paid leave during which he continued his activities in his mosque, and with the Islamic Academy of Tampa (an elementary school which had its government funding revoked when it was tied to terrorism), and masterminding attacks by the PIJ.
USF President Betty Castor's failure to oust Al Arian during her term, cost her the Senate election last year.
"...Tribune reporter Michael Fechter wrote that anonymous "former and current senior Israeli intelligence officials" told him that Al-Arian was part of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad's "governing council" called Majlis Shura. According to the anonymous officials, Al-Arian even traveled to Damascus and Tehran for meetings, dropping off a computer to the PIJ's leader on his way..."
"In a sidebar, the Tribune explained that they do not usually allow the use of unnamed sources. However they thought this story was, "of paramount importance to the public" so they made an exception..."
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May 5, 2005
http://news.tbo.com/news/MGB5LTWHC8E.html
Charity Said To Have Ties To Terror
By MICHAEL FECHTERThe Elehssan Society distributes medical supplies and other relief in the Occupied Territories.
In a news release, the Treasury Department said it has seen information showing the society keeps a list of families tied to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad that receive payments, including relatives of suicide bombers.
"Elehssan masquerades as a charity, while actually helping to finance Palestinian Islamic Jihad's acts of terror against the Israeli people and other innocents," Treasury Undersecretary Stuart Levey wrote.
Much of the material cited in the Treasury Department's news release appears to come from documents seized by Israel. The statement refers repeatedly to "information available to the U.S." in explaining the charity's designation.
Al-Arian and the co-defendants are accused of helping to finance and organize the terrorist group, which is responsible for more than 100 deaths in attacks, including at least three Americans. Their trial is scheduled to begin May 16.
The indictment calls Elehssan "the fund-raising arm of the PIJ in Gaza and the West Bank" and claims it used an Internet site to solicit donations.
The charity received hundreds of thousands of dollars from abroad in mid-2002, the statement said. Some went to a summer camp allegedly used to recruit suicide bombers.
In a June 2002 conversation prosecutors say was picked up on secret wiretaps, defendants Hatim Naji Fariz and Ghassan Ballut discussed a Palestinian Islamic Jihad member's desperate financial state, the indictment said, with Fariz blaming Elehssan and other groups "because they know who their members are and they are supposed to take care of them."
The indictment also cites a November 2002 wire transfer by Fariz, Ballut and Al-Arian to a man linked to the charity.
Federal Public Defender Fletcher Peacock, who represents Fariz, and Al-Arian's attorney William Moffitt could not be reached for comment.
In an affidavit for a related immigration case signed in October 2000, Palestinian scholar and legislator Ziad Abu Amr said the Ihsan Charity was among a number of nonviolent political and social institutions run by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Abu Amr's statement is the basis for an obstruction of justice count in the indictment.
This story can be found at: http://news.tbo.com/news/MGB5LTWHC8E.html
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http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/actions/20050504.shtml
05/04/2005
The following [SDGT] has been added to OFAC's SDN list:
ELEHSSAN (a.k.a. AL-AHSAN CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION; a.k.a. AL-BAR AND AL-IHSAN SOCIETIES; a.k.a. AL-BAR AND AL-IHSAN SOCIETY; a.k.a. AL-BIR AND AL-IHSAN ORGANIZATION; a.k.a. AL-BIRR WA AL-IHSAN CHARITY ASSOCIATION; a.k.a. AL-BIRR WA AL-IHSAN WA AL-NAQA; a.k.a. AL-IHSAN CHARITABLE SOCIETY; a.k.a. BIR WA ELEHSSAN SOCIETY; a.k.a. BIRR AND ELEHSSAN SOCIETY; a.k.a. ELEHSSAN SOCIETY; a.k.a. ELEHSSAN SOCIETY AND BIRR; a.k.a. ELEHSSAN SOCIETY WA BIRR; a.k.a. IHSAN CHARITY; a.k.a. JAMI'A AL-AHSAN AL-KHAYRIYYAH; a.k.a. THE BENEVOLENT CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION), Bethlehem, West Bank, Palestinian; AL-MUZANNAR ST, AL-NASIR AREA, Gaza City, Gaza, Palestinian; Jenin, West Bank, Palestinian; Ramallah, West Bank, Palestinian; Tulkarm, West Bank, Palestinian; Lebanon; P.O. BOX 398, Hebron, West Bank, Palestinian [SDGT]
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MIM: More disturbing then the fact that is has taken nearly a decade for law enforcement to go after Al Arian,during which time ex USF professor Ramadan Shallah left the US and became the head of Islamic Jihad in Syria), is news that the Tampa Bay Muslim Alliance, which was founded by Sami Al Arian, recently held a fundraiser in Tampa to which law enforcement and city officials were invited. Al Arian's name is on the corporation listing from 2000 until after his arrest in 2004. The money will no doubt be used at least for Al Arian's legal fund, which begs the question (which MIM is attempting to answer) as to how many of the invitees listed on the event announcement attended.
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Tampa Bay Muslim Alliance Fundraising Dinner
When: Sunday April 10th 2005
Where: Embassy Suites, USF on Fowler Ave Tampa, FL
Tickets: $50, please call Shahid at 813-661-6161 or Dr. Nagamia at 813-454-6200
Info: Congressman Jim Davis is confirmed to attend and they are currently communicating with many other dignitaries to attend the event including, Mayor Pam Iorio, Tax collector
Doug Beldon, Tampa Police chief Stephen Hogue, Tampa Fire Chief, Dennis Jones etc.
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Al-Arian is a director of only two active nonprofit groups or corporations: the Islamic Academy of Florida (a Muslim school in Tampa) and the Tampa Bay Muslim Alliance (an umbrella organization of various mosques), according to state records. The other "charities," including WISE, were dissolved years ago, the records showed.
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/03/28/TampaBay/Flaws_in_Al_Arian_sui.shtml
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Judge curbs Mideast talk
"...Prosecutors' motions sought to block the defense from arguing that Palestinians resisting Israeli occupation are lawful combatants or that Israel's treatment of Palestinians justifies resistance..."
"Trying to explain Dr. Al-Arian without some understanding of what is happening here is like attempting to explain Nelson Mandela without knowing what apartheid is about," Moffitt said.
But prosecutors said the background doesn't matter. "Nothing gives the [Palestinian Islamic Jihad] the right to threaten violence or kill," said lead prosecutor Walter E. Furr III.
Moody agreed, saying, "These defendants are not lawful combatants. They are not entitled to that defense."
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/11614904.htm
5/11/05
TAMPA - Attorneys for a former college professor accused of raising money for a Palestinian terrorist group must limit their discussion of the history and political implications of the long-standing Middle East conflict during his federal trial, a judge ruled Tuesday.
Attorneys for former University of South Florida professor Sami Al-Arian argued that jurors must understand the 50-year conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis to put Al-Arian's public statements and some of his activities into context.
But U.S. District Judge James S. Moody Jr. agreed with prosecutors, who had filed motions attempting to block the defense from injecting into the trial political and religious issues relating to the conflict that would serve as explanations for the motives of Al-Arian and his co-defendants.
However, Moody said, if prosecutors initiate discussion of issues related to the conflict while questioning witnesses, defense attorneys will be allowed to pursue it.
"Until they open that door, it is an irrelevant area for you to go into," Moody told defense attorneys.
Al-Arian and three other defendants face a 53-count federal indictment charging them with support of a foreign terrorist organization, racketeering, conspiracy and extortion.
Prosecutors allege the men used an Islamic academic think tank and a Palestinian charity Al-Arian founded as fund-raising fronts for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The terrorist group is blamed for more than 100 deaths in attacks in Israel.
Prosecutors' motions sought to block the defense from arguing that Palestinians resisting Israeli occupation are lawful combatants or that Israel's treatment of Palestinians justifies resistance.
Al-Arian attorney William Moffitt unsuccessfully argued that some discussion of the conflict is necessary to put the case into proper perspective. To restrict it violates the defendant's right to defend himself.
"Trying to explain Dr. Al-Arian without some understanding of what is happening here is like attempting to explain Nelson Mandela without knowing what apartheid is about," Moffitt said.
But prosecutors said the background doesn't matter. "Nothing gives the [Palestinian Islamic Jihad] the right to threaten violence or kill," said lead prosecutor Walter E. Furr III.
Moody agreed, saying, "These defendants are not lawful combatants. They are not entitled to that defense."
Jury selection in the trial begins Monday, with testimony scheduled to begin June 6. Moody said he would reserve a ruling on moving the trial out of Tampa until after attorneys begin questioning jurors. Defense attorneys have argued that the jury pool has been tainted by politics and publicity.
Moody said he is already scouting possible locations for the trial in case he decides to change venue. He said he has already ruled out Atlanta, whose federal courthouse doesn't have room for the trial, and mentioned Alexandria, Va., as another possible site.
Al-Arian will stand trial with Sameeh Hammoudeh, 44, a former instructor and student at USF and an administrator at the Islamic Academy of Florida; Ghassan Zayed Ballut, 43, a small business owner who lived in Tinley Park, Ill.; and Hatem Naji Fariz, 32, who was manager of a medical clinic in Spring Hill, Fla.
----------------------
May 11, 2005
Al-Arian Judge Says He Might Move Trial
By MICHAEL FECHTER
[email protected]
http://www.tampatrib.com/FloridaMetro/MGBSRX6WK8E.html
TAMPA - The terror-support trial of former University of South Florida Professor Sami Al-Arian and three co-defendants may be moved out of town if jury selection next week comes up empty, a federal judge said Tuesday.
U.S. District Judge James Moody said he intends to bring in 50 prospective jurors each day beginning Monday. About 150 people are being considered to hear the trial after submitting questionnaires the court mailed in the fall.
"I'm hoping I can get a feel for whether we can get a jury," Moody said during a pretrial hearing, "or whether I'm going to grant the motion for a change of venue."
Defense attorneys asked last week that the trial be moved, citing intensive, long-term media coverage in Tampa and the case's high profile during the 2004 Senate campaign that ended with Mel Martinez's election. The media coverage and political debate prejudiced the jury pool, attorneys argued, citing private polling to reinforce their point.
Moving the trial to a new town would trigger a wave of media coverage there, government attorneys argued in a response filed late Monday. If Moody can't seat a jury next week, a better solution might be another trial delay, providing a "cooling off period" from the 2004 Senate campaign. The case originally was to begin in January. Opening statements now are scheduled for June 6.
In their motions, defense attorneys singled out stories by The Tampa Tribune as inflammatory, saying the paper has waged a campaign to discredit Al-Arian. In a response, prosecutors say the Tribune stories were published too long ago to be considered a jury selection problem.
The court has received responses from all but about 15 of the 500 prospective jurors who received questionnaires in the fall, Moody said. He gave four recently received forms to attorneys in court Tuesday, describing three of them as "pretty solid."
Each of the four defense teams gets five minutes to question jurors. Prosecutors can spend 10 minutes per person.
Moody told the attorneys he's scouting possible alternate cities, mentioning Jacksonville and Alexandria, Va. Attorneys declined to comment on Moody's statements.
Al-Arian, Ghassan Ballut, Hatim Naji Fariz and Sameeh Hammoudeh are charged in a 53-count indictment with helping finance and organize the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a group responsible for more than 100 deaths in attacks in Israel and the occupied territories.
During the hearing, Moody also granted four prosecution motions blocking the defendants from a series of politically rooted arguments about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Moody's orders prohibit claims that Palestinian Islamic Jihad attacks are a justified response to Israel's aggression, that the group's members are lawful combatants under international law, that Palestinians have a right of return to disputed lands, or that their actions were rooted in reasonable moral or political beliefs.
However, he said the defense may offer testimony and evidence about the conflict if the government introduces statements any of the defendants have made about it. Perhaps the best-known example is a videotape in which Al-Arian is seen calling for "death to Israel."
Attorney William Moffitt, who represents Al-Arian, said the court has to allow him to place that statement in a historical context.
"The government is attempting to milk the First Amendment out of this case," Moffitt said. Al-Arian's "intent is governed by his awareness of what is going on where he came from."
The defendants will be able to explain their statements if prosecutors put them in evidence, Moody said.
"Until they open that door, it's an irrelevant area" for the defense.
Reporter Michael Fechter can be reached at (813) 259-7621.
This story can be found at: http://www.tampatrib.com/FloridaMetro/MGBSRX6WK8E.html
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Excerpts from Al Arian CV
Sami A. Al-Arian
Computer Science and Engineering Department
ENB 318
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL 33620
Tel. (813) 974-3544 Fax.(813) 974-5456
email: [email protected]
EDUCATION
1981-1985 North Carolina State University
Ph.D. in Computer Engineering
Major: Computer Engineering
Minor: Communication, Control Systems, and Statistics
1978-1980 North Carolina State University
M.S., Electrical Engineering
B.S., Electrical Sciences and Systems Engineering (with High Honors)
1987 Fault Simulation Training
1988 Professional Engineer, Florida
WORK HISTORY
1992-95/ Associate Professor
98-current Computer Science and Engineering Department
University of South Florida (USF), Tampa, Florida
1995-1998 Sabbatical and Administrative Leave, USF
1986-1992 Assistant Professor, USF
1978-1985 Teaching and Research Assistant, Microprocessor Lab Supervisor, and Instructor
North Carolina State University
1980 Research Associate, Research Triangle Institute, RTP, NC
OTHER ACTIVITIES
College Services:
1. Faculty Governance Committee 1993-1995.
2. Chairman Faculty Governance Committee (1994-1995)
3. College of Engineering Curriculum Committee (1991-1993, 98-00).
3. College of Engineering Year of Discovery Committee (1991-1992).
4. CS&E Representative on Engineering Expo Committee (1990,1991, 1994,1998).
Departmental Services:
5. CS & E Dept. Chairman Search Committee (1990-91).
6. Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, CS & E Dept.(1986-Present, Chairman 1986-1988 &1990-92).
7. Coordinator of CSAB and ABET reports. (Accredited in 1989&1991.)
8. Undergraduate Advising Committee (1986-Present).
9. Faculty Search Committee (1988-1993).
10. Course Scheduling Committee (1990-1993).
11. Equipment Committee (1986-1988).
12. Graduate Curriculum Committee (1986-1988).
43. Colloquium Committee (1986-1987).
13. Representative of CS & E on Hardware Courses Standing Committee with EE (1986-1992).
Professional Services:
15. Local Arrangement Chairman and Program Committee member for IEEE Computer Society VLSI Workshop, Clearwater, FL., 1987, 1988,1989, and 1990.
16. Member of organizing and technical committees for IEEE Computer Society VLSI Workshop, Orlando, FL, Feb. 1991.
17. Member of Organizing Committee for 1989 IEEE Computer Society International Workshop on Defect and Fault Tolerance, Tampa, Fl.
18.Organizer and Session chairman of Fault Simulation and Test Generation in 1989,1991 and 1992 IEEE VLSI Test Symposium, Atlantic City, N.J.
19. Session Chair for Fault Tolerant Design at 1991 IEEE VLSI Great Lakes Symposium, and Session Chair for Fault Simulation/Test Generation at 1991 IEEE Computer Society VLSI Test Symposium.
20. Chairman of Tutorial Program in 1991 IEEE Computer Society VLSI Test Symposium, Atlantic City, N.J.
21. Technical Program committee member in 1992 IEEE VLSI Test Symposium.
22. Technical Program Committee member and session chairman of IEEE Great Lakes, Symposium on VLSI, Kalamazoo, MI, 1991 and 1992.
23. VLSI Session Organizer in IEEE Southeastcon, April 1987, Tampa, Fl.
24. Paper Referee in Technical Conferences, IEEE Design and Test, IEEE Transactions on VLSI Systems, IEEE Transactions on Computers, IEEE Transactions on CAD, IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems, Inter. Journal of VLSI Computer- Aided Design, IEEE ITC, and IEEE ICCD in the areas of Computer Architecture, VLSI Testing, Fault Tolerance and Digital Design.
25. Proposal referee for NSF MIPS division.
HONORS AND AWARDS
1. Teaching Incentive (TIP) Award, 1994, USF University Wide Award..
2. Outstanding Teaching Award, 1993, College of Engineering, USF.
3. Award for Significant Contribution, IEEE VLSI Test Technology, 1991.
4. Award for Significant Contribution, International Test Conf., 1984, 1988,1989.
5. Selected as Outstanding Young Men of America, 1987.
6. Best Scholastic Honors, Southern Illinois University, 1976, 1977,1978.
AFFILIATIONS
IEEE, IEEE Computer Society
COURSES TAUGHT
Logic Design Computer System Design
Advanced Digital Systems Computer Architecture
Testing and Fault Tolerance Built-In-Test for VLSI
VLSI System Design for Test Computer Organization
Principles of Microprocessors Microprocessor-Based-Design
Discrete Structures Advanced Computer Architecture
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http://www.intelligence.org.il/eng/finance/bank_ap6.htm
Charitable societies" whose accounts at the Arab Bank were confiscated by
Israeli security forces as part of the struggle against financing terrorism (February 25, 2004)
No.
Branch
Account No.
Name on Account
Associated Terrorist Organization
1
Jenin
581345
Jenin Charitable Society
Hamas
2
Nablus
400271
Nablus Al-Tadam u n Charitable Society
Hamas
3
Nablus
400336
Nablus Islamic Aid Committee
Hamas
4
Qalqiliya
542042
Al-Qur'an wa al-Sunnah Society Qalqiliya
Hamas
5
Tulkarm
500010
Tulkarm Charitable Society
Hamas
6
Tulkarm
503375
Tulkarm Charitable Society
Hamas
7
Nablus
445444
Al-Lod Charitable Society
Hamas
8
Nablus
400415
Social Center, Rehabilitation committee, Al-Wafaa' Building Charitable Society
Hamas
9
Qalqiliya
540939
The Qalqiliya Charitable Society
Hamas
10
Nablus
400739
Tubas Charitable Society
Hamas
11
Ramallah
666473
Jama'ah al-Islamiya
Hamas
12
Al-Manara-
Qalqiliya610686
Ramallah Charitable Sciety
Hamas
13
Al-Bireh
649611
Al-Bireh Al-Islah Society
Hamas
14
Bethlehem
717520
Bethlehem Elehssan Society
Hamas
15
Bethlehem
709966
Bethlehem Society for Orphans
Palestinian Islamic Jihad
16
Hebron
760376
Hebron Young Muslims' Society
Hamas
17
Hebron
750049
Hebron Young Muslims' Society
Hamas
18
Hebron
751100
Hebron Young Muslims' Society
Hamas
19
Bethlehem
713392
Zakat Committee Dehaishe Refugee Camp
Hamas
20
Hebron
751542
Hebron Elehssan Society
Hamas
21
Bethlehem
711161
Al-Islah Charitable Society
Hamas
22
Al-Bireh
609509
Al-Huda Society – Ramallah
Hamas
23
Gaza
124109
Central Islamic Society – Gaza Strip
Hamas
24
Ramal
100208
Charitable and Children's Mercy Society – Gaza Strip
Hamas
25
Gaza
10188
House of the Qur'an and Sunnah Society
Hamas
26
Ramal
100605
Trusteeship for the Care of the Aged Society
Hamas
27
Ramal
100541
Al-Ansar Society
Identified with Iran
28
Ramal
120655
Al-Ansar Society
Identified with Iran
29
Gaza
3683
The Islamic Society
Hamas
30
Gaza
365459
The Al-Nur Prisoner Society
Hamas
31
Khan Yunis
2001438
Khan Yunis Charity and Mercy Society
Hamas
32
Gaza
5858
Nusseirat Islamic Society
Hamas
33
Gaza
150/3
Khan Yunis Charitable Society
Hamas
34
Gaza
35287
Gaza Charitable Society for the Sick
Hamas
35
Gaza
3155
The Islamic University – Gaza
Hamas
36
Khan Yunis
200139
Qararah Islamic Society
Hamas
37
Gaza
15115
Jabalia Islamic Society
Hamas
38
Rafah
2036
Rafah Islamic Society
Hamas
39
Azariya
302656
Azariya Society for the Fostering of Women
Hamas
40
Gaza
39435
Nur Al-Ma'rifah Society
Hamas
41
Jenin
578669
Jenin Elehssan Society
Palestinian Islamic Jihad
In addition, hundreds of private accounts were confiscated, for example: | |
|
This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/594