Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA) told the paper that he has written to the State Department, the Department of Justice, and the IRS, informing them that Viva Palestina funds terrorism and is soliciting donations in America. The Patriot Act and other counter-terror laws prohibit soliciting funds for a recognized terrorist organization. His letters were sent several months ago, but nothing has been done. Sherman said the State Department forwarded his complaint to the Department of Justice, which has yet to respond. The IRS said they would look into the matter, he added. The congressman said he plans to keep pushing the matter until something is done. Viva Palestina is run by former British MP George Galloway, who openly supports Hamas and has made direct donations to the group. In 2009 Galloway gave Hamas leaders cash and vehicles, and taunted his government, saying, "If you want to take me to court, I promise you there is no jury in all of Britain who will convict me." Sherman said he has faced difficulty due to the fact that Viva Palestina's branch in the U.S. is partnered with the charity group Interreligious Foundation for Community Organizations (IFCO) and receives money through them. In addition, Viva Palestina USA claims that it does not give to Hamas. However, Sherman disputes that claim, pointing out that the group openly supports Galloway's "aid convoys" to Gaza. An expert on terrorism, Stephen Landman, was quoted by IBT as saying that Viva Palestina USA "openly used its resources to prop up Hamas' government in the Gaza Strip." Landman recently addressed the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. He told committee members that there is "overwhelming" evidence that Viva Palestina supports terrorism, and that the group has raised at least $200,000 in America. Galloway and Viva Palestina are currently planning a flotilla to sail for Gaza, in an attempt to break Israel's naval blockade of Hamas. A previous attempt to break the blockade ended with nine deaths and several injuries after armed passengers attacked IDF soldiers who attempted to redirect their boats, and soldiers opened fire in response. "We have no problem with Egypt, Egypt is not our enemy. Our enemy is the Zionist state of Israel," Galloway told a press conference in Damascus. "We want to focus international opinion on the crimes of Israel. Palestine is in my eyes and my heart, and I'll be sad if I now have to stay away from it." Galloway plans to leave Syria Thursday or Friday with 144 aid vehicles and a band of nearly 40 pro-Hamas activists from 30 countries who are scheduled to sail to Egypt. They want to reach Gaza by land, circumventing the Israeli maritime blockade aimed at preventing Hamas from bringing more terrorists and advanced weapons in to Gaza. George Galloway, who has been barred from entering Canada and whose Viva Palestina group has been linked to terror groups such as Hamas, stopped off in Turkey on his way from London to Damascus. He visited the grave of one of the terror activists killed last May when members of the IHH terror-linked charity group ambushed Israel Navy commandos who boarded their Turkish-sponsored Mavi Marmara ship to detour it from the direction of Gaza. A Jordanian delegation is expected to join Galloway in Syria with 52 buses and 134 activists, while a North African group still is looking for a boat to take them to Syria. Algerian activists said they will fly to Damascus Wednesday and join the convoy.
by Maayana Miskin October 6, 2010
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu October 6, 2010
Thursday, 7 October 2010
U.S. Offers Tax Breaks for Terror Funding
The United States government has been allowing citizens to take a tax deduction for donations to Viva Palestina, a group that aids the anti-Israel and anti-America terrorist group Hamas. Now a U.S. Congressman is trying to put a stop to it, as reported by the International Business Times.
Syria Helps New (Galloway )Convoy to Gaza via Egypt
Syria is hosting pro-Hamas activist and former British MP George Galloway, who is pleading with Egypt to allow his 'Viva Palestina' group to enter Gaza. Egypt has not yet announced its decision, but last January, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said, "George Galloway is considered persona non grata and will not be allowed to enter Egypt again." This was shortly after Galloway attempted to enter Gaza through Egypt with a much publicized convoy of goods, although Israel allows ample supplies into Gaza through its crossings.
Posts
