In the Aftermath of the arrest, in Israel, of the Gaza manager of the Christian charity, Global Vision, on terrorist financing charges, the charity has announced that it is terminating all its Gaza-based contractors. Approximately 120 individuals are reportedly affected, and all Gaza programs of World Vision have been suspended, according to the charity's spokesperson.
The Global Vision operations manager for Gaza, Mohammad El Halabi, is accused of illegally diverting approximately $7m a year, of the Charity's funds, to Hamas. The diverted funds were used to purchase arms & ammunition, pay Hamas members, build fortifications, including an oceanfront military facility, and repair homes of Hamas agents. One source claims that Hamas intentionally directed that El Halaby become a World Vision employee, and if that is true, then all charitable entities operating in the Palestinian Territories should immediately ascertain whether any of their staff are members of any specially designated global terrorist organizations.
World Vision bank accounts in Jerusalem have been frozen by Israel, according to the charity, and it can no longer pay its Gaza contractors. A number of Western countries, who are donors, abruptly cut off aid to World Vision, after El Halaby was arrested and charged.
Questions have been raised about World Vision's defective global auditing procedures, since the massive diversion of funds took place over a period of several years, and whether illicit diversion of donated funds, by terrorists, is occurring in other countries where the charity operates.
Contributed by Kenneth Rijock
Chronicles of Monte Friesner
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