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U.S. & Israeli Sources: Half of Hamas's Budget Comes from Saudis

(New York Times) Don Van Natta, Jr. with Timothy L. O'Brien - At least 50% of Hamas's current operating budget of about $10 million a year comes from people in Saudi Arabia, according to American law enforcement officials, American diplomats in the Middle East, and Israeli officials. After 9/11, the Saudi portion of Hamas financing grew larger as donations from the U.S., Europe, and other Persian Gulf countries dried up. Nearly all the donations are given in cash, making it extremely difficult to track the money. American Treasury Secretary John Snow is to arrive in Riyadh on Wednesday to address the financing of terrorism and to press Saudi authorities to crack down on Hamas by choking off its funds. In October 2002, senior Hamas leader Khalid Mishaal attended a charitable fund-raising conference in Riyadh held by the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY), where he thanked Crown Prince Abdullah, the de facto Saudi ruler, for continuing "to send aid to the people through the civilian and popular channels, despite all the American pressures exerted on them." WAMY's American branch was incorporated in Virginia in 1992 by Abdullah bin Laden, a relative of Osama bin Laden, and members of the Saudi royal family have contributed large sums to the charity. According to the Israeli military, Hamas's spiritual leader, Sheik Ahmed Yassin, in a speech last month in Gaza, thanked WAMY and another Saudi charity for their continued financial support. Law enforcement officials in India and the Philippines have accused WAMY of financing terrorism in their countries.
2003-09-17 00:00:00
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