A month after six Jews were killed in the Mumbai attacks, Israel has identified 35 Al-Qaeda and Taliban-affiliated groups, mainly active in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, and declared them terrorist outfits.
"In a comprehensive discussion held on the issue of global Jihad, Israel's security cabinet recently decided that
these organisations, with affiliation to Al-Qaeda and Taliban, will be subject to strict monitoring and enforcement actions as per the laws against money laundering and financing of terrorism," security sources told
PTI.
"These declarations are a significant measure in the international struggle against the financing of terrorism and
are designed to put Israel in line with those Western countries, especially the US, that are also using economic
means in dealing with terrorism," the sources said.
The decision is said to have been based on extensive staff work by the National Security Council and even though
these groups do not necessarily act against the Jewish state, Tel Aviv is taking measures to aid international efforts
against
financing of terrorism.
The Pakistani groups included in the list are Aid Organisation of the Ulema, Al Akhtar Trust International, a financier of which has been linked to the murder of Wall Street journalist Daniel Pearl, Al Harmain Foundation of
Pakistan, Al Masjid Al Aqsa - Aqsa Foundation and Al Rashid Trust.
All these organisations have been accused of having links to Taliban and the global al-Qaeda network.
The decision obligates banks and financial institutions to report any activity suspected of being related to these groups to the Israel Money Laundering and Terror financing prohibition Authority.
