5 decry jail terms in Holy Land case

Jason Trahan's initial coverage of the sentencing in the Holy Land Foundation trial was page 1 online yesterday before the court broke for lunch. After that, to find his updates I had to do a key word search of "Holy Land Foundation" on the Dallas Morning News site because editors chose to bury the coverage.

Same with his final report filed, 5 decry jail terms in Holy Land case
By JASON TRAHAN / The Dallas Morning News 12:00 AM CDT on Thursday, May 28, 2009

Maybe they are burying the story out of fear of being sued again by the supporters of the HLF 5, including fellow named co-conspirators, CAIR - the Council of American Islamic Relations.

As the successful prosecutor in the first World Trade Center bombing, Andrew McCarthy recently wrote, "Radical Islam’s apologists abuse courts to shut down criticism," Combating Libel Lawfare

Fear of lawsuit would make sense. I did a cruise of all the Google news stories covering the sentencing yesterday of the HLF 5 and one thing is for sure: they are counting on doing a hard public relations drive with an eye toward the appeal process to chalk these convictions up to a miscarriage of justice. As one who sat through both trials, I can tell you that the evidence was overwhelming. There is no miscarriage of justice here.

The only problem is that with few exceptions both trials were only attended by Hamas and Holy Land Foundation supporters. The public only knows what they are told, and with the exception of Jason Trahan's coverage and a handful of expert watchdog counter-terrorism sites, most of the commentators on this trial are selling fantasies of innocence to the public.

It was pretty amazing to me that there was more interest shown from overseas news outlets than of U.S. news sources. Even the outlets that conservatives count on are low balling the coverage, not only of the second trial but also the powerful statement sent by federal court Judge Solis yesterday. This should not be. When we have victories in the war on terrorism, we should be shouting it from the roof tops and making sure the public understands the convictions were solid and the sentencing just.

Even a Palestinian news source out of Bethlehem, Ma'an News Net, clearly identified the HLF 5 with Hamas most tip-top leaders, Khalid Mash'al and Musa Abu Marzouk. "Mufid Abdulqader, 49, the half brother of exiled Hamas leader Khalid Mash’al" and "Mohammad El-Mezain, 55, a relative of Hamas leader Moussa Abu Marzouq."

The Palestinian news agency wrote that Abdulqader was, "sentenced to 20 years in prison for aiding the group that the US deems a 'terrorist' organization." This is also why the five could stand up in court yesterday claiming innocence, because they do not even regard Hamas as a "terrorist" organization. They are pure in their own eyes, although tell that to the little children who have been blasted out of this life by Hamas suicide bombers while their strollers were parked outside of neighborhood Pizza parlors.

US District Judge Jorge Solis nailed it when he told the condemned yesterday, "Your function in life was raising money to support Hamas."

"You stated it was to help people, but the motive was to support Hamas," the judge said. "You state that you are innocent, but the evidence shows the opposite."

The evidence in the courtroom was overwhelming and clear, but that does not mean that lies will not prevail in the court of public opinion. That is why it is so disconcerting that there is barely any discussion of the victory of this trial in the current news cycle.

We are losing a perfect opportunity to educate the public in the facts with this trial victory. We are fools if we let it pass us by.

These five men can stand up with great conviction claiming that they are innocent because for a long time the world legitimized their terrorist acts against Israel as the war tactic of the weak. That is over.

Now that the reality of terrorist acts has been felt and faced in the American mind, the public is not so quick to give a pass to any who try to sell their innocence with the claim that terrorism is a legitimate ‘war’ tactic. Terrorists aren’t “freedom fighters” they are mass murderers.

Any who, like these five, have dedicated their lives to facilitating terrorists have made it possible for horrific terror strikes against men, women and children DESERVE to be recognized and shamed as cogs in the terror network that they are. It is time that public voices like Bob Ray Sanders, the Dallas Peace Center and the ACLU QUIT serving the interests of the terror networks by making so much noise about the “innocence” of Hamas terror network operatives like these five.

It is pure hypocrisy to say enhanced interrogation techniques are "torture," yet legitimatize terrorist acts by Hamas, Hezballah and other terror networks. The U.S. public should quit giving the benefit of the doubt to anyone who claims that terrorist acts are in any way legitimate. Terrorism is mass murder, not just another tactic of war.

Those who facilitate terrorism – including those who speak out for them trying to convince the public they are just victims of political witch hunting – deserve to be shamed and shunned by the good people of this land from shore to shore.

Sentences handed down in Holy Land Foundation 5 Trial

Holy Land Foundation defendant sentenced to 65 years


Graphic by http://www.heartlight.org

The Judge has rendered the first sentence against the Holy Land Foundation Five this morning. Shukri Abu Bakr got 65 years. The sentencings are expected to take most of the day.

Breaking News on the Cover of the Dallas Morning News online site:
Holy Land Foundation defendant sentenced to 65 years
by Jason Trahan

“I did it because I cared, not at the behest of Hamas,” Shukri Abu Baker, 50, of Garland, told the judge during a long address to the court where he explained why he founded what was once the nation’s largest Muslim charity organization.

U.S. District Judge Jorge Solis, after cutting him off over the objections of his defense attorney, told the convicted man, “You didn’t tell the whole story. Palestinians were in a desperate situation, but that doesn’t justify supporting Hamas.”

Read the full story and updates online

I wrote this at 7:45 AM today: This day marks the end of a particular watch for me that has lasted since 1993 when I learned that our government knew Hamas was fund raising in the U.S. The most intense times for me were in the pre-9/11 summer & after the attacks in Sept of 2001, when we began actively encouraging the local Dallas newspapers not to wither under the protests over their investigations into the Holy Land Foundation.

Finally in 2007 the first trial of the HLF5 began in Dallas. It ended in a mistrial and was retried in federal court here in Dallas in 2008. Guilty verdicts were handed down all five defendants and much evidence of the deep tentacles of the Hamas terror organization were revealed in court evidence. Prayer teams pushed through this outcome.

Today, no matter how Judge Solis sentences each of the five, it is a victory that we had a part in and a day many experts believed in their hearts they were never going to see. Thank God that these men were held to account, may all their appeals before human courts be denied.

Donna Diorio

A Pharaoh who did not know Joseph.

Israel has a new Prime Minister and the U.S. has a new President - a man who has indicated he will not be as supportive of Israel as his predecessor President Bush was. Beginning in June the arm twisting will likely begin to kick into high gear.
Don't be fooled by the cordial face of the meetings between Netanyahu and Obama earlier this week. The main issues have already been clearly defined: an intent to carve up Jerusalem and an insistence on stopping all Israel building in the disputed areas.

This is a President who does not have a grasp of the depth of American alliance with Israel, just as he is a president who does not have a grasp of the common sense the majority of Americans have regarding terrorism and national security issues. Obama is about to step into a big pile with his intentions in forcing Israel into an unwise position with its Arab neighbors.


Above is a photo I took in 2007 of Har Homa, which is a development just on the east entrance to Jerusalem coming from the Dead Sea. The last time Benjamin Netanyahu was Prime Minister, Har Homa was the battle ground, Arafat was the Palestinian head and Clinton was the man who wanted more than anything to deliver a final peace negotiation in the conflict.

It didn't happen but there was intense international pressure applied to Israel the whole time. Expect more of the same now that there is not a President who understands Israel's rights.

Mr. Netanyahu Goes to Washington

For praying people who love Israel, it is time to pray for the Israeli Prime Minister who will hold his first meeting with President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C. tomorrow.

Several high level representatives of the Obama administration have made strong (and unreasonable) comments towards the Israeli leadership in the weeks leading to this meeting.

Pray that Netanyahu will not blink when faced with Chicago-style, strong arm politics. (Israel has had to strand strong against terrorists to survive, will a gangster-political style intimidate Netanyahu? I do not think the approach will yeild expected response.)

To many of my Israel-loving friends who never ceased to complain about George Bush and accused him of being less than a friend to Israel, I have to say, Now you will find out what a real 'less than a friend to Israel' looks like.

That being said, let's stand in faith declaring the promises of God toward Israel. At this point, we are going to have to mine a whole new, far more aggressive set of scriptures to pray over the U.S. relations with Israel than were necessary with President Bush. Here are some:

"The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge,
But He overthrows the decrees of the deceitful." Pr 22:12

"I will wait on the Lord who hides His Face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him. Here I AM & the children whom the LORD has given me! We are for signs & wonders in Israel from the LORD of armies who dwells in Mount Zion."
Is 8:17-18

"Therefore says the LORD who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob:
'Jacob shall not be ashamed,
nor shall his face now grow pale;
But when he sees his children,
the work of My hands in his midst,
they will hallow My name,
And hallow the Holy One of Jacob
and fear of the God of Israel"
Is 29:22-24

In that day the Branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious....when the LORD has washed away the filth of the daughter of Zion....Then the LORD will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion and above her assemblies, a cloud and a smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For upon all, the glory shall be a defense.
Is 4:2-5

Ro 11:19-24 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.

For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

Now these first few scriptures are promises of God toward the generation that God restores the natural branches (Israel) through faith in His Messiah, Yeshua Jesus.

They may seem out of context in praying for protection of Israel as it negotiates a new reality with a new U.S. President who does not recognize the right and plight of Israel in the midst of those who would harm her. (Sound like Exodus 1:8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph?)

But these promises of a Remnant of Faith in Israel must be fulfilled - whatever the politics of man than come and go, God still has business in Israel - and that family business is salvation.

Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law,
Have fellowship with You?
They gather together against the life of the righteous,
And condemn innocent blood.
But the LORD has been my defense,
And my God the rock of my refuge.
He has brought on them their own iniquity,
And shall cut them off in their own wickedness;
Ps 44:20-23

For I, says the LORD, will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst. Ze 2:5

Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around....2 Kings 6:16

“Behold, I have created the blacksmith
Who blows the coals in the fire,
Who brings forth an instrument for his work;
And I have created the spoiler to destroy.
No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the inheritance of the servants of the LORD,
And their righteousness is from Me,”
Says the LORD.
Is 54:16-17

That we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men....the LORD who is faithful, will establish you and guard you from the evil one.
2 Thess3:2-3

So He became their Savior; in all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them.
Is 63:9 (The Angel of His Presence is Jesus.)

I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
Is 45:19