Holy Land Charities Case Is Not A Simple One

Back in 2001, the federal government shut down an organization called the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development. They arrested five people who were running the foundation in Dallas, accusing them of funding a terrorist organization. The government said the funds being raised were winding up in the hands of Hamas -- a government designated terrorist group.

The five individuals were put on trial, and that case is now in the hands of the jury. But the jury seems to be having trouble. They have deliberated for 9 days, and have now come back to the judge for guidance. It seems that one of the jurors is refusing to cast a vote at all -- either for guilty or innocence.

Our president is a simple person who sees the world in black and white terms. The problem is that there is no black and white in the Palestinian areas of the Middle East -- only many shades of gray.

The only thing for certain is that the money raised in Dallas was sent to the Middle East, and much of it, if not all of it, wound up in the hands of Hamas. Does that make the Dallas men who raised the money terrorists?

There is no evidence that the men knew the money was going to Hamas. Even if they did, there is no evidence that the money was used for anything other than charitable purposes. After all, in many Palestinian areas, the only competent social service organizations and charitable organizations are run by Hamas. While one arm of Hamas is a military force, it has another arm that does much good charitable work among Palestinians.

I can understand the jury's quandry. This is not a cut-and-dried case. I'm afraid if I was on the jury, I might well be like the juror who refuses to cast a vote.

Is the Holy Land Foundation a charity or a funder of terrorism? Is it a mixture of the two? Did the men know Hamas was the recepient of the money? Did Hamas use the money for charitable purposes?

These are all valid questions, and the government has not really answered any of them. Until they do, I don't think I could find these people guilty.