“Axis of Evil” Indicted Hamas leader linked to al Qaeda activist in Midwest

“Axis of Evil” Indicted Hamas leader linked to al Qaeda activist in Midwest.

s the result of an extensive, decade-long federal investigation, former U.S. resident Musa Abu Marzook, also the acknowledged "political bureau" chief of the Palestinian Hamas terrorist organization since 1991, has been indicted along with several other Palestinian Americans for repeated and deliberate violations of U.S. export regulations and the material-support provisions of the 1996 Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA). While living as a U.S. resident during the mid-1990s, Abu Marzook also had a series of disturbing connections through family and personal associates to a known al Qaeda activist living in the U.S. named Ziyad Helmi Khaleel.

Musa Abu Marzook is a charismatic Islamist leader who has actively championed the jihad in Palestine. A day after a suicidal Hamas shooting attack in Jerusalem in 1994, Marzook told an interviewer, "Death is the goal to every Muslim and every fighter wants to die on Palestinian land. This is not the first time that the Izz Al-Din Al-Qassem heroes carr[ied] out suicide and terrorism actions." Moreover, captured Hamas operatives who were allegedly dispatched by Marzook from inside the United States have told Israeli interrogators that Marzook was intimately involved in financing and ordering actual Hamas terrorist operations.

At the same time, Marzook also played an integral role in local Muslim communities across America where he resided, including in Colorado, Northern Virginia, Texas, and Louisiana. In a suburb of Dallas, Marzook helped found the Holy Land Foundation (HLF), a Texas-based evangelical charity group that, last December, was named by the U.S. government as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity (SDGT) for providing critical financial support to Hamas. Musa also expanded his own personal roots here in America. For a time, Marzook set up shop in unimposing Ruston, Louisiana with his personal secretary and his family. Even his nephew Ahmed came to the United States, and stayed with his uncle every summer in the Virginia suburbs of Washington D.C.

Ahmed Abu Marzook is the founder and president of Palestinian Internet Services (P-I-S.com), a prominent local Internet provider located in Gaza. P-I-S.com is responsible for hosting both the websites for the Gaza office of the now-banned Holy Land Foundation and HLF's special hospital in Gaza, Dar al-Islam. The enterprising Ahmed Abu Marzook has also spent extensive time in other parts of the U.S., including in Detroit, Michigan, where he incorporated "A&A Intercontinental" at 3167 Hanley Street. Unsurprisingly, the same Hanley Street address has also been linked in public records to Ziyad Khaleel, a U.S. citizen and the webmaster of the official Hamas Internet site.

At the time, Khaleel was a roving jack-of-all-trades in the American underground militant Islamic community. His name and Detroit address both appeared prominently in ledgers taken from the Al-Kifah Refugee Center in 1994, a critical international financial and strategic arm of al Qaeda. While in Orlando, Florida, Khaleel served as the regional director for the Columbia, Missouri-based Islamic African Relief Agency (IARA), an Islamic charity that had a multimillion-dollar USAID contract cancelled after the U.S. State Department determined that it was not in America's "national-security interests." In Columbia itself, Khaleel operated a remote-branch office on behalf of radical Saudi dissidents based in London who were closely aligned with Osama bin Laden. He even added a digitized copy of an infamous al Qaeda propaganda video titled "The Martyrs of Bosnia" to his own short-lived Internet website, salam.net.

But Ziyad Khaleel never forgot his Palestinian heritage. While he used his technical abilities to register websites on behalf of a host of militant Islamic groups in North Africa and the Middle East, he simultaneously rededicated himself to spreading word of the Palestinian cause. He enthusiastically lectured to Muslim student groups at the University of Missouri on behalf of the Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP), an organization based primarily in Dallas and Chicago and cofounded by Musa Abu Marzook. In a recent federal-court decision, a judge concluded that IAP has "distribute[d] information on behalf of Hamas" and, in a variety of other ways, "has acted in support of Hamas." While in Detroit, Khaleel collected advertising money for an IAP publication and shared common residential addresses in Detroit with both Ahmed Abu Marzook and, separately, another Palestinian associate of Uncle Musa: Mohammed Abu Dayyeh. And, of course, Khaleel happily administered the Hamas Internet domain for Marzook and his assorted henchmen.

In the mid-to-late 90s, Ziyad Khaleel finally ran afoul of federal authorities in the United States for taking his orders not from Musa Abu Marzook, but rather from the top advisors of Saudi exile Osama bin Laden. In November 1996, senior al Qaeda lieutenant Khaled al-Fawwaz instructed Ziyad Khaleel to purchase a $7,500 satellite telephone for personal use by bin Laden. Between 1996 and 1998, Khaleel replenished the phone with more than 2,000 minutes of telephone air time, also at the behest of Fawwaz. Bin Laden's bustling branch office in Columbia, managed by Khaleel and disguised as a low-income housing project, started attracting far too much attention. The FBI secretly raided the nondescript office and collected extensive intelligence information.

Khaleel's role in knowingly aiding bin Laden was subsequently revealed in detail by prosecutors during the 2001 trial of al Qaeda terrorists responsible for the 1998 East Africa embassy bombings. However, Khaleel was never indicted for his role in the conspiracy, even though bin Laden used the satellite telephone to communicate the very orders to carry out the attacks in Kenya and Tanzania. Nevertheless, according to Newsweek, on the eve of the millennium, Khaleel was abruptly seized by Jordanian intelligence officials and the FBI as he arrived in Amman. Evidently, investigators had sought to question him in regards to the shocking failed millennium terror plots attributed to the al Qaeda network. Nevertheless, the Newsweek report indicated Khaleel was "cooperating" with the inquiry and would not be held.

Of course, the abrupt ending to this tale leaves many intriguing questions unanswered about the apparent links between prominent Hamas and al Qaeda activists living and working inside the United States. Is this proof that Hamas and al Qaeda have been openly collaborating with each other? It should be noted in this regard that several Hamas leaders have specifically renounced any ties to al Qaeda and have condemned the 9/11 terror attacks. However, like virtually any radical movement, Hamas is characterized by many factions, some more moderate and some more extreme. While the U.S. government has heretofore been reluctant to take decisive action against Hamas, perhaps the very real fear of fringe Palestinian militants aligning themselves with al Qaeda will finally encourage us to change that policy and "get tough" with all terrorists who have American blood on their hands, irrespective of their geographic or national identity.

— Evan Kohlmann is a senior terrorism analyst at the Investigative Project, a Washington D.C.-based counterterrorism think tank established in 1995. He is currently writing a book, The Martyrs of Bosnia: Al-Qaida's War of Terror in the Balkans.

http://www.siteinstitute.org/exposing.asp

FACT SHEET ON THE ELASHI BROTHERS AND INFOCOM
The Elashi brothers were arrested on December 18, 2001, for money laundering, under the spectre of being affiliated with and funding Hamas.
SITE Institute,12/18/2002 -
The Elashi Brothers
Fact Sheet

Executive Summary

Arrested on December 18, 2002, the Elashi brothers all had significant involvement in several Hamas fundraising vehicles. They were part of the original movement to create a Hamas infrastructure inside the United States. The entities which they aided to engender include InfoCom, which was co-funded by Hamas Political Director Mousa Abu Marzook, the Islamic Association of Palestine, widely reputed as a front for Hamas in the United States, and the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, a specially designated global terrorist [SDGT] charity that has had its assets frozen.

InfoCom incorporated in California by the Elashi Brothers

InfoCom Corp. was incorporated in Richardson, Texas on March 16, 1 992 by Bayan Elashi after changing its name from International Computers and Communications, Inc. In addition to hosting websites for organizations throughout the US, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, InfoCom “exports large volume computer and information technology purchases to organizations around the world.” Bayan Elashi’s brothers, Ghassan, Ihsan, Hazim, and Basman are also listed as officials of InfoCom. Ghassan is InfoCom’s Vice President for Sales and Marketing and Bayan is the registered agent and Administrative Contact for web service.

CONNECTIONS TO HAMAS

Mousa abu Marzook

On September 6, 2001 OFAC blocked the assets of InfoCom. According to a report by FBI Agent Dale L. Watson, Assistant Director Counterterrorism Division, this was “based on evidence that InfoCom received $250,000 start-up money from [Mousa abu] Marzook, …Political Bureau head of HAMAS, …during the same time frame as Marzook was providing funds to the HLFRD [Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development] and others associated with HAMAS.” Marzook transferred this money to the Elashi Brothers through his wife, who is a cousin of the Elashis. Thus, InfoCom’s very roots are connected to SDGT’s HAMAS and Mousa abu Marzook.

Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF)

Corporate records show that Ghassan Elashi is the registered agent and an owner of HLF at least as recently as May 2001. He also appears on IRS tax form 990 for the year 2000 as the Chairman of HLF in Texas. The same report as above, filed by Dale L. Watson, states that Ghassan Elashi is also the Chairman of the Board and one of two “primary signatories of reference” on the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development’s bank accounts. HLF had its assets frozen and was declared a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Entity [SDGT] by President Bush on December 4, 2001. The Department of State issued a statement that the “Holy Land Foundation funds HAMAS-run schools that serve HAMAS ends by encouraging children to become suicide bombers. HAMAS recruits suicide bombers by offering support to their families; this support is ensured in part by Holy Land Foundation contributions.” Bayan Elashi and InfoCom, according to a “whois” lookup, are also listed as the administrative contacts for HLF’s website.

Islamic Association for Palestine

The Elashi Brothers also have connections to the Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP). The corporate records for IAP in California show Ghassan Elashi as the registered agent and list his address as the mailing address for IAP. Also, the corporate records for IAP in Texas show Basman Elashi and Ghassan Dahduli as co-owners. Furthermore, InfoCom at one point employed Ghassan Dahduli, a former officer of the American Middle Eastern League for Palestine (a charity affiliated with IAP) and alleged associate of Wadih el-Hage, Osama bin Laden’s personal secretary and one of the convicted organizers of the 1998 Bombings of the American Embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. He has since been ordered deported by INS for his connections to el-Hage and bin Laden and for refusing to cooperate with authorities.

According to an INS report from August 14, 2001, IAP works in “publishing and distributing HAMAS communiqués printed on IAP letterhead, as well as other written documentation to include the HAMAS charter and glory records, which are tributes to HAMAS’ violent ‘successes.’” The same report also indicates that IAP received “approximately $490,000 from [Mousa abu] Marzook during the period in which Marzook held his admitted role as a HAMAS leader.”
WEBHOST FOR AL QAEDA FRONT GROUPS

Host for BIF and GRF

Besides hosting the website for HLF, Bayan Elashi is listed as the technical contact for the Benevolence International Foundation (BIF). BIF is the subject of a current federal investigation and has had its assets frozen for having ties to al Qaeda and has been declared a SDGT.

Global Relief Foundation’s (GRF) website, according to a “whois” search, lists Bayan Elashi as its Administrative/Technical contact. The email listed for Elashi uses the domain “InfoComcorp.com.” GRF, like BIF, is the subject of a current federal investigation and has had its assets frozen for having ties to al Qaeda and has been declared a SDGT.

CONNECTIONS TO SAUDI ARABIA

InfoCom was host to and provided hardware to Saudi companies including the Saudi Bin Laden Group

According to a press release on InfoCom's website, at the end of April/Beginning of May 1999, Ghassan Elashi went to Saudi Arabia in order to establish relationships with some of the biggest companies and organizations in the Kingdom. InfoCom’s relationship to large Saudi companies can be traced back as early as 1997, when InfoCom began hosting the website for the Saudi Bin Laden Group, which, according to a “whois” search, lists Bayan Elashi and InfoCom’s name and address as the Administrative/Technical contacts. The same search also shows that the Saudi Bin Laden Group lists the same address (630 International Pkwy, #100, Richardson, TX 75081) as its registered address in the United States. The Saudi Bin Laden Group is Osama bin Laden’s family business, though his family and the company have disavowed any contact with him.

ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES

InfoCom had its export license revoked for sending computer hardware to terrorist states

According to an official statement by the US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Export Administration (BXA) (currently known as the Bureau of Industry and Security), InfoCom had its export license suspended on September 7, 2001, because it “repeatedly exported computer technology to Libya and Syria in violation of U.S. export control laws,” and that the “United States has designated Libya and Syria as state sponsors of terrorism.” The Bureau also alleged that InfoCom “attempted to conceal shipments to those countries by undervaluing goods and filing false and deceptive shipping documents.” All five Elashi Brothers’ names are also included as being a part of the export ban, which reveals their collective involvement in illegal export activity to terrorist states. On March 20, 2002, this order was renewed.

Ihsan Elashi pleads guilty to money laundering/credit card fraud charges and illegally exporting goods

On October 22, 2002, the Department of Justice reported that Ihsan Elashi was sentenced to 48 months in prison after pleading guilty to the 39 charges brought against him, which included shipping in violation of a Temporary Denial Order (TDO). This was for his involvement as the principal owner of a corporation called Tetrabal. Tetrabal was ordered to cease exporting goods on September 7, 2001 for violating the same exporting laws as InfoCom had. Elashi admitted the following:

On September 22, 2001, he and Tetrabal willfully violated the TDO by participating in a transaction that involved exporting, and the attempted exporting, of goods and commodities from the United States to Saudi Arabia, which goods were subject to the Export Administration Regulations of the United States.

The company in question is called Saudi Systems, Inc., which lists many Saudi ministries as clients. Elashi also admitted “that he fraudulently acquired numerous credit cards in other persons' names, without the knowledge of the card holder” and he “fraudulently acquired dozens of credit cards which he used to incur charges exceeding $750,000.”

WEBSITES PREVIOUSLY MAINTAINED BY INFOCOM

Benevolence International Foundation (BIF)
Global Relief Foundation
Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF)
Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP)
Saudi Bin Laden Group
World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY)

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