(S) TERRORIST FINANCING: REQUEST

1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE RICHARD ALBRIGHT
FOR REASONS 1.5 (B,D).



2. (S/NF) Because of the sensitivities
associated with Human Appeal International
(HAI), we have requested an appointment with
de facto Foreign Minister Shaykh Hamdan Bin
Zayid to deliver reftel points. Hamdan, our
primary leadership-level contact on terrorist
financing issues, is currently traveling
outside the UAE.



3. (S/NF) However, in anticipation of his
likely response to our demarche, we would
appreciate receiving (via ORCA channels if
necessary) a releasable intel package which we
may provide to the UAEG in support of our
request that they crack down on Human Appeal.
The information on Ayoub Ali and Boudella Al-
Haj is specific and compelling, but we have
no/no direct supporting information with
regard to HAI's funding of Hamas. If we want
the UAEG to block HAI funding of Hamas, it
would be helpful to give them evidence that
such funding has occurred in the past and is
continuing, including the specific
entities/accounts belonging to Hamas into
which HAI funds are flowing. Similarly,
details with regard to the Al-Rashid Trust's
continuing operations in the UAE would be most
helpful. We note that the UAE Central Bank
has already ordered financial institutions
here -- at our request -- to freeze any
accounts associated with the Al-Rashid Trust.



4. (S/NF) When we went to the UAE to request
their partnership with us in closing Al-
Barakat operations here we were able to submit
to them a lengthy intel package outlining the
reasons why we believed that organization was
involved in terrorist financing. A similar
package on HAI will demonstrate that we are
motivated by solid fact and that we are
serious about having the UAEG take appropriate
action to block HAI funding of terrorist
groups. A strong intel package should give
the Emirati authorities the compelling
information they will need to intiate their
own investigation and take the necessary steps
to ensure HAI is not funding -- wittingly or
unwittingly -- terrorist groups.

Albright