Jerusalem is on the board!!

Jerusalem made it!!!

As many regular readers of this blog will no doubt remember, the "staff" of the Galilee Institute (http://www.gogalil.com) spearheaded an effort earlier this year to get Jerusalem, Israel, included on the board of the new Monopoly - Global Edition. People around the world were invited by the Hasbro Corporation to vote for their favorite cities, with the cities getting the highest vote totals to be included on the new global game board. Many cities such as Montreal, Canada; Istanbul, Turkey; Paris, France; and Riga, Latvia; spent millions in advertising, as they recognized the importance to tourism and commerce of being the new global "Park Place."

As more bloggers and Facebook friends started to get involved, along with David Saranga of the Israeli Consulate in New York and Yair Spitz on Facebook - Jerusalem, Israel started rising in the rankings - and rising fast! Starting as low as 50th with 0.1% of the vote, at its peak, Jerusalem, Israel, was ranked third with over 3.6% of the total vote tally!

We were gaining important attention and organizations such as One Jerusalem, the OU and Bnei Akiva started working hard for the cause.

Apparently all this brouhaha angered some less friendly individuals with specific political agendas. Suddenly, without fanfare, and only for a day or so, Jerusalem became the only city in the world to appear stateless, apparently without a country (see: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1203518556689&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull).

Later that week, the vote tally disappeared completely from the Hasbro website:

When the cities reappeared, several days later, none of the cities had country indicators attached to them. Hasbro told reporters that "this was the plan all along," something they failed to note at the start.

The biggest surprise for the voting public was yet to come. Towards the end of the contest, as cities were getting closer and closer and Jerusalem was quickly climbing into a "blue square" position, Hasbro, Inc. took down the site completely with a statement that the new board would be announced in August, 2008.

Yet here we are, late August, 2008, and what's fair is fair - the ranks stayed, more or less, exactly as they were the last time we saw them...

Country indicators may have been dropped because of the "controversy" we created with our successful campaign for Jerusalem, and with it the game's linkage of Israel to the Eternal Capital of the Jewish people; but, our joint efforts literally got our historic city "on the board!!"

Jerusalem will be in the yellow section, a few values below some larger cities that spent millions in advertising to encourage their residents to vote (Montreal/Riga/ Paris) but way above international commercial and tourism giants such as New York, London, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Rome. Note that Beijing and Hong Kong also came in after our great city!

To all who participated - David, Yair, Yechiel and the thousands of voters who logged in religiously every day for weeks to log their votes - Job well done!! We were not to be ignored!!

To paraphrase what the great Tal Brody who is celebrating his 65th birthday this week, said after winning Israel's first-ever European Basketball Championship (1977-78): "We are on the map and we are on the map to stay in basketball and every other way!!"

Happy Birthday Tal and Mazal Tov Yerushalayim!!

Mike Cohen
Founder & Senior Analyst
The Galilee Institute
http://www.gogalil.com/mike.html

Graphics Courtesy Hasbro, Inc. & MonopolyCharts.com © 2008 Andrew Kernytsky.

Leftist Gaza Boat Project Flops Big Time!

Palestinians: Leftist boats didn't bring any food - just lots of talk!!

So the Leftist propaganda boat project flopped. Israel got smart and let the boats through, thus defusing the antagonist's desired media spectacle.

What was even more stark was the amazing disappointment that was clear on the Gaza beach upon the boat's arrival. News reports and insider info tell of local residents in Gaza yelling at the Leftist activists in anger as they arrived on shore.

The locals were apparently extremely disappointed to find that the Leftist's so called 'peace boats' were carrying mostly elderly and tired anti-Israel activists who wanted to make their own anti-Israel political headlines using the Gazans as a backdrop - and the massive amounts of free provisions promised were nowhere to be found. The 6,000 children-sized hearing aids turned out to be less than 200 and the amount of food on board could not feed an average Gaza family for a day. What the provocateurs did bring plenty of were baloons - 5,000 baloons with "Free Gaza" and "End the Occupation" printed on them.

Though only a few dozen families were organized by Hamas to gather at the Gaza beach to "celebrate" the boat's arrival, most locals soon left in disillusioned after realizing that the much celebrated boats were a sham - a publicity stunt gone bad.

What still remains to be seen is if the United States Attorney General will act against the organizers who broke United States law during the run-up to the project (see earlier posts on this blog).

Following is YNet Story By Ali Waked
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3586532,00.html

Latest Update: 08.23.08, 19:22 / Israel News

Palestinian disappointment: A Gaza activist told Ynet Saturday that local residents were disappointed by the small quantities of food brought in by two boats carrying international leftist activists.

"Many people thought these boats will make a significant contribution to break the siege, not only politically but also in terms of brining in goods, equipment, food, and medicine," he said. "However, once it turned out these boats contain too little food and mostly activists…some people left the beach disappointed."

Hundreds of Gazans reportedly received the leftist activists at the beach. A Hamas source told Ynet the initiative was proven successful, but added that "the Arab and Muslim world should draw lessons and learn from those dozens of activists, because they risked their lives at sea for the sake of Strip residents and against the siege."

The source also slammed Egypt for being "an inseparable part of the siege."

The two boats, carrying 44 international left-wing activists, reached the Gaza shore around 6:00 pm Saturday. Earlier, Israel announced that it will allow the boats to reach the Strip.

Foreign Ministry official Aryeh Mekel said Israel allowed the boats to enter Gaza in order to "prevent a media-covered provocation at sea."

"We know who's on these boats and what they contain, and therefore we'll allow them to reach shore," he said. Meanwhile, dozens of Gazans headed to sea in fishing boats to welcome the leftist activists, who includeTunisian, German, and American nationals, as well as an Israeli activist.

Earlier, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Aviv Shiron told Ynet that Israel will allow the boats carrying left-wing activists to reach Gaza.

The Foreign Ministry slammed the leftists and said that they did not deserve to be referred to as "peace activists," branding them as a "handful of provocateurs seeking a public relations stunt who initiated a political protest aimed at boosting Hamas' regime of horrors in Gaza."

"How does such delusional journey promote peace?" the Foreign Ministry added. "What kind of contribution does this journey make to the promotion of ideas of reconciliation and compromise? None."

Israeli officials noted that genuine humanitarian groups can provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population through existing land crossings, branding the leftist activists as "propagandists."

Earlier, Hamas Spokesman Sammy Abu Zuhri said that Israel's initial insistence on torpedoing the arrival of boats carrying international activists headed to Gaza "attests to the Israeli distress caused by this international peace initiative."

Anat Shalev contributed to the report

First Published: 08.23.08, 17:23

WSJ: Israeli Victims of Terror File Suit Against Bank of China

Israeli Victims of Terror File Suit Against Bank of China
By JAMES T. AREDDY
August 23, 2008; Page A5

BEIJING -- A lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court claims that one of China's biggest banks transferred millions of dollars for terrorist groups bent on attacking Israel, ignoring demands by Israeli counterterrorism officials to halt the practice.

The lawsuit, against Bank of China Ltd., was brought on behalf of more than 100 victims of terrorism in Israel and alleges that the money was transferred for the militant groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Iran and Syria, and processed through Bank of China's branches in the U.S. and China. Bank of China, which is one of China's Big Four banks and is listed in both Hong Kong and Shanghai, has the widest overseas network of the nation's banks.

The suit alleges that the money helped fund attacks between 2004 and 2007, and calls on the bank to stop transferring money for terrorist groups. It claims that in April 2005, Israeli counterterrorism officials informed officials of China's public security ministry and its central bank, the People's Bank of China, of their concerns over the wire transfers.

"Most of the banks of the world are not doing business with terrorist organizations," said Federico Castelan Sayre, an attorney representing the plaintiffs. "They chose to do so willingly."

The People's Bank of China Friday said in a faxed reply that it didn't hold talks in 2005 with Israeli counterterrorism officers about the matter and that such an account "doesn't conform with the facts."

Wang Zhaowen, a Beijing spokesman for Bank of China, said the bank isn't aware of the suit. Mr. Wang added that as a listed company, Bank of China "always complies with the United Nations' anti-money-laundering regulations. Also, our New York branch and related representative offices always follow U.S. banking regulations." There was no response to questions sent to spokespeople for China's Ministry of Public Security or its banking regulator.

A spokesman at the Israeli Embassy in Washington said the embassy had no comment on the suit.

As China has grown more interconnected with the global financial system, Beijing's regulation of international bank transfers and deposits has drawn increasing scrutiny from financial authorities in other countries, in particular the U.S. How China's regulators deal with the risks of money laundering, terror financing and other illicit transfers through their nation's banks, for instance, has helped lengthen the decision process of the Federal Reserve on applications by Chinese banks to open branches in New York, according to people familiar with the matter. Bank of China, China's most international bank, has had a New York branch since the early 1980s.

Terror financing was mentioned in this month's announcement by the Fed that it had approved an application for a New York branch by China's largest financial institution, Industrial & Commercial Bank of China. The statement noted a number of steps taken by Chinese regulators to monitor cross-border currency flows handled by their banks. The application was studied for more than a year.

In some cases, China's government has moved to ensure compliance by its financial institutions with international norms, particularly with regard to money laundering. "These efforts, the implementation of which is led by the People's Bank of China, are increasingly stringent," said Lester Ross, a Beijing-based partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr LLP.

Almost two years ago, for instance, Chinese financial authorities moved to stop their country's financial system from being a conduit for North Korean money transfers at a time when the U.S. and others were trying to pressure the state to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

-- J.R. Wu in Beijing, Ethan Smith in Los Angeles and Andrew Morse in San Francisco contributed to this article.

Write to James T. Areddy at james.areddy@wsj.com

Bank of China Sued for Aiding Terror Attacks

Suit by victims of rocket attacks and suicide bombings in the Jewish state details how Bank of China transferred millions of dollars to Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist groups, and rebuffed demand by Israeli counterterrorism officials to halt payments

Over 100 victims of terrorist attacks carried out by the Hamas and Palestine Islamic Jihad ("PIJ") terror organizations in Israel between 2004 and 2007 have filed an historic civil action in Los Angeles Superior Court against China's largest bank, the Bank of China Ltd. ("BOC") . The suit, Zahavi v. Bank of China, seeks both compensatory and punitive damages.

The plaintiffs allege in their civil complaint that starting in 2003, BOC executed dozens of wire transfers for the Hamas and PIJ totaling several million dollars. These dollar transfers were initiated by the PIJ and Hamas leadership in Iran and Syria, were processed through BOC's branches in the United States and were sent on to a BOC account in China operated by a senior operative of the Hamas and PIJ. From there, the funds were transferred to Hamas and PIJ leaders in the Gaza Strip and West Bank and used to carry out terrorist attacks.

In April 2005, Israeli counterterrorism officers met with officials from the
Chinese Ministry of Public Security and China's Central Bank regarding these Hamas and PIJ wire transfers. The Israelis demanded that the Chinese officials take action to prevent BOC from making any further such transfers. Despite the Israeli warnings, the BOC - with the Chinese government's approval - continued to wire terrorist funds for the Hamas and PIJ.

The plaintiffs, who are represented by attorneys Federico C. Sayre of Los Angeles, Robert J. Tolchin of New York and Nitsana Darshan-Leitner of Israel, include the family of Afik Zahavi, a four year-old boy who was murdered on June 28, 2004 in a Hamas missile attack in the town of Sderot. The toddler was on his way to nursery school when he was killed.

For more details see www.israel-mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Memorial/2004/Afik+Zahavi.htm

Other plaintiffs include the families of Emi Elmaliah, and Michael Saadon,
who were murdered on January 27, 2007 in a suicide bombing in a bakery in Eilat. The attack was carried out by a PIJ bomber from Gaza.

For moredetails see www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Palestinian+terror+since+2000/Suicide+bombing+in+Eilat+bakery+29-Jan-2007.htm

Attorney Nitsana Darshan-Leitner stated that: "BOC knowingly assisted Hamas and the Islamic Jihad to carry out terrorist attacks with the full approval of the Chinese government, and rejected requests by the Israeli government to cease and desist. BOC even had the chutzpah to make these funds transfers through its U.S. branches right under the nose of the U.S. Justice Department, despite the fact that Hamas and the PIJ are designated terrorist organizations and that such wire transfers are a crime under American law. We expect BOC to now pay very heavily for its support for terrorism."

A copy of the complaint is available here: www.snapdrive.net/qs/65ea3b0a532f

For more information please contact: Nitsana Darshan-Leitner

(Israel) 011-972-3837020
(US) 212-591-0073
Email: media@israellawcenter.org
http://www.israellawcenter.org

Conspiracy to Violate the U.S. Neutrality Act, 18 U.S.C. § 960

Attorney General Michael Mukasey
Office of the United States Attorney General
United States Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20530
Via Fax:

Dear Attorney General Mukasey,

Re: Conspiracy to Violate the U.S. Neutrality Act, 18 U.S.C. § 960

Dear Attorney General

I am writing to bring to your attention to a serious matter regarding what might be an ongoing conspiracy to violate the U.S. Neutrality Act, 18 U.S.C. § 960, and an attempt to aid & abet the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas which is occurring within your jurisdiction with the support and under the direction of an organization known as “The Free Gaza Movement,” located at 405 Vista Heights Road, El Cerrito, California 94530.

The Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas is currently designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. government. In June 2007, Hamas ousted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah party from the Gaza Strip and subsequently took power where it has engaged in a relentless campaign to obtain weapons and explosives and to terrorize both Israelis and moderate Palestinians. As a result of constant rocket attacks from Gaza on Israel’s coastal cities, on September 19, 2007 the Israeli government declared that “Hamas is a terrorist organization that has taken control of the Gaza Strip and turned it into hostile territory.” Similarly, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice affirmed “Hamas is indeed a hostile entity. It’s a hostile entity to the United States as well.”

In an effort to prevent Hamas from obtaining any additional military equipment and to impose economic pressure on the Hamas leadership in Gaza, the Israeli Security Cabinet imposed a series of sanctions on the Gaza Strip including a coastal blockade that is being implemented by the Israeli navy. The naval blockade is particularly important in light of previous attempts by the Iranian government to transfer weapons to Palestinian militants at sea such as occurred in January 2002 when the Israeli navy seized the “Karine A” ship that was loaded with 50 tons of Iranian supplied weaponry.

There are several provisions within the agreements signed by Israel and the Palestinian Authority that grant Israel the right to implement a naval blockade on the Gaza Strip. Specifically, the September 28, 1995 Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip that was signed in Washington D.C. states in Article XIV that Israel has “the responsibility for defense against external threats, including … for defense against external threats from the sea and from the air.” Moreover, in Article XIV of the Interim Agreement titled “Security along the Coastline to the Sea of Gaza” Israel and the Palestinian Authority agreed that foreign vessels would “not approach closer than 12 nautical miles from the coast” unless specifically authorized pursuant to jointly agreed regulations and that in the absence of such conditions all foreign vessels would be required to dock at Israeli approved ports. (Because there are no international ports open to foreign vessels in Gaza at this time, it is currently illegal for foreign vessels to attempt to dock in Gaza without explicit Israeli authorization.) Finally, in a letter to Prime Minister Sharon on April 14, 2004 shortly before Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip President Bush confirmed “[t]he United States understands that after Israel withdraws from Gaza and/or parts of the West Bank, and pending agreements on other arrangements, existing arrangements regarding control of airspace, territorial waters, and land passages of the West Bank and Gaza will continue.”

Nevertheless, despite the clear unequivocal policy of the United States to support Israel’s right to control the security of the territorial waters around Gaza and to isolate Hamas from external support, the extremist Free Gaza Movement is attempting to undermine the foreign policy of both the United States and Israel by raising money to violate the Interim Agreement regarding foreign vessels and to undermine Israel’s sovereign authority.

On The Free Gaza Movement website located at www.freegaza.org requests are being made to finance a “Break the Siege ship” that is tentatively set to sail in August 2008 (See also http://freegaza.org/pages/joinIn.html#aboard). According to information on its website the ship “will sail directly to Gaza without going through Israeli territory and without seeking permission from Israeli authorities.” However, because Israel has exclusive security authority over foreign vessels that are attempting to dock in Gaza, The Free Gaza Movement is openly soliciting support in this country for a hostile expedition against a friendly nation in violation of the U.S. Neutrality Act that is codified in section 960 of title 18 of the U.S. Code. This law states:

Whoever, within the United States, knowingly begins or sets on foot or provides or prepares a means for or furnishes the money for, or takes part in, any military or naval expedition or enterprise to be carried on from thence against the territory or dominion of any foreign prince or state, or of any colony, district, or people with whom the United States is at peace, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

As such, the actions of The Free Gaza Movement are nothing short of an attempt to violate the laws of State of Israel and to engage in conduct that has the effect of undermining the national security of a U.S. ally. Consequently, I respectfully request that your office take all necessary and appropriate actions to uphold the laws of the United States, to investigate those that are organizing and funding this illegal effort and to enjoin any unlawful activity on the part of The Free Gaza Movement.

Thank you,

Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, Esq.