Another #Flotilla Charity Has Terrorist Ties

Apparently, another terrorist-associated charity has been overlooked by the press. The participation of 7 members of the French Hamas-linked "charity" Comité de Bienfaisance et de secours aux Palestiniens (CBSP) in the flotilla has not been mentioned in the Israeli and English-speaking press. But it is noted in passing by France24 (google translation):

According Bechikh Kamel, spokesman of CBSP, 8 French had embarked on the fleet, including one on the Turkish ship, and some bi-national.

Seven were members of the CBSP. 

The CBSP was added by the US Treasury in 2003 to its listing of Specially Designated Global Terrorists:

The following have been added to OFAC's listing of Specially Designated Global Terrorists:

COMITE' DE BIENFAISANCE ET DE SECOURS AUX PALESTINIENS (a.k.a. AL AQSA ASSISTANCE CHARITABLE COUNCIL; a.k.a. AL-LAJNA AL-KHAYRIYYA LIL MUNASARA AL-AQSA; a.k.a. BENEVOLENCE COMMITTEE FOR SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINE; a.k.a. BENEVOLENT COMMITTEE FOR SUPPORT OF PALESTINE; a.k.a. CBSP; a.k.a. CHARITABLE COMMITTEE FOR PALESTINE; a.k.a. CHARITABLE COMMITTEE FOR SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINE; a.k.a. CHARITABLE COMMITTEE FOR SUPPORTING PALESTINE; a.k.a. CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION IN SUPPORT OF PALESTINE; f.k.a. COMITE' DE BIENFAISANCE POUR LA SOLIDARITE' AVEC LA PALESTINE; a.k.a. COMMITTEE FOR AID AND SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINE; a.k.a. COMMITTEE FOR ASSISTANCE AND SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINE; a.k.a. COMMITTEE FOR CHARITY AND SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINE; a.k.a. COMPANIE BENIFICENT DE SOLIDARITE AVEC PALESTINE; a.k.a. COUNCIL OF CHARITY AND SOLIDARITY; a.k.a. DE BIENFAISANCE ET DE COMMITE LE SOLIDARITE AVEC LA PALESTINE; a.k.a. RELIEF COMMITTEE FOR SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINE), 68 Rue Jules Guesde, 59000 Lille, France; 10 Rue Notre Dame, 69006 Lyon, France; 37 Rue de la Chapelle, 75018 Paris, France [SDGT]

A terrorist charity by any other name...


In addition, The US Treasury has noted the association of CBSP with the terrorist entity Union of Good:

The U.S. Department of the Treasury today designated the Union of Good, an organization created by Hamas leadership to transfer funds to the terrorist organization.

"Terrorist groups such as Hamas continue to exploit charities to radicalize vulnerable communities and cultivate support for their violent activities," said Stuart Levey, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. "The U.S. Government will continue to expose and undermine the activities of charities working on behalf of Hamas and other terrorist groups. At the same time, we are working with the charitable sector to expand the range of legitimate alternatives for providing charitable assistance to the Palestinian people."

Union of Good was designated today under Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorists, terrorist organizations, and those providing financial, technological, or material support to terrorists, terrorist organizations, or acts of terrorism. Any assets the Union of Good holds under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen and U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in any transactions with the Union of Good.

The leadership of Hamas created the Union of Good in late-2000, shortly after the start of the second Intifada, in order to facilitate the transfer of funds to Hamas. The Union of Good acts as a broker for Hamas by facilitating financial transfers between a web of charitable organizations--including several organizations previously designated under E.O. 13224 for providing support to Hamas--and Hamas-controlled organizations in the West Bank and Gaza. The primary purpose of this activity is to strengthen Hamas' political and military position in the West Bank and Gaza, including by: (i) diverting charitable donations to support Hamas members and the families of terrorist operatives; and (ii) dispensing social welfare and other charitable services on behalf of Hamas.

Among the primary financiers of Union of Good projects are several organizations designated pursuant to E.O. 13224 for providing support to Hamas and other terrorist groups, including the International Palestine Relief and Development Fund (Interpal), Al- Aqsa Foundation, Comite de Bienfaisance et de Secours aux Palestiniens (CBSP), the Association de Secours Palestiniens (ASP) of Switzerland, the Palestinian Association in Austria (PVOE), and the Sanabil Association for Relief and Development in Lebanon. The Union of Good facilitates the transfer of tens of millions of dollars a year to Hamas- managed associations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The media needs to expand its focus to not only look at Israel's boarding the Mavi Marmara, but also the actions of the members of the flotilla and the increasingly evident terrorist ties of its participants and sponsors.

Technorati Tag: Gaza Flotilla.