The Confiscation of Terrorist Funds

The Israeli Operation in Ramallah

24 February 2004

On Febuary 25On Febuary 25thth 2004, Israeli 2004, Israeli security forces carried out an security forces carried out an operation to operation to confiscate terrorist confiscate terrorist fundsfunds that were deposited in the that were deposited in the Ramallah branches of the Arab Ramallah branches of the Arab Bank and the Cairo-Amman Bank. Bank and the Cairo-Amman Bank.

On Febuary 25On Febuary 25thth 2004, Israeli 2004, Israeli security forces carried out an security forces carried out an operation to operation to confiscate terrorist confiscate terrorist fundsfunds that were deposited in the that were deposited in the Ramallah branches of the Arab Ramallah branches of the Arab Bank and the Cairo-Amman Bank. Bank and the Cairo-Amman Bank.

Palestinian Authority Palestinian Authority officials received notification officials received notification that the operation was to be that the operation was to be focused on the confiscation focused on the confiscation of of terrorist funds onlyterrorist funds only..

September 2001September 2001• The United States declares a “war on terror”.

• Sept. 24th 2001 - President Bush stated that he was freezing terror assets.

“We will starve terrorists of fundingWe will starve terrorists of funding, turn them against each other, rout them out of their safe hiding places, and bring them to justice.”

President George W. Bush

Legal AspectsLegal Aspects• Information regarding the suspected terrorist

bank accounts was presented to the legal elements of the ISA, the IDF and the Attorney General’s Office - all of whom authorized the operation.

• Any individual whose funds were confiscated has the right to appeal the decision.

Background Information: Funds that Fuel Terror

Background Information: Funds that Fuel Terror

• Terrorist groups initiate and control terror activity by transferring large sums of money to their field operatives.

• Many terrorists earn a regular living by carrying out terrorist attacks.

Terrorists questioned by the ISA revealed detailed information regarding the funding they received for

terrorist activities:

Terrorists questioned by the ISA revealed detailed information regarding the funding they received for

terrorist activities:

Ahmed Sari HusseinPalestinian Islamic Jihad, Tul Karem

Ahmed Sari HusseinPalestinian Islamic Jihad, Tul Karem

Orchestrated the March 30 2003 suicide bombing in Netanya in which 32 civilians were wounded.

• For this particular attack, Hussein received $2,250 from the former head of the PIJ in Tul Karem.

• He was informed by a Hizbullah handler in Lebanon that he will receive more funds only if he agrees to carry out additional attacks.

Ahmed Sari HusseinAhmed Sari Hussein

Ghanem, a Tanzim terrorist from the Tul Karem refugee camp, maintained contact with a Lebanese handler, from whom he received:

• $7,000 in order to manufacture explosive charges.

• $1,500 in order to purchase weapons. These funds were transferred to his sister’s bank account.

• $10,000 in order to fund his terrorist operations.These funds were transferred to bank accounts of women with whom he was in contact.

Wael GhanemFatah/Tanzim, Tul Karem

Wael GhanemFatah/Tanzim, Tul Karem

Ghalyoun was involved in financing and orchestrating a large number of terrorist attacks, including four shooting ambushes in which four civilians were killed.

One of the attacks took place in Yaabed, on June 30, 2003 - one day after the “Hudna” ceasefire began.

In an announcement following the attack, the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades stated: “We have executed the killing...We reject and condemn the plots against our cause … especially that which is called the Hudna.”

Mountasir Abu GhalyounA Tanzim Commander from Jenin

Mountasir Abu GhalyounA Tanzim Commander from Jenin

Mountasar Abu GhalyounOne of the Tanzim commanders in Jenin

Mountasar Abu GhalyounOne of the Tanzim commanders in Jenin

During questioning he stated that the minimal payment for the perpetration of a terrorist

attack is between $700 and $1,200.

During questioning he stated that the minimal payment for the perpetration of a terrorist

attack is between $700 and $1,200.

Abu Ghalyoun’s Statements regarding the Cost of Purchasing Weapons:

Abu Ghalyoun’s Statements regarding the Cost of Purchasing Weapons:

AK-47 Rifle$1,500-$2,250

M-16 A1 Rifle$4,500-$5,350

M-16A2 Rifle$6,500

A locally-made Sanobal rifle$1,100

Handgun$1,500-$1,750

AK-47 Bullet $2.25

Sanobal Bullet $.50

M-16 Bullet$.45

A stolen vehicle or a vehicle without licenses that can be used in a terror attack

$650-$1,500 (depending on the vehicle)

A cellular phone chip for perpetrators$11

Goals of the IDF OperationGoals of the IDF Operation

• Disrupting the operations of terrorist organizations.

• Deterring terror organizations from using bank accounts as means for transferring money.

• All this while preserving the stability of the banks by dealing only with bank accounts being used for funding terrorist activity.

Personal Accounts:• Those containing

funds to be used to finance terrorist activities.

• Senior terrorist fugitives in the PA territories.

Personal Accounts:• Those containing

funds to be used to finance terrorist activities.

• Senior terrorist fugitives in the PA territories.

Types of Bank Accounts from which Funds were ConfiscatedTypes of Bank Accounts from which Funds were Confiscated

Accounts of Institutions:• Illegal Associations

• PIJ and Hamas groups in the PA territories.

Accounts of Institutions:• Illegal Associations

• PIJ and Hamas groups in the PA territories.

Family Accounts:

• Families of terrorists, if the account serves for terrorist activity.

Family Accounts:

• Families of terrorists, if the account serves for terrorist activity.

Associations whose Funds were

Confiscated During the Operation

Associations whose Funds were

Confiscated During the Operation

The Charity Association of JeninThe Charity Association of Jenin• This association is a front for the Hamas.

It was outlawed by Israel in 2002.

• The director of the association was Jamal Abu Al Hija - a Hamas operative who was arrested by Israel in Nov. 2002.

Al Hija was an accomplice in the 4 August, 2002, suicide bombing of the #361 bus at Meron Junction, in which 9 civilians were killed and 52 were injured.

• This association is managed by senior Hamas armed operatives. It was outlawed by Israel in early 2002.

• The founder and head of the Association was Jamal Tawil, arrested in April 2002.

The Al Aslah Association of Al BirehThe Al Aslah Association of Al Bireh

•Tawil recruited the suicide bombers who perpetrated the 1 Dec. 2001 double suicide attack against Jerusalem’s Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall. Eleven Israeli civilians were killed and 188 were wounded in the attack.

• This association is managed by Nafez A’araj, a former senior operative of the PIJ, and currently a Hizbullah operative in Gaza. It was outlawed by Israel in late 2003.

• The Association, directed by the Hizbullah, transfers funds to families of suicide bombers and those imprisoned for terrorist activity.

• A’araj transfers funds to operatives in order to carry out terrorist attacks and arms smuggling operations.

The Al Ansar Charity AssociationThe Al Ansar Charity Association

Personal Bank Accounts from

which Funds were Confiscated During

the Operation

Personal Bank Accounts from

which Funds were Confiscated During

the Operation

The Account in the Name ofNaef Abu Sharh

The Account in the Name ofNaef Abu Sharh

A senior fugitive of the Tanziminfrastructure in Nablus who was behind a large number of suicide bombings:

• The 19 June 2002 suicide bombing of a crowded bus stop at the French Hill intersection in northern Jerusalem, in which seven people were murdered and over 35 were wounded.

• The 4 November 2002 suicide bombing at a shopping mall in Kfar Sava. Two Israelis were killed and about 70 were wounded.

• The 5 January 2003 double suicide bombing on a pedestrian mall in Tel Aviv's Neve Sha'anan neighborhood, adjacent to the old central bus station, in which 23 people were murdered and approximately 120 were wounded.

• A senior fugitive, the head of the PFLP’s military infrastructure in Nablus who was involved in the direction and planning of terror attacks.

• Faraj was involved in the direction and planning of terrorist attacks, including the 25 December 2003 suicide bombing at Geha junction, in which four people were murdered and 21 were wounded.

The Account in the Name of Yaman Faraj

The Account in the Name of Yaman Faraj

• Abdin is a money changer from Hebron who directed a widespread infrastructure created to fund the terrorist activity of the Hamas armed operatives in the Gaza Strip.

• The sum of funds transferred by Abdin stands at $1.6 million. This amount was transferred over a period of a few months.

The Account in the Name of Mouhamad Abdin

The Account in the Name of Mouhamad Abdin

Family Bank Accounts from

which Funds were Confiscated During

the Operation

Family Bank Accounts from

which Funds were Confiscated During

the Operation

Al Abasi is a Hamas armed operative who is currently incarcerated. His terrorist cell is responsible for a number of suicide bombings in Israel.

Due to his terrorist activities, the Hamas transferred funds to his family’s account in order to serve his family.

The Account that Serves the Family of Ala al Abasi

The Account that Serves the Family of Ala al Abasi

Al Abasi was directly involved in the terrorist operations perpetrated by the cell:

Attacks against fuel trucks in Glilot and in Rishon Letzion and against trains in Lod and Yavne.

The 7 May 2002 suicide bombing of a Rishon Letzion gaming club, in which 15 people were murdered and 55 were wounded.

The 9 March 2002 suicide bombing at the Cafe Moment in Jerusalem, in which 11 people were murdered and 58 were wounded.