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Hamas support network in America survived Holy Land Foundation convictions, former FBI agent says

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • A former FBI agent testified that Hamas's U.S. support network remains active, identifying CAIR and other groups as successors to the Holy Land Foundation (HLF).
  • The HLF and its officials were convicted in 2008 for providing material support to Hamas, revealing a conspiracy to support the group through front organizations in the U.S.
  • The former agent stated that CAIR's role was to defend the Hamas network and pressure others, with a co-founder allegedly participating in a 1993 conspiratorial meeting.

A retired FBI agent who led the investigation into the Holy Land Foundation (HLF) testified before the U.S. Senate that Hamas's support network in the United States continues to operate today. Lara Burns stated that groups like the Council on Arab and Islamic Relations (CAIR) and others have effectively replaced the HLF, which was convicted in 2008 for providing material support to Hamas.

We don’t want our children growing up surrendering to the idea of peace with Jews.

— Palestine Committee membersDescribing their intent during a 1993 meeting, as testified by former FBI agent Lara Burns.

During the 2008 federal trial, extensive evidence emerged about the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, detailing a long-standing conspiracy involving individuals in the U.S. and abroad. The goal was to support Hamas through front organizations within the United States. Burns testified about a 1993 wiretapped meeting where leaders of the Palestine Committee defined the scope of this conspiracy, which included infiltrating American universities, media, and politics to "normalize Hamas and Muslim Brotherhood extremist ideology."

They also noted their intent to cleanse the curriculum in US-based schools because, quote, ‘We don’t want our children growing up surrendering to the idea of peace with Jews.’

— Lara BurnsTestifying before the Senate about the Palestine Committee's 1993 meeting.

Burns explained that the conspirators were aware of Hamas's eventual designation as a terror organization and the risks of exposure. To circumvent this, they agreed to continue their agenda "cloaking themselves under the cover of legitimacy." Before Hamas was designated a terror front in 2001, the HLF's function was to send money to Gaza and the West Bank to support Hamas's social infrastructure.

cloaking themselves under the cover of legitimacy.

— Lara BurnsDescribing the conspirators' strategy to continue their agenda after Hamas's potential terror designation.

According to Burns, CAIR's role evolved to "defend and protect the other elements of the Hamas support network and to pressure others to adopt its narratives or remain quiet." She further noted that CAIR co-founder Nihad Awad allegedly participated in the 1993 conspiratorial meeting and remains the executive director of CAIR. While the original 1993 conspiracy may not be intact, Burns asserted that elements of the network have evolved and rebranded, with CAIR's pressure tactics continuing to be employed.

was to defend and protect the other elements of the Hamas support network and to pressure others to adopt its narratives or remain quiet.

— Lara BurnsExplaining CAIR's alleged role within the Hamas support network.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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