Islamic Association of Palestine (IAP) was an Islamist organization that raised money in the United States for Hamas.^[1] It wrote articles on issues that it alleged "Zionist controlled" westernized media failed to report. It called itself "a not-for-profit, public-awareness, educational, political, social, and civic, national grassroots organization dedicated to advancing a just, comprehensive, and eternal solution to the cause of Palestine and suffrages of the Palestinians." For a time it also used the name American Muslim Society.^[2]

Founders included^[3] Mousa Mohammed Abu Marzook, funder and 1989 member of IAP Board of Directors, Specially Designated Global Terrorist.^[4]

It published a magazine, Tareeq Filistine (Road to Palestine), Ila Filastin,^[3] and newspapers Al-Zaytuna and Muslim World Monitor.

The Anti-Defamation League accused the IAP of issuing anti-Semitic propaganda and having links to terrorists. The U.S. government considers the IAP a front for Hamas in the United States.

In December 2004, a federal judge in Chicago ruled that the IAP (along with the Holy Land Foundation) was liable for a $156 million dollar lawsuit for aiding and abetting the terror group Hamas in the death of 17-year-old David Boim, an American citizen.^[5] In December 2007 the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit overturned the judge's ruling, holding that plaintiffs failed to prove that financial contributions to Hamas played a direct role in Boim's slaying.^[6]

Islamic Association of Palestine staffers and members were founding members of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).^[2]

Kind Hearts for Charitable Human Development listed the IPA as its "Fundraiser Organizer" in its tax exemption filings.^[3]

Reporting controversy

On October 3, 2001, IAP released a press statement which said:

According [to] the Israeli Hebrew radio, Kol Yisrael Wednesday, Peres warned Sharon that refusing to heed incessant American requests for a cease-fire with the Palestinians would endanger Israeli interests and turn the US against us. At this point, a furious Sharon reportedly turned toward Peres, saying "...I want to tell you something clear, don?t worry about American pressure on Israel, we the Jewish people control America, and the Americans know it."

However, the radio station in question has said that no such broadcast occurred, and the incident was not reported by any independent media organization.^[7] The Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America, a pro-Israeli media watchdog group, has asserted that the quote was fabricated for political purposes.

References

External links

• iap.org was the IAP domain name until after February 2005.
• Site Institute See also Site institute

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