AMMAN, Jordan, May 18 (UPI) -- The Jordanian government Thursday confirmed that Hamas, which it accuses of conspiring against Jordan, has no accounts in Jordanian banks.
Daily al-Arab al-Yom quoted an official source as saying "there are no records in the institutions of the Jordanian banking sector of any financial data indicating that Hamas or any of its members possessed bank accounts in Jordan."
The U.S. Treasury issued a decision in August 2003 requesting all banks freeze Hamas funds and those of its members after the group was included on the list of terrorist organizations.
The paper said the mechanism for transferring donations and funds raised for the Palestinian people has hit an obstacle, as Arab banks refused to receive the popular donations fearing judicial penalties by the U.S. administration against banks that relay money to the Hamas-led Palestinian government.
It quoted a bank director as saying that no special instructions were issued from the central bank about the transfer of donations to the Palestinian territories, and his bank abides by the rules of the central bank, which are in accordance with international norms and commitments.
Banking sources said Arab banks in general and Jordanian banks in particular refused to accept donations for the Palestinian people, fearing reprisals.
They cited last year's lawsuit, filed by the Jewish lobby in the U.S. against the Arab Bank after it transferred money to a Palestinian family in the West Bank whose son carried out a suicide attack against Israel.
The Arab Bank had to pay a penalty of $24 million.
