Report: Ground Zero Mosque Investor Contributed to Designated Terror Group

FOXNews.com - Report: Ground Zero Mosque Investor Contributed to Designated Terror Group:

"A key financial backer of the proposed Islamic center near Ground Zero once contributed to a U.S.-designated terror group, MyFox New York reports.

Egyptian-born businessman Hisham Elzanaty, who made what is described as a 'significant investment' in the Ground Zero mosque project,contributed more than $6,000 in 1999 to the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, also known as HLF, tax records show.

The donations came two years before the federal government shut down HLF and designated it a terror group. Elzanaty's attorney told MyFox New York that his client believed at the time that he was donating to an orphanage. Elzanaty did not respond to questions.

Federal investigators say the group was set up as a Texas-based charity, but in fact supported Hamas.

Ray Locker, managing director of The Investigative Project on Terrorism, told MyFox New York that even in 1999, news outlets reported on possible ties between HLF and terror organizations.

Five HLF leaders were convicted in 2008 of providing support to Hamas."

Wow, where have I heard this story before? In college and in northern Virginia, actually. "Hamas builds orphanages and hospitals" is usually how the script goes. They leave out, deny, or plead ignorance to the fact that Hamas uses these facilities primarily for military operations, like anti-aircraft platforms.  Then they cry when those military installations get attacked and the civilians they were hiding behind get killed or injured.  In this case, Elzanaty goes straight to ignorance of the fact that that HLF was a funding operation for Hamas.

Document from FOX5 New York:

Sharif El-Gamal

If you prefer CBS, they are covering a different angle, shining new light onto a different central figure to the Ground Zero Mosque: Who Is The Man Behind The Ground Zero Mosque?

Developer Of Community Center Has Lengthy Record, With Numerous Arrests Dating Back To 1990

. . . Kramer reports the developer’s reluctance to talk may have been related to his prior run-ins with the law.
His most recent arrest was in 2005 for assault on a man he met while working as a waiter at Serafina Restaurant, who sublet an apartment from his brother. He reportedly punched the man, breaking his nose and cheekbone and spit on him.
El-Gamal first said he didn’t hit the man, but arrest documents obtained by CBS 2 showed he later conceded “his face could have run into my hand.”
Records showed El-Gamal also had trouble coming up with the $15,000 settlement reached in 2008, and had to pay interest . El-Gamal also has a number of other arrests on his record:
-In 1990, he was arrested in Nassau County and pled guilty to disorderly conduct.
-In 1992, he pled guilty in Nassau to DWI and paid a $350 fine.
-In 1993, he pled guilty in Nassau to attempted petit larceny and paid a $100 fine.
-In 1994, arrested for disorderly conduct in Manhattan.
-In 1998, there was another Manhattan disorderly conduct arrest.
-In 1999, yet another Manhattan disorderly conduct arrest.
A potential problem for the mosque developer is a deposition he gave in the assault case in October 2007. When asked if he was ever convicted or pled guilty to a crime, El-Gamal replied “no.” . . .
ed. video here

I know a few waiters and waitresses in Northern Virginia. Looks like Manhattan waiters make much better money and become financiers for multi-million dollar projects.


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