A report dealing with the distribution of “offerings”1 [portions of meat] to Hamas members in the Bethlehem area for Eid al-Adha (the feast of the sacrifice). The meat was donated to the Bethlehem Orphan Care Society by funds and foundations outside the PA-administered territories, among them Interpal in London [1999].
1. “Offerings” in this context refers to prepared portions of meat for the collective meals customary among most Muslims, almost certainly to celebrate the Feast of the Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha). It is the most important feast of the Muslim calendar. It concludes the Pilgrimage to Mecca and lasts for three days, commemorating Ibrahim's (Abraham) willingness to obey God by sacrificing his son. Muslims believe the son to be Ishmael rather than Isaac, as recounted in the Old Testament.
Palestinian National Authority |
[PA emblem] |
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Preventive Security Headquarters |
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September 6, 1999 |
Bethlehem Directorate |
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In the name of Allah the all-merciful
[To:] Lieut.-Col. Abu Bashar [Commander of the PPS in Bethlehem], may Allah preserve him
Blessing of the homeland,
To the matter at hand,
In re: The [ Bethlehem] Orphan Care Society
To complete the topic of the [ Bethlehem] Orphan Care Society, we received [information] from our source according to which the Society received 200 additional offerings [portions of meat] from the [Hamas-affiliated] Islamic Charitable Society of Hebron on July 11, 1999. The portions were distributed as follows:
1. 35 to the Deheishe refugee camp.
2. 30 to Kafar al-Khidhr.
3. 15 to Beit Sahour.
4. 70 to Al-Islah Society [a large Hamas society which operates a number of branches in the West Bank. Outlawed by Israel in 2002.] and Wadi M’ali.
They were distributed to members and those connected to the Hamas movement in the area of Al-Saf, Wadi M’ali and Jabal Hundazah (?) . The remaining portions were put into refrigerators at the Society, under [almost certainly not “under” but, as was revealed by a different document, “on the ground floor of”] the Salah al-Din mosque, for personal purposes.
Sources of the offerings: London – Interpal, [United States] Holy Land Foundation [Hamas-affiliated organization, outlawed by Israel in 1997 and designated by American Executive Order 13224 as supporting terrorism], the second part donatedby the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (Saudi Arabia) [parentheses in the original].
1,000 school bags were distributed to those entitled – as well as office supplies – when the school year began.
1,000 notebooks were sent from the paper-products factory in Hebron to the [Bethlehem Orphan Care] Society for distribution.
The Bethlehem Orphan Care Society, which deals with distribution in the district, received only 20 offerings.
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Report: Amjad Hashem |
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Kut’aa Center |
Follow-up adminstration |
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Deputy/Nasser al-Siqa |
[Illegible signature and faded stamp] |
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September 6, 1999 |
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Original Document
