Ex-Diplomat Testifies for Muslim Charity

AP via Newsday ^ | 7:54 PM EDT, September 4, 2007 | DAVID KOENIG

[james500]

Israeli intelligence about Palestinian groups that a Muslim charity aided was often unreliable, a former senior U.S. diplomat testified Tuesday at the organization's trial on terrorism-support charges.

Edward Abingdon, who served as U.S. consul-general in Jerusalem during the 1990s, said the Israelis had an "agenda" and provided "selective information to try to influence U.S. thinking."

Abingdon's testimony took dead aim at prosecutors' claims that the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development was knowingly funding terrorists instead of providing humanitarian aid.

Holy Land, once the nation's largest Muslim charity, and five of its leaders are charged with funneling millions in illegal aid to Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that the U.S. government considers a terrorist organization.

Prosecutors say Texas-based Holy Land funded schools and hospitals it knew were run by Hamas.

...

From 1993 to 1999, Abingdon was consul-general in Jerusalem, and like others he was under orders not to have contact with Hamas.

Abingdon said the Israelis provided intelligence to the CIA, and defense attorney Nancy Hollander asked him if he found the Israeli information reliable. "No," he answered, and she asked why not.

"I feel the Israelis have an agenda ... they provide selective information to try to influence U.S. thinking," he said.

Abingdon spent 30 years in the State Department. He resigned in 1999 and spent seven years at a Washington lobbying firm that represented the Palestinian Authority for as much as $750,000 a year. He said he never worked for Hamas.

[james500]

1993 to 1999?

[nuconvert]

pong

[freekitty]

Muslim and charity are two words I would not put together.

[OCC]

spent seven years at a Washington lobbying firm that represented the Palestinian Authority for as much as $750,000 a year.

The defense could not come up with a more credible witness than this?

[Enchante]

"He resigned in 1999 and spent seven years at a Washington lobbying firm that represented the Palestinian Authority for as much as $750,000 a year."

translation: he is terrorist-loving SCUM. I would not take seriously anything said by such a "man" who collaborates with the terrorist enemy. Of course Israel has its own "agenda" as does any government in the world. That does not in any way discredit all intel on Hamas and the HLF. This Abington dude has his own "agenda" and it is not the agenda of any decent American.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

Another Clintonista for peace!

[ought-six]

Ah, yes; a Clintonista.