January 1993: An Israeli interrogation of a Palestinian-American man sparks the American government’s witch hunt against the Holy Land Foundation (HLF.) The man, Muhammad Salah of Illinios, is arrested by the Israeli Defense Forces and transported to Shin Bet's Ramallah interrogation facility where he was tortured for the next 54 days. The Shin Bet forces Salah to sign false statements in Hebrew, a language he does not understand, and to write out false statements, which the Shin Bet used to advance their foreign policy interests and target desired organizations and individuals. The interrogation takes place four years after HLF’s establishment.
October 1993: With the FBI’s intelligence investigation now underway, federal agents bug a hotel conference room in Philadelphia, where Arab-American intellectuals—including a couple HLF officials—are gathered. The agents claim the meeting attendees criticize the 1993 Oslo Accord and “praise Hamas.” It’s important to note that Hamas was not designated by the U.S. government as a terrorist organization until 1995.
1994 and Forward: The Dallas Morning News along with other local and national media outlets begin their long journey of defaming the HLF, citing Israeli intelligence (obtained by American agents) as their main sources. The American public listens to radio stations, watches news channels and reads articles and op-ed pieces—most of which share a parallel interest: to connect the HLF with Hamas. During this time, the FBI also continues to scrutinize HLF officials by bugging their offices and wiretapping conversations between them and their families.
March 1996: The Israeli government shuts down the HLF office near Jerusalem. They claim the office is raising funds for Hamas. U.S. Representative Charles Shumer of New York launches a campaign encouraging the U.S. government to further investigate HLF’s ties with Hamas.
May 2000: Jewish-American couple Stanley and Joyce Boim sue the HLF, connecting the charity to the 1996 death of their 17-year-old son in the West Bank. HLF officials, who were outraged at this allegation, said they never supported Hamas. The HLF said they did, however, provide shelter, food and medical supplies to the impoverished widows and orphans of Palestine.
December 2001: President George Bush announces during a press conference in the Rose Garden that he’s decided to shut down the HLF office in Richardson, TX as well as it’s offices in California and New Jersey. He asserts that the HLF is a front for Hamas. (Note: Despite Bush’s bogus allegation announced to billions across the globe, the FBI never finds evidence connecting the HLF to Hamas. Instead, they later claim the HLF is helping charities that were somehow associated with Hamas.
July 2004: Federal agents barge into the homes of five men and arrest them in front of their families, leaving permanent scars on their wives and their children. The five men—Ghassan Elashi (HLF chairman), Shukri Abu-Baker (HLF C.E.O.), Abdulrahman Odeh (New Jersey office director), Mohammad El-Mezain (California office director) and Mufid Abdulqader (HLF volunteer)—are named in a 42-count indictment charging the individuals with conspiring to support Hamas. Read the indictment here.
November 2004: A federal jury awards the Boim family $52 million, and a U.S. magistrate judge triples the amount, setting the damages at $156 million. HLF attorneys appeal the case. The Treasury Department, which froze the HLF assets soon after the charity was shut down, is in possession of the money until today.
July 2007: The Holy Land Foundation trial begins. Jury selection begins on July 16, and opening statements start on July 22. Click here to read more about the opening statements.
October 2007: Judge A. Joe Fish declares a mistrial in the Holy Land Foundation case. After a two month trial and 19 days of deliberations, the eight-man, four-woman jury deadlocks on most of the 197 counts against the five defendants, returning zero guilty verdicts. Read about the mistrial day here.
December 2007: A federal court of appeals reverses the ruling in the Boim case, finding no evidence linking the HLF to Hamas. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also says the Boims failed to link their sons death to the HLF. To learn more about the overturned decision, read the Associated Press article here.
Early September 2008: Prosecutors drop 29 charges each against defendants Mufid Abdulqader and Abdulrahaman Odeh, leaving 3 counts against each defendant. Mohammad El-Mezain will be tried on one count. That leaves 35 counts against Ghassan Elashi and 34 counts against Shukri Abu-Baker. To prosecutors, the dropped charges are an attempt to simplifying the case. To defendants and their supporters, all of the charges should be dropped since the political case is nothing more than blatant attempt to criminalize charity.
September 15, 2008: The Holy Land Foundation Retrial begins.
November 24, 2008: Twelve Texan jurors, who fall for the prosecution's fear tactics, return all guilty verdicts. The Holy Land Five are instantly added to America's shameful pile of political prisoners. U.S. Marshals arrest them and send them to the federal prison in Seagoville, TX. The Holy Land Five are currently awaiting their sentences behind bars, which will likely take place in spring or summer 2009. Meanwhile, the defense attorneys are working hard on the appeal.
May 27, 2009: The Holy Land Five receive 15 to 65 year sentences. Click here to read about sentencing day.
