ALLEGED OSAMA BIN LADEN CONNECTION TO PALESTINIAN BANK

S E C R E T JERUSALEM 002378

TERREP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6.X.1
TAGS: PTER EFIN KWBG KPAL JO SA
SUBJECT: ALLEGED OSAMA BIN LADEN CONNECTION TO PALESTINIAN BANK


1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY ACTING PRINCIPAL OFFICER JERRY FEIERSTEIN,
REASON 1.6X1.


2. (S) OSAMA BIN LADEN HAS CLOSE CONNECTIONS TO, AND POSSIBLY AN
OWNERSHIP SHARE OF, AL-AQSA ISLAMIC BANK, A NEW BANK GIVEN
PRELIMINARY APPROVAL BY THE PALESTINIAN MONETARY AUTHORITY (PMA) TO
OPERATE IN PALESTINIAN AREAS, ACCORDING TO PROMINENT WEST BANK
BUSINESSMAN AND BANKER YAHYA KADAMANI (STRICTLY PROTECT). KADAMANI
SAID AUGUST 25 THAT AL-AQSA IS JOINTLY OWNED BY THE JORDAN ISLAMIC
BANK (JIB) AND BEIT AL MAL, A PALESTINIAN ISLAMIC FINANCIAL
INSTITUTION. JIB, IN TURN, IS OWNED BY A SAUDI SHEIKH NAMED
SA'ADEH KAMEL, A FRIEND AND BUSINESS PARTNER OF BIN LADEN'S, SAID
KADAMANI.


3. (S) THE PALESTINIAN RUMOR MILL HAS OFTEN CONNECTED BEIT AL-MAL
TO HAMAS; A NUMBER OF BEIT AL-MAL BOARD MEMBERS, INCLUDING CHAIRMAN
MAZEN SINOKROT, WERE DETAINED AND QUESTIONED BY THE GOI SOME MONTHS
AGO, BUT LATER RELEASED WITHOUT CHARGE. AL-AQSA ONLY RECEIVED
APPROVAL TO OPERATE, ACCORDING TO KADAMANI, AFTER PMA GOVERNOR
FOUAD BSEISO WAS WINED AND DINED ON SHEIKH KAMEL'S PRIVATE JET.
KADAMANI DID NOT PROVIDE DETAILS ON WHAT ACTIVITIES AL-AQSA IS
UNDERTAKING FOR BIN LADEN, IF ANY.


4. (S) COMMENT. KADAMANI IS A LONG-TIME CONSULATE CONTACT AND IS
WELL PLUGGED-IN TO PALESTINIAN FINANCIAL CIRCLES. HE HAS ALWAYS
BEEN VERY OPEN, AND IS SOMETHING OF A GOSSIP-MONGER. WE DON'T TAKE
KADAMANI'S REMARKS AS PROOF OF A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BIN LADEN AND
AL-AQSA, BUT BELIEVE THEY ARE WORTH NOTING. END COMMENT


FEIERSTEIN