Posted on 02/19/2006 1:18:40 PM PST by SJackson
31 containers holding hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of goods were seized by Israeli authorities last week after being alerted that the goods were destined for Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
The goods were being imported by the Faiz Abu Achbar company based in Gaza. Last week, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz (Kadima) signed an order outlawing the company for serving as a front for the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terror organizations.
A combined effort of the Shin Bet (Israel’s domestic intelligence agency) and Israel’s agencies for fighting drug dealing and international crime led to the confiscations at the Ashdod port. The agencies tipped off Israeli customs that the Abu Achbar company was importing the goods under the names of two other Gaza firms, Rio and the Hani Sa’adallah Shaldan company.
Under the terms of the Oslo accords, all imports to the Palestinian Authority from abroad must pass through Israeli ports.
Israeli authorities have been following the dealings of Abu Achbar for a number of years. The company’s commercial activities have been a leading source of funding for the Hamas and the Islamic Jihad.
Abu Achbar worked by arranging for Hamas and Islamic Jihad supporters abroad to pay for goods to be shipped to areas controlled by the PA in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza (Yesha). Once in their hands, the Hamas and Islamic Jihad used the goods to pay for their operations in Yesha, including carrying out acts of terrorism against Israelis. Later on, the company refunded money to the terror groups, while retaining a commission for its efforts.
Importing pre-paid for goods became the groups’ method of circumventing Israel’s controls preventing monetary transfers to terrorist groups.
While previous shipments by Abu Achbar have been seized by Israeli customs, the threat of losing more goods to confiscation failed to deter the company from continuing to front for the terror groups. Since being classified as unlawful, any property belonging to the company can be seized by Israeli authorities.
The use of ostensibly legitimate businesses has become one of the major vehicles for funneling money to Arab terrorist groups in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza.
"Since being classified as unlawful, any property belonging to the company can be seized by Israeli authorities."
Hopefully there are some due process protections in there somewhere.
I wonder what's in the containers.
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And what kind of goods is involved? Metal pipes, timers and the like?
LOL!
Is Jack Bauer available?
Oh, goodie- just when we give our ports away to the UAE
"I wonder what's in the containers."
Danish and American flags.
Or maybe c4 and fuses?:)
<< "Since being classified as unlawful, any property belonging to the company can be seized by Israeli authorities."
Hopefully there are some due process protections in there somewhere. >>
Yair.
Everyone should respect the "rights" of hesperophobically-psychopathological mass murderers Hell-bent on sawing off your head and raping and sexually mutilating your daughters and exploding your wife's and your baby's and your mothers arms and legs and entrails all over any and all Yerushalayim street.
/disgust and sarcasm
Seems as though islamic jihad has already had farmore than its fair share of due process. If someone wants to blow your ass away, are you really concerned their due process?
Do you suppose Shin Bet is allowed to talk to Mossad or has gorelick/clinton logic taken root in Israel aa well?
Due process for terrorist groups intent on wholesale murder and destruction?
WTF????
This is very close to how the U.S. monitors what comes into its ports in containers.
When the "war" finally comes here- that's excatly what we're going to see. The one problem in their way is we, the people, still have guns. And lots of them. It's the ONLY thing protecting this great country. Also, the people willing to save it!!!!
Great move, but there's something missing from this story, isn't there?
What was in the containers?
This is very close to how the U.S. monitors less than 1% of what comes into its ports in containers.
Probably not. This wasn't an arms shipment, just merchandise destined to a Hamas supporter. My guess Israel knew what was coming in and for who. And has now decided to act, to send a message to those profiting from the current state of affairs. I'd like to think we know whats coming through our ports, but I don't think we do.
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