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Closing Arguments in Holy Land Foundation Terrorism Financing Case

[Dallas Morning News] Jason Trahan - Prosecutor Barry Jonas began his closing argument in the Holy Land Foundation trial Monday by telling jurors that their job is to determine if five defendants broke U.S. law by funneling more than $12 million to Hamas. He reminded jurors that since 1995, U.S. law has prohibited any support of Hamas, including humanitarian aid. The government contends that Holy Land sent money to specific Palestinian charity groups in Hamas' social services wing that provides aid to relatives of suicide bombers. Jonas re-played several videos of Holy Land fundraisers in the U.S., some featuring songs with lyrics praising martyrdom, jihad and glorifying Hamas founders. "If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it's a duck," Jonas said. "This was a Hamas rally. Who are we kidding?" Jonas addressed defense arguments that praising Hamas is protected by the First Amendment. "They have every right to say they support of Hamas, but when they start giving money to Hamas, what they said can and will be used against them." "They were part of a larger plan to eliminate the State of Israel and take over their land," he said. "By supporting Hamas, they helped create widows and orphans."
2008-11-12 01:00:00
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