Australian banks as conduits for HAMAS financiers

By Ganesh Sahethevan

The organisation Human Appeal International (HAI) has been banned by the Israel Ministry of Defence who say that it is a HAMAS affiliate that is used to finance HAMAS activities. See http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Communiques/2008/Defense+Minister+signs+order+banning+Hamas-affiliated+charitable+organizations+7-Jul-2008.htm

HAI's involvement in the financing of terrorism has been reported previously in Australia-for collection of reports see http://www.terrorfinance.org/the_terror_finance_blog/2006/08/human_appealter.html

HAI uses an account at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia to collect funds:

Human Appeal International Australia bank details:
• Bank: Commonwealth Bank of Australia
• BSB: 062-191
• Account Number for General Donations: 0090-3948
https://www.humanappeal.org.au/Donations.aspx

Another organisation banned by the Ministry of Defence for the same reason is Muslim Aid.
Muslim Aid's involvement in the financing of terrorism has also been reported previously in Australia-for collection of reports see http://www.terrorfinance.org/the_terror_finance_blog/2008/06/sdgt-interpal-1.html .
Their work with the SDGT Interpal was recently reported in Australia and is believed to be the subject of investigation by the Australian Federal Police. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,24897,23955630-601,00.html

Muslim Aid uses ANZ Bank to collect funds:

Muslim Aid Australia bank details:
Bank: ANZ Bank
BSB: 012-313
Account no: 495 300 039
(http://www.muslimaid.org.au/contactus.aspx)

The ANZ's correspondent in Lebanon is the Lebanese Canadian Bank SAL (LCB).
(http://www.lebcanbank.com/network2.asp?categoryID=4)


LCB is being "sued in the U.S. and Canada for allegedly helping Hezbollah kill Israeli citizens by providing financial services to the extremist”. group"(http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?sid=aZi7YZ3sq32k&pid=20601082)

Both banks were queried by this writer about the continued supply of banking facilities to HAI and Muslim Aid in light of their being banned in Israel, and given the various reports about their involvement in the financing of terrorist groups.
The CBA has responded to say that it is “ unable to comment specifically on its relationship with any of its customers for confidentiality reasons.”
The ANZ has refused to say anything.

Comments

[Australian banking]

Hi,
Shorbagi also testified about the role of Sheikh Jamil Hamami, listed as Hamas co-conspirator number five in the indictment (acrobat). Hamami was a West Bank-based Hamas leader who traveled to the United States to raise money for Hamas through the Holy Land Foundation (HLF) and AAEF, and met with Ashqar in Mississippi. Shorbagi also attested to his contacts at the United Association for Studies and Research (UASR), another Hamas front organization in the U.S.
Australian banking