US Imposes Sanctions on Charities With Gaza Operations

US Imposes Sanctions on Charities With Gaza Operations

Accuses Groups of Being 'Hamas-Controlled' But Provides No Evidence

by Jason Ditz, October 04, 2012

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The US Treasury Department has announced today that it is imposing sanctions on two Lebanon-based charities with activities in the Gaza Strip, accusing them of being “Hamas-controlled” but providing no evidence to that effect.
The first group, the al-Waqifya Association, is the Lebanese part of the umbrella organization the Union of Good, which is itself already sanctioned. The group’s US-based auxiliary, the Holy Land Foundation, was shut down by the Bush Administration, and its founders imprisoned as “terrorists” for providing humanitarian aid to hospitals and schools in the Gaza Strip which were controlled by Hamas.
The other group, the al-Quds Institute, is primarily an activist organization, with most of its high profile activities dedicated to raising awareness of the occupation of Palestinian lands in general and within Jerusalem in particular. The group has also funded several plans aimed at preserving significant heritage sites in Jerusalem.
The Union of Good at one point was accused of funneling some of its funding to the families of slain Hamas fighters, but it isn’t clear exactly what the al-Quds Institute is being accused of, and the Treasury Dept. statement provides no information.

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Al-Quds Institute holds 2nd meeting

SANA�A - Al-Quds Institute has confirmed that the so-called roadmap is nothing but a new stage in a long chain of conspiracy against the Palestinian people. It is another big lie to mislead them, also.

Al-Quds Institute condemned the detainment of Sheikh Salah Raeed, Chairman of the Islamic Movement and Chairman of the Al-Quds Institute organized to reclaim Islamic properties that have been usurped by the Zionist Entity currently occupying Palestine.

It confirmed its strong determination to defend all the national rights of the Palestinian people, their legal rights to defend themselves and restore their country and live independently within historical political borders. Al-Quds has called on all Arab and Islamic nations to shoulder their responsibilities in defending their religious properties threatened with confiscation under such unbalanced international affairs.
Al-Quds Institution confirmed its iron will to deliver its message and to continue defending its identity as a civilized Arabic, Islamic and international organization. Al-Quds Institute issued a press release upon the conclusion of its second meeting, held from June 4-6, called the � Sheikh Raeed Salah Session�.

The release, read by General Manager Dr. Mohammed Akram Al-Adluni, highlighted the following achievements of the institute:

� It has executed a first batch of public service projects at a total cost of �50 million in different health, social, educational and cultural fields.
� It has established offices in Beirut and other Arab countries including Yemen.
� The annual budget of the institution for the year 2003 was approved, including seven major objectives: information & relations, culture & education, politics & legal affairs, financing & improving financial resources, and establishing offices and branches.
� It began implementing 20 projects at a total cost of �24 million for the purpose of supporting the Palestinian people including five projects for protecting the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque, the holy property and land of the Palestinians, seven projects for preserving the identity and cultural heritage of Palestine, and eight projects for improving the Palestinian people�s affairs.
� It collected 100 million signatures on a petition confirming the Arab and Islamic people�s right to hold their religious properties.
� It implemented a campaign entitled �Friends of Al-Quds� for enhancing the role of Muslim youths in protecting Al-Quds and other Islamic properties.
� It establishing a webpage to be a scientific, cultural and information reference focusing on Al-Quds affairs.
� It prepared for an international conference bringing together all institutions and associations working in defense of Al-Quds in collaboration and coordination with international churches.
� It issued and adopted several information and cultural publications such as Al-Quds Bulletin, Al-Quds Research, Al-Quds Book, Al-Quds Messages, and In Order Not to Forget Al-Quds as well as participated in several journalistic conferences.
General Manager of the Institution Hassan Hadraj delivered a speech in which he expressed high appreciation and thanks to President Ali Abdullah Saleh who supported the Second Meeting of the Al-Quds Institute. Member of the Al-Quds Central Committee Zuhair Al-Abu�idi also read a release expressing condolences and the deep regret of Al-Quds members to Sheikh Abdullah Bin Hussein Al-Ahmer, Speaker of the Parliament, on the death of his daughter.
At the ceremony, Sheikh Al-Ahmer, Chairman of the Al-Quds Board of Trustees, delivered a speech in which he renewed Yemen�s support for the Palestinians and their national struggle against the Israeli colonization of their land, confirming their right to announce their independence with its capital at Al-Quds Al-Sharif. He called on all international organizations and associations to present all kinds of moral and financial support to the Palestinians to enable them to continue their national struggle against Israeli colonization.
Other Al-Quds members delivered speeches highlighting the sorrows and oppressions of the Palestinian people and the terrorist acts committed by the Israelis against the unarmed civilians in Palestine, destroying their infrastructure, violating their holy properties and national heritage, destroying their houses and leaving them unsheltered to seek refuge in other countries, and violating their educational institutions.
They have also praised Yemen�s policies in supporting Arab issues, on top of which comes the Palestinian issue.

In the first meeting of Al-Quds, Sheikh Al-Ahmer inaugurated their new office.