MFA REPORTS REVISED TERROR FINANCE LAW SOON TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 001411 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2018 TAGS: PREL EFIN KTFN IS SUBJECT: MFA REPORTS REVISED TERROR FINANCE LAW SOON TO COME INTO EFFECT REF: A. (A) STATE 65133 ¶B. (B) 07 TEL AVIV 3585 Classified By: DCM Luis Moreno for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: In a MEETING with the MFA,s Deputy Director for Counterterrorism on June 23, econoff was reassured that the new amendment to Israel,s dated Prohibition on Terrorist Financing law would come into effect within a few weeks. Previously, the GOI has only had the authority to designate terrorist entities operating in Israel,s immediate region. The new amendment allows ISRAEL to designate foreign ones as well. The new legislation will finally bring ISRAEL into compliance with UN Resolution 1267. The amendment was passed by the Knesset in December but it has remained inactive pending the creation of updated bureaucratic procedures. While ISRAEL remains unable to designate the entities cited in the latest action under UN resolution 1267, econoff passed the MFA the latest additions to the list per reftel &A8. Econoff also discussed Israel,s recent designation of 36 new organizations, the first such addition to its list since 1948. These organizations are all associated with the "Coalition of Good". END SUMMARY -------------- NEW DESIGNATION PROCEDURE TO TAKE EFFECT SOON -------------- ¶2. (U) Econoff transmitted the latest list of UN designated terrorist entities from the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee per reftel "A" to Ariel Shafransky, Deputy Director for Counterterrosim at the MFA. Shafransky was pleased to receive the list but informed econoff that the GOI still remained powerless to enforce the designations under its own law. Shafransky explained that while the Knesset had approved an amendment to the law last December giving the government authority to add foreign entities to its list of designations, procedures are still being developed and have not yet been put into effect (see reftel "B"). Shafransky mentioned that developing the procedures has been an arduous task that requires approval and input from several agencies and the Israeli intelligence community. In a follow up message to Econoff on June 26, Shafransky said that "no major things, only a bit of wording" remained in finalizing the process. He said the procedure is about to be introduced within the next few weeks. Upon taking effect, the GOI will likely designate the entire consolidated list of the UN 1267 committee and the US Treasury,s OFAC list in one omnibus announcement. ¶3. (C, REL USA,ISR) Econoff is working through Treasury/OFAC to directly provide the Israeli National Security Council with a list certified as official by an authorized agent at OFAC. In order to meet its burden of law to adopt a designation from a "friendly country," ISRAEL must receive official correspondence from the designating authority. OFAC is currently compiling a complete listing of designations with an official cover letter that is intended to meet this standard. Econoff expects to provide the GOI with this official OFAC list on or around the time that Israel,s procedure is put into effect. -------------- -------------- ISRAEL DESIGNATES 36 NEW ENTITIES ASSOCIATED WITH "COALITION OF GOOD" -------------- -------------- ¶4. (U) During the meeting, Shafransky also passed econoff a copy of the Israeli Defense Ministry,s public announcement dated May 26, 2008 designating 36 new entities as unlawful terrorist organizations within Israel. The list comprises a group of organizations associated with the "Coalition of Good". They have been operating from the United States, Europe, and elsewhere under the guise of Zakat, an Islamic tithing system. Shafransky stressed the amount of time and effort that the Israeli intelligence community devoted to this list and emphasized that this is the first addition to Israel,s roster since 1948. COMMENT: This step is a notable example of the GOI,s focus on combating illicit finance in its efforts to combat terrorism in general. END COMMENT. ¶5. (U) In its May 26 public announcement, the GOI designated the following organizations found to be operating in Israel,s immediate region: ¶1. The SAUDI Committee for the Relief of Palestinian People; ¶2. International Islamic Relief Organization; ¶3. Patients Helping Fund ) The Administration Al-Qadisiyah The Medical Committee; ¶4. Makkah Charity Institution; ¶5. Mercy International; ¶6. Zakat House; ¶7. The Charitable Palestines Committee; ¶8. Mohammed Bin Rashid Charity and Humanitarian Establishment; ¶9. Fujairah Charity Association; ¶10. The Sharga House of Charity; ¶11. UAE Red Crescent Society; ¶12. Al Islamic Society ) The Charity Act; ¶13. The Islamic Society; ¶14. Al Irshad and Ak Islah Society ) Guidance and Reform Society; ¶15. Sheikh Eid Bin Muhammad Al-Thani Charity Association; ¶16. The Charitable Qatar Society; ¶17. Palestine Qatar Committee for Relief in Palestine; ¶18. The Islamic Charitable Society to Help Al-Aqsa; ¶19. The Ansar Charitable Society in Sudan; ¶20. The Islamic Dawah Association Sudan ) Munazzmat Al-Dawa Al Islamic; ¶21. The Movement for Unity and Reform; ¶22. The Union of Good Lebanon ) Dar Al Fatwa (including US Charitable Organization); ¶23. The International Islamic Council for Dawah and Relief; ¶24. The Humanitarian Relief Committee Doctors Syndicate; ¶25. The Reform Society ) Yemen; ¶26. Jamiyyat Al-A,Maal Al-Khayriyyah Human Appeal International; ¶27. Humanitarian Relief Foundation; ¶28. Muslim Hands; ¶29. Muslim Aid; ¶30. Educational Aid for Palestinians; ¶31. Sanabil Al Aqsa Charitable Foundation; ¶32. Innocents; ¶33. Association De Decours Palestinien ) ASP Relief for Palestine Society; ¶34. Palestine Association; ¶35. Al Awsa Foundation of South Africa / Al Aqsa International Foundation; ¶36. Insan Haklary Ve Hurriyetleri Vakfi International Humanitarian Relief Organisation or Internationale Humanitere Hilfsorganisation. ********************************************* ******************** Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. ********************************************* ******************** JONES