Violence by Extremists in the Jewish Settler Movement: A Rising Challenge

By Matthew Levitt

Thirteen years after the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Israeli security officials are expressing heightened concern that a new wave of violent extremism among fringe elements in the Jewish settler movement threatens not only Palestinian civilians, but also Israeli...

HLF VERDICT: GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS

By Matthew Levitt

The message sent by the verdict in this case is clear: the United States will neither allow itself to be used as a cash-cow by terrorist groups raising money here under the guise of legitimate charitable activity nor will it...

The Money Trail: Finding, Following and Freezing Terrorist Finances

By Matthew Levitt

U.S. and international efforts to combat terrorist financing are a little understood—and often unappreciated—aspect of the global counterterrorism campaign. With this in mind, soon after rejoining The Washington Institute after serving in the Treasury Department’s Office of Terrorism and Financial...

Latest in Iran Sanctions: No U-Turn

By Matthew Levitt

In the first letter of its kind from an Iranian leader to an American president elect since the Iranian revolution, Iranian President Mahmoud Admedinejad congratulated President Elect Obama on his victory and called for an end to America's "war-oriented policies,...

New FBI Powers: A Necessary Step for Counterterrorism

By Matthew Levitt

Earlier this month, the Department of Justice published the revised Attorney General Guidelines (AGG), which govern all FBI activities. This includes FBI activity involving international terrorism. The revised AGG, which will come into effect in early December 2008, will consolidate...

Negotiating Under Fire

By Matthew Levitt

On October 3, 2008, Ghaith al-Omari and Dennis Ross joined me at a Policy Forum luncheon at The Washington Institute to honor the launch of my new book, Negotiating Under Fire. Mr. al-Omari, a former advisor to Palestinian president Mahmoud...

Promoting Charity while Reducing Risks of Terror Financing

By Matthew Levitt

The following book review on the theme of Islamic charity apears in the Fall 2008 volume of Middle East Quarterly The Price of Fear: The Truth behind the Financial War on Terror by Ibrahim Warde (University of California Press, 2007);...

Amman Warms to Hamas

By Matthew Levitt

Last week, Jordan's minister of information publicly confirmed that senior Jordanian officials have been meeting with Hamas in an effort to "solve pending security issues." These talks represent a significant shift for Amman, since relations between Jordan and the Palestinian...

Winning the War of Ideas

By Matthew Levitt

Engagement in the battle of ideas and strategic communication has long been the missing ingredient in the government-wide effort to combat terrorism. Now, with a restructured public diplomacy bureaucracy at the State Department and elsewhere in the interagency process, engaging...

Electing Militant Groups is "Problematic"

By Matthew Levitt

In the current issue of Foreign Affairs, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has offered parting statement under the title “Rethinking the National Interest: American Realism for a New World.” The section on the Middle East includes an elusive passage that...

Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Dr. Donald Kerr addresses The Washington Institute

By Matthew Levitt

Last night, Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Dr. Donald Kerr addressed The Washington Institute for Near East Policy's 20th Annual Soref Symposium. In a lecture entitled "Emerging Threats, Challenges, and Opportunities in the Middle East," Dr. Kerr offered a...

Highlighting al-Qaeda's Bankrupt Ideology

By Matthew Levitt

According to recent U.S. government reports and senior U.S. counterterrorism officials, contesting al-Qaeda's message is no less important than capturing or killing the group's operatives. And as the administration prioritizes its agenda for the last eight months in office, recognizing...

Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century: Implications for Homeland Security

By Matthew Levitt

In the latest in its series of lectures by senior US counterterrorism officials, today The Washington Institute's Stein Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence hosted the Department of Homeland Security's Undersecretary for Intelligence, Mr. Charlie Allen. Mr. Allen is the Department...

Winning the War on Terror: Marking Success and Confronting Challenges

By Matthew Levitt

On April 23, 2008, Deputy National Security Advisor Juan Zarate addressed The Washington Institute where he laid out the administration's strategy, successess and issues requiring an ongoing and long term commitment. His full comments are available here....

Al-Qaida's Finances: Evidence of Organizational Decline?

By Matthew Levitt

The latest issue of the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point's excellent online journal, CTC Sentinel, was released today, inlcuding an article in which I present a snapshot of al Qaeda's continuing ability to raise funds through traditional methods, even...

Legitimizing Hamas: Carter's Visit Sends the Wrong Message

By Matthew Levitt

Yesterday, former President Jimmy Carter embraced West Bank Hamas leader Nasser Shaer, and today he is scheduled to meet Mahmoud Zahar, an avowedly militant Hamas leader from Gaza, in Egypt. The parade of Hamas meetings concludes tomorrow, with the former...

Globalized jihad, then (1993) and now

By Matthew Levitt

Fifteen years from now, when classified documents produced today begin to be declassified, we will surely look back with some discomfort and see just how far off some of our judgments were when written in 2008. Such is the nature...

MEK Deserves to be Banned

By Matthew Levitt

A recent posting for Middle East Strategy at Harvard (MESH) argues for the delisting of the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK or NCRI). I disagree. True, the MEK has provided some very useful intelligence on Iran’s nuclear program, but we lose...

AQI Facilitation Networks Still Active in Syria

By Matthew Levitt

In its latest effort to target al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) financial and logistical networks operating out of Syria, the Treasury Department designated today four members of a key terrorist facilitation network. Such facilitation networks have long operated out of...

Hamas in the spotlight

By Matthew Levitt

As I wrote today for Middle East Strategy at Harvard (MESH), this week’s news placed Hamas in the spotlight, with press coverage of key Hamas activity in the West Bank, Egypt and Jordan. While Hamas suffered significant setbacks at the...

Timely Reminder of Iranian Support for Terrorism

By Matthew Levitt

Over the past several years, Iran's nuclear activities have commanded the attention of the international community. But the recent assassination of Hizballah foreign operations chief Imad Mughniyeh is a reminder that Iran has been -- and continues to be --...

Treasury Targets Illicit Financial Underpinnings of Assad Regime

By Matthew Levitt

Just a week after the President signed Executive Order 13460, the Treasury Department used this new authority to designate Rami Makhluf - President Bashar al-Assad's cousin - for benefiting from official Syrian corruption. Targeting the kelptocratic nature of the regime...

Who Was Imad Mughniyeh?

By Matthew Levitt

Yesterday's assassination of arch-terrorist Imad Mughniyeh was welcome news in Washington, Buenos Aires, Tel Aviv, and, albeit quietly, Beirut and Baghdad. For Hizballah and Damascus, however, the loss of Mughniyeh -- who was a brilliant military tactician, a key contact...

Why Following the Money Leads to Terrorists

By Matthew Levitt

The UN has just added three financiers to its terrorism list for providing financial support to al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups. This would be heartening news but for the fact that it took the UN more than a year to...

Are we Winning the Financial War on Terror?

By Matthew Levitt

Combating terror finance is often hailed as one of the true successes in the “war on terror.” But is it? Even after six years of following and freezing terrorists’ funds, American and European officials warn Al Qaeda still has both...

GAO Misleads on Iran Sanctions

By Matthew Levitt

In a piece I wrote for the Middle East Strategy at Harvard (MESH), I argue that the recent GAO report on Iran sanctions misses the point: There are no foolproof metrics by which to measure the impact of sanctions, whether...

Dutch Report: Radical Dawa in Transition

By Matthew Levitt

In the latest in an excellent series of reports published by the Dutch General intelligence and Security Service (AIVD), Dutch intelligence reports on the rise of "Radical Dawa in Transition: Islamic Neoradicalism in the Netherlands." The report warns against "absolutist...

Prosecuting Terrorism beyond 'Material Support'

By Matthew Levitt

On January 11, 2008, a Boston federal court convicted Emadeddin Muntasser, Samir Almonla, and Muhammad Mubayid of conspiring to defraud and conceal information from the U.S. government. Fellow CTB contributor and Evan Kohlman and I both served as expert witnesses...

Iran's "pay-for-performance" state sponsorship

By Matthew Levitt

Earlier today the Treasury Department designated three Iran-based individuals and a Syria-based television station and its Syria-based owner for fueling the Iraqi insurgency (under E.O 13438). The designations are significant on several levels, including the targeting of an Iranian IRGC...

The Clock Ticks: Sanction Iran Now

By Matthew Levitt

A version of this article appeared in German in today's Financial Times Deutschland under the title, "Die Uhr Tickt." The latest U.S. National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iran's nuclear intentions and capabilities has been the subject of much analysis, most...

Credibly Prosecuting Terror Finance

By Matthew Levitt

In closing arguments contesting the federal prosecution of the Holy Land Foundation and five of its former officials, a defense attorney representing Holy Land CEO Shukri Abu Baker argued that the government's prosecution was inherently deceptive and based on...

Contending with Iran's Nuclear Intentions and Capabilities

By Matthew Levitt

My thoughts on the new Iran NIE, as they appear in today's San Francisco Chronicle: This week, the U.S. intelligence community released to Capitol Hill the unclassified key judgments of its latest National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iran's nuclear intentions...

Iran's Nuclear Intentions and Capabilities

By Matthew Levitt

Today, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) released the unclassified key judgments of a new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iran’s nuclear intentions and capabilities. The new NIE updates the intelligence community’s understanding of Iran’s capabilities since...

Holy Land Mistrial: Judging a Designated Terrorist Entity

By Matthew Levitt

Recently, the Palestinian Authority (PA) shut down several Islamic charity committees in the West Bank, stating that Hamas was using them as a means to transfer funds to the group's activists there. Meanwhile, on October 22, the U.S. federal trial...

Sentence in Chicago Hamas Trial

By Matthew Levitt

Abdulhalim Ashqar, who was convicted of obstruction of justice and criminal comtempt in a Hamas-related trial in Chicago earlier this year, was sentenced today to 135 months imprisonment and a $5,000 fine. The sentence was arrived at through application of...

Zakat-Jihad Activism

By Matthew Levitt

A new article in Military Review, written by a Belgian military officer, offers important insights into what the author describes as zakat-jihad activism. That is, a means by which groups like Hamas, Hezbollah or Iraqi insurgents “generates popular support by...

Hezbollah Financing Through Criminal Activity

By Matthew Levitt

A two-year counterterrorism and drug investigation culminated earlier this week with the arrest of a dozen individuals in Los Angeles. Authorities reportedly seized 30 kilograms of cocaine and counterfeit merchandise valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars. According to the...

Homegrown Radicalism in the United States

By Matthew Levitt

More than six years after 9/11, it is clear the US still faces an serious terrorist threat. Recent reports portray a disturbing picture: The latest National Intelligence Estimate on the terrorist threat to the US homeland describes a resurgent al...

Iran Sanctions: Can they be Effective?

By Matthew Levitt

Today, the State and Treasury Departments announced a new package of sweeping unilateral sanctions targeting multiple entities in Iran, including three banks, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its Qods Force, the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics,...

A Price for Iran’s Deceptive Financial Conduct

By Matthew Levitt

Today the Treasury and State Departments announced sweeping designations of Iranian entities and individuals involved in proliferation and terrorist activities. Though unilateral, the designations will effectively cut the affected parties off from the international financial system. Publicly identified as pariahs,...

Iran Sanctions Debate, Part 3

By Matthew Levitt

CFR Debate: Can Sanctions Be Effective in Halting Iran's Nuclear Program? This is the third and final post for this debate, posted October 18. The full debate can be accessed here. Weigh in on this debate by emailing the editors...

Iran Sanctions Debate, Part 2

By Matthew Levitt

CFR Debate: Can Sanctions Be Effective in Halting Iran's Nuclear Program? This is the second of three posts for this debate. My first post is available here. The full debate can be accessed here. Weigh in on this debate by...

Debate: Can Sanctions Be Effective in Halting Iran's Nuclear Program?

By Matthew Levitt

This week I am participating in a week-long online debate for the Council on Foreign Relations on the question "Can Sanctions Be Effective in Halting Iran's Nuclear Program?" I will post my three contributions as they go live, and encourage...

Chilling Effect

By Matthew Levitt

Scholars beware: A wave of libel lawsuits threatens to stifle open and honest discussion of issues related to the financing of terrorism. Instead of competing on the battlefield of ideas, where facts speak louder than rhetoric, several individuals and organizations...

Could Hamas Target the West?

By Matthew Levitt

The Holy Land Foundation case has refocused attention on the presence and activities of Hamas in the United States. That activity has focused on raising funds and engaging in propaganda activities, but are there any conditions under which Hamas could...

The Reemergence of Hizballah in Turkey

By Matthew Levitt

With secularism, PKK terrorism, and other Turkish issues becoming international concerns in recent months, a dangerous Islamist trend has been overlooked: radical groups inspired more by the revolutionary ideology of Iran than domestic issues such as Kurdish nationalism are staking...

Six Years after September 11: A 9-11 Commission Progress Report

By Matthew Levitt

Six years after September 11, terrorist attacks still threaten Americans. Although Washington has carried out major reforms to improve its counterterrorism measures, Mike Hurley arges there is a critical lack of urgency on several fronts. And while the United States...

Yassin al-Qadi: the Hamas Connection

By Matthew Levitt

My colleagues Doug Farah and Victor Comras have posted excellent analyses of Yassin al-Qadi on these pages. To further flesh out Qadi's financing activities here in the United States, consider some of the material that came out of the federal...

Better Late than Never: Keeping USAID Funds out of Terrorist Hands

By Matthew Levitt

Foreign aid is an important and effective tool for buttressing allies, alleviating poverty and suffering, supporting key foreign policy objectives, and promoting the image and ideals of the United States abroad. Indeed, as its own website attests, the U.S. Agency...

Designating the IRGC

By Matthew Levitt

The U.S. government is preparing to designate the IRGC, either as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) or under the authority of Executive Order 13224. This designation is intended in part to counteract the group’s growing involvement in a range of...

Undercutting a Culture of Militancy: Designating Hamas Charities

By Matthew Levitt

Yesterday, the U.S. Treasury Department designated as a terrorist organization one of the largest Hamas charities in Gaza, the al-Salah Society, along with its director, Ahmed al-Kurd, a well-known Hamas activist. The organization was outlawed by Israel in 2002 and...

Designated Hamas Charity Listed at 1993 Phili Meeting

By Matthew Levitt

The Treasury designated a key Hamas charity and its director today, adding the al-Salah Society and Ahmed al-Kurd to OFAC's SDGT list. According to new information released by the Treasury Department, "The Al-Salah Society supported Hamas-affiliated combatants during the first...

Hamas and Islamic Jihad Clash

By Matthew Levitt

According to press reports, the day after a Hamas militant was killed by a member of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Hamas responded by killing two militants (one from Islamic Jihad and another from Fatah) and wounding three Islamic Jihad militants....

Dangerous Partners: Targeting the Iran-Hizballah Alliance

By Matthew Levitt

July 18 marked the thirteenth anniversary of Argentina's deadliest terrorist attack: a 1994 car bombing carried out by Hizballah at Iran's behest. The attack targeted the Asociacion Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA), a Jewish community organization, killing 85 and wounding more...

Hamas's Hidden Economy

By Matthew Levitt

Military insurrections cost money. To take over the Gaza Strip last month, Hamas had to pay salaries, procure weapons, manufacture rockets, buy help from local crime families, bribe opponents, print leaflets and banners, produce media propaganda and even order up...

Make Iran Feel the Pain

By Matthew Levitt

The international community, led by the U.S. and the U.K., is now developing and debating new economic sanctions against Iran. This third round will be pivotal -- either by significantly increasing the cost to Iran of continuing to engage in...

Gaza: The Next Terrorist Safe Haven?

By Matthew Levitt

Could Hamas members in the Gaza Strip join ranks with the global jihadist movement led by al-Qaeda? There is merit to this question, given the recent Hamas takeover of the territory and al-Qaeda's call for Muslims around the world to...

The War of Words between Hamas and al-Qaeda

By Matthew Levitt

On June 14, Hamas evicted Fatah security forces from the Gaza Strip, establishing full control over the territory. Eleven days later, al-Qaeda second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahiri issued a statement calling on Muslims to support Hamas fighters -- the latest in an...

U.S. Efforts against Terrorism Financing: A View from the Private Sector

By Matthew Levitt

On June 15, 2007, Robert Werner addressed The Washington Institute's Policy Forum seminar series. Managing director of Merrill Lynch's Monetary and Financial Control Group since December 2006, he previously served as director of the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network...

Banning Hizbollah in Europe (prepared statement)

By Matthew Levitt

I submitted written testimony for today's hearing before the Europe Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. My colleague Michael Jacobson testified at the hearing. Introduction Pressing our European allies to add Hezbollah to the European Union (EU)'s terrorism list...

Palestine's Party of God

By Matthew Levitt

As the world watches the Hamas coup in Gaza unfold, it is worth considering that Hamas's emulation of the Hezbollah was not unexpected. Consider the following, from the concluding section of my book HAMAS: Politics, Charity and Terrorism in the...

Global Anti-Terrorism Financing Group Challenged by Syria's Application

By Matthew Levitt

This week, the Egmont Group -- an international body of more than 100 national financial intelligence units (FIUs) -- is holding its annual plenary session and working group meetings in Bermuda. One of the issues on the agenda is whether...

How Nicolas Sarkozy could destroy Hezbollah

By Matthew Levitt

In today's The New Republic Online, Mike Jacobson and I argue that French President Nicolas Sarkozy is uniquely positioned to lead the way forward toward a European Union designation of Hezbollah as a terrorist group. Here's why: The United States...

The Role of Finance in Combating National Security Threats

By Matthew Levitt

Last night, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Robert M. Kimmitt addressed the Washington Institute for Near East Policy at its annual Soref Symposium where he spoke on the role of finance in combatting national security threats. The full text of...

Financial Measures Targeting Iran

By Matthew Levitt

A couple of weeks ago I spent a few days in Brussels discussing the strategy of applying targeted financial measures against Iran. I debated a senior EU official on the matter (where there was much more agreement than debate) and...

Breaking the Terror Finance Code

By Matthew Levitt

Among the many tools available to the US government and our international partners to combat terror financing, leveraging financial intelligence is often overlooked by the public and the press. Buried deep in the U.S. State Department's 335-page report on terrorism...

Brazilian Counterterrorism Efforts

By Matthew Levitt

In March, Brazilian authorities drafted a new antiterrorism law instituting stiff penalties for a variety of violent acts committed by both individuals and organizations. The new legislation, expected to pass Brazil's congress in a modified form, will likely be used...

Arab States' Efforts to Combat Terrorism Financing

By Matthew Levitt

On April 1-5, the seventeen Arab members of the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENA FATF) met in Jordan to discuss terrorism financing and money laundering in the region. Although the task force's record to date...

Iran's Financial Intelligence Unit: Less than Meets the Eye

By Matthew Levitt

Michael Jacobson writes an interesting piece today about the status of FIUs in Iran and the greater Middle East: An Iranian Financial Intelligence Unit: Less than Meets the Eye By Michael Jacobson April 2, 2007 The State Department's International Narcotics...