AL-MUZANNAR ST, AL-NASIR AREA, Gaza City, Gaza, Palestinian;
Jenin, West Bank, Palestinian;
Bethlehem, West Bank, Palestinian;
Ramallah, West Bank, Palestinian;
Tulkarm, West Bank, Palestinian;
Lebanon;
P.O. BOX 398, Hebron, West Bank, Palestinian
Official reason
The U.S. Department of the Treasury today designated the Elehssan Society, including all its branches, as a charitable front for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). A deadly Palestinian terrorist group, PIJ has been named a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) by the U.S. Government and is also named on the European Union's list of terrorist entities. Elehssan masquerades as a charity, while actually helping to finance Palestinian Islamic Jihad's acts of terror against the Israeli people and other innocents, said Stuart Levey, the Treasury's Under Secretary for the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI). We will not hesitate to act against those who enable murderers, regardless of how they disguise themselves. According to a fifty-three count indictment filed in February 2003 in the United States District Court in the Middle District of Florida, beginning in the early 1990s, the Elehssan Society served as the fund-raising arm of PIJ in Gaza and the West Bank, soliciting, collecting and distributing donations. According to the indictment, PIJ and Elehssan's objectives include murder, extortion, money laundering, fraud and misuse of visas. Elehssan also utilized Internet websites for the solicitation of funds, according to the Federal indictment. These sites featured PIJ claims of responsibility for terrorist acts and material on PIJ leaders, such as PIJ's Secretary General, Ramadan Abdullah Shallah. Shallah has been named a Specially Designated Terrorist by the U.S. Government. According to a signed declaration filed in open court in the U.S. in October 2000, PIJ runs or supports a number of organizations, including Elehssan. As of 2004, information available to the U.S. indicates that Elehssan Society's leader played a primary role in PIJ's financial council. Notably, he coordinated with PIJ Secretary General Ramadan Shallah on organizational and operational issues. As of late 2003, Elehssan cooperated with PIJ to distribute funds to the families of PIJ prisoners and deceased members, and was informed by PIJ when entitlements were sent. Information available to the U.S. shows that Elehssan maintains lists of PIJ-associated families who are to receive compensation including the families of PIJ suicide bombers. For example, details of early 2004 financial transfers from PIJ entities outside the Palestinian territories to PIJ members and supporters in the West Bank included a payment of $900 to benefit the family of a deceased PIJ operative, who died conducting a suicide attack. Information available to the U.S. shows that to move money, select PIJ members serve as links between PIJ headquarters and members in the Palestinian territories. PIJ funds were deposited directly into PIJ members' accounts and into PIJ charitable accounts, including the Elehssan Society. PIJ funds for the Elehssan Society primarily came from outside the West Bank and Gaza. In late 2001 and early 2002, the Palestinian Authority closed several offices belonging to PIJ in the Palestinian territories, including Elehssan. Despite this apparent set back, in 2003 PIJ initiated efforts to expand Elehssan's activities, notably making plans to open a branch in Ramallah. As of 2005, information available to the U.S. Government shows that PIJ continues to fund activities via the Elehssan Society. Notably, in 2005 PIJ funds were provided to Elehssan Bethlehem and in 2004, information shows that PIJ provided funds to Elehssan in Gaza and Lebanon. In mid-2002, Elehssan received hundreds of thousands of dollars from abroad that were deposited into accounts in the West Bank. In addition to its use as a financial conduit, Elehssan is used by PIJ to recruit for its operational cadre. In early 2003, Elehssan planned to open a youth center to support PIJ activity and conduct PIJ-related recruitment and training. Information available to the U.S. indicates that the absence of a PIJ youth center in that location was regarded as one reason behind a lack of PIJ activity in the area. Also to support its recruitment efforts, in mid-2002, PIJ provided money to a run a summer camp project in the West Bank. In 2003, a PIJ leader, also identified as a senior official for Elehssan, reportedly said that PIJ summer camps emphasize, culture, Islam and fun, with a marginal political dimension. Yet according to another source, the aim of at least one PIJ-run summer camp is reportedly the recruitment of suicide bombers. Today's designation includes the entire Elehssan organization including its headquarters, believed to be in Gaza City, and all its branch offices including in Janin, Ramallah, Tulkaram, Hebron and Bethlehem, as well as in Lebanon.
On June 6, 2003, OFAC issued the Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 594 (68 FR 34196, June 6, 2003 (“the Regulations”), to implement Executive Order (E.O.) 13224 of September 23, 2001, “Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten To Commit, or Support Terrorism” (66 FR 49079, September 25, 2001). OFAC has amended the Regulations on several occasions.
On September 9, 2019, the President, invoking the authority of, inter alia, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701–1706) (IEEPA) and the United Nations Participation Act (22 U.S.C. 287c) (UNPA), issued E.O. 13886, “Modernizing Sanctions To Combat Terrorism” (84 FR 48041, September 12, 2019), effective September 10, 2019. In E.O. 13886, the President, finding it necessary to consolidate and enhance sanctions to combat acts of terrorism and threats of terrorism by foreign terrorists, terminated the national emergency declared in E.O. 12947 of January 23, 1995, “Prohibiting Transactions With Terrorists Who Threaten To Disrupt the Middle East Peace Process” (60 FR 5079, January 25, 1995), and revoked E.O. 12947, as amended by E.O. 13099 of August 20, 1998, “Prohibiting Transactions With Terrorists Who Threaten To Disrupt the Middle East Peace Process” (63 FR 45167, August 25, 1998). In addition, the President amended E.O. 13224, in order to build upon initial steps taken in E.O. 12947, to further strengthen and consolidate sanctions to combat the continuing threat posed by international terrorism, and in order to take additional steps to deal with the national emergency declared in E.O. 13224, with respect to the continuing and immediate threat of grave acts of terrorism and threats of terrorism committed by foreign terrorists, which include acts of terrorism that threaten the Middle East peace process.
Section 1 of E.O. 13886 replaces in its entirety section 1 of E.O. 13224, which had been amended by a number of prior Executive orders (E.O. 13224, as amended by all such authorities, is referred to herein as “amended E.O. 13224”), but does not amend the Annex to E.O. 13224, which was previously amended by E.O. 13268 of July 2, 2002, “Termination of Emergency With Respect to the Taliban and Amendment of Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001” (67 FR 44751, July 3, 2002) (“amended Annex to E.O. 13224”).
