Jerusalem News (6 February, 2015, 17 Shevet, 5775)
Contents:
1. Sheriff: Robert Clark confesses to Chumney murders
2. 'The EU Funds Illegal [ARAB] Construction' Claims a Report by Israeli NGO
By: Yotam Rozenwald / Tazpit News Agency
3. ISIS- Largest, Richest $2Billion Terror-Based Enterprise: Financial Sophistication Rivaling Wall Street
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1. Sheriff: Robert Clark confesses to Chumney murders
http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/local/ohio/2015/02/06/just-in--robert-clark-confesses-to-chumney-murders/22987745/
Extracts:
TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, Ohio -- The Tuscarawas Sheriff announced Friday afternoon that Robert Clark, one of the two suspects in the murders of Doyle and Lilliam Chumney, has confessed to killing the couple.
The sheriff also said that Clark has waived extradition and will likely be back in Ohio within a week.
The second suspect in the murder case, 21-year-old Jeffrey Stewart, has been in custody for days with bond set at $2 million. Authorities say Stewart made incriminating statements during an interview, but wouldn't release any further details.
The cases against Clark and Jeffrey Stewart will be handled in Coshocton County and the lead prosecutor will be Jason Given. There will also be a special prosecutor Ryan Styer.
Cleveland FBI officials had announced Thursday morning that Clark, 29, of Dennison, Ohio was in custody after a high-speed chase in Kingman, Arizona.
Clark was wanted in the abduction and murders of the Strasburg, Ohio couple.
Also arrested was Tabatha Hazel, 26, of Canton, Ohio and Jeffrey Caley Jr., 26, of Canton, who ran from deputies and was captured Thursday morning in Kingman.
The two from Canton are not suspects in the couple's murder but were on a three-state crime spree with Clark after the murders. The trio robbed gas stations and convenience stores..
The Chumney family would like to extend our gratitude to the many local, county, state and federal law enforcement personnel for their tireless nationwide efforts while investigating and apprehending the suspects in this case.
We are hopeful our community can enjoy a greater sense of security as a result of these arrests. We are especially grateful that no additional injury or loss of life has occurred throughout this ordeal.
Words cannot describe the comfort we have received from the overwhelming outpouring of prayers and support from family, friends, neighbors and strangers alike. All of you are a blessing to our family.
We recognize the work of law enforcement is far from complete. We encourage anyone with information regarding the ongoing investigation to please contact your local law enforcement agency.
We also appreciate the efforts of the news media in respecting our privacy. We would be most grateful if your family would continue to keep our family in your thoughts and prayers.
Ron Chumney, Diane Enama, Ed Chumney and Wesley Chumney
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2. 'The EU Funds Illegal [ARAB] Construction' Claims a Report by Israeli NGO
By: Yotam Rozenwald / Tazpit News Agency
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/the-eu-funds-illegal-construction-claims-a-report-by-israeli-ngo/2015/02/05/
Extracts:
According to a special report by 'Regavim', an Israeli NGO, the EU is actively funding and supporting the creation of illegal Bedouin villages in Area C. The EU provides the Bedouin with caravans which replace their traditional tents, thus creating permanent villages.
The report claims the new villages are created with no coordination or approval by the Israeli authorities which hold sovereignty over Area C by law.
In the Oslo Accord, the territory known as the West Bank was divided into three areas: A, B and C. Area C is the only area under full Israeli sovereignty; therefore construction projects need to be approved by Israel's Civilian Administration. Ovad Arad, the Judea and Samaria Field Coordinator at Regavim explained the magnitude of the EU's activity. 'Between 2012-2014 the EU has actively promoted the illegal building of approximately 400 houses, replacing traditional Bedouin tents. The houses can be seen all over Area C, aluminum caravans with the EU's sticker on them,' he told Tazpit News Agency.
'Imagine a hypothetical situation in which the EU is actively building permanent residence for the Romani gypsies in southern France or Spain, without any governmental approval,' Arad told Tazpit News Agency. 'This would be unheard of'.
Meir Deutsch, Regavim's Policy Coordinator spoke to Tazpit News Agency and explained the problematic aspect of the EU's activities. 'According to the Oslo accord and international law, the state of Israel holds sovereignty over Area C. Therefore, the Israeli Civil Administration is the only authority eligible to approve new buildings or villages. The EU does not coordinates the construction of permanent Bedouins villages; it acts unilaterally on the field and shapes reality in accordance with the Palestinian interests.'
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3. ISIS, Largest, Richest $2Billion Terror-Based Enterprise: Financial Sophistication Rivaling Wall Street
http://bizshifts-trends.com/2014/09/28/isis-largest-riches-terror-organization-ever-high-growth-enterprise-2-billion-terror-based-economy/
Extracts:
ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant ) is the world's largest, richest terrorist organizations, ever. It's a self-sustaining enterprise that runs mainly on extortion and crime networks, hostages, oil, donations. According to Martin Chulov; ISIS has grown from a ragtag band of extremists to perhaps the most cash-rich and capable terror group in the world with a $2 billion jihadist network. The scale of ISIS resources is unprecedented:Â A terrorist organization while ruthless, but still able to occupy large areas of territory, quickly, for example; it controls several major cities in Iraq, which it occupied in just three days, it holds parts of several other cities and continues to menace still other cities throughout Iraq and Syria: ' It's quite an accomplishment'Â According to Michael Knights; some estimates of ISIS's wealth are overstated, for example; the $2 billion estimate that's been floating around is too high, but that's not to say ISIS isn't raking in a fair amount of cash, Â between $2 million and $4 million per day, ISIS is a wealthy terrorist movement or better yet an effective financial enterprise, which it run very much like a large-scale Mafia type protection rackets business across much of Iraq.
This group has fashioned a small army out of a mix of foreign and local fighters, established oil refining and trafficking operations, and even collects taxes. Despite longstanding rumors that ISIS has foreign patrons in Gulf States such as; Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, there is little evidence that it ever depended on foreign largess. While there may be some foreign money flowing to ISIS, stopping these transnational flows will not stymie the group. Whatever its international influences, ISIS raises most of its money from the territories it feeds off of, making the problem of beating back the group exceedingly difficult. According to Howard J. Shatz; ISIS raises much of its money just as a well-organized criminal gang would: It smuggles, it extorts, it skims, it fences, it kidnaps and it shakes down. Although supposedly religiously inspired, its actions are more like those of an organized criminal cult. To quote a U.S. mobster; you don't get ahead just by being thugs but at some point you must also learn to be a racketeer as well.
ISIS' most important revenue source is the smuggling of oil from the oil fields it controls in Syria and Iraq. It has been reported to control about a dozen oil fields along with several refineries. Estimates of revenue vary, but a range of $1 million to more than $2 million a day is reasonable. ISIS is a formidable fund-raiser. To its disadvantage, the group is also a formidable spender. It pays regular salaries to members based on family size and even has promised to maintain those payments if the member is killed or captured. It also pays rent for some members and medical expenses, maintains safe-houses and buys weapons and other equipment. As cash-based organization, it also has to guard against internal corruption, which is documented in the group's own records. Historically, ISIS' main outside revenue has come in small donations from local and foreign supporters. And while donations from the Gulf countries may have been welcome additions, neutralizing donations from wealthy Gulf sources will have little effect on their activities.
In the article Who finances ISIS? by Andreas Becker writes: ISIS is recognized as the richest terrorist organization in the world, ever. Iraqi officials estimate that the group now has about $2 billion in its war chest. What remains controversial is where bulk of its money comes from Iraq's Shiite-dominated government accuses Saudi Arabia of supporting the ISIS jihadis. According to Charles Lister; there is no publicly accessible proof that governments of any state has been involved in the creation or financing of ISIS as an organisation. Others take a different view. According to Gunter Meyer; the most important source of ISIS financing to date has been support coming out of the Gulf states, primarily Saudi Arabia but also Qatar, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates. Additional key financing sources are the oil fields of northern Syria: ISIS was able to get the oil fields under their control, where they use trucks to bring oil across the border into Turkey, Â oil is an important source of funding for them.
According to Charles Lister; ISIS is largely able to fund itself, and it has established local networks in their occupied territories that generate a continuing flow of money, for example; systematic extortion of small businesses as well as large companies, such as; construction firms, and if the rumors are true, even local government representatives. Also, it levies taxes in the areas that it fully controls. However, one of ISIS biggest financial coup so far was the looting of the central bank in Mosul, which brought them equivalent of about $429 million in cash. Additional banks in Mosul and other areas under ISIS control were also plundered. With $429 million, ISIS could pay 60,000 fighters $600 a month for a whole year. Also, ISIS fighters looted much equipment that U.S. left for Iraq military, like; weapons, vehicles. Also, with their financial power, it.s relatively easy for ISIS to buy high-quality weapons on international armaments markets.
In the article Who's Funding ISIS? by Robert Windrem writes: There is a small but steady flow of money to ISIS from rich 'individuals' in the Gulf with Qataris being the biggest suppliers, according to some U.S. officials. According to one expert; these rich individuals serve as .angel investors. for the most violent militants, providing .seed money. that helped launch ISIS and other jihadi groups. These rich Arabs are like what 'angel investors' are to high-tech start-ups, except they are interested in starting up groups who want to stir up hatred: Groups like al-Nusrah and ISIS are better investments for them. The individuals act as high rollers early, providing seed money. Once the groups are on their feet, they are perfectly capable of raising funds through other means, like; kidnapping, oil smuggling, selling women into slavery. According to intelligence official; any outside funding represents a small fraction of ISIS's total annual income. The largest source of cash now is oil smuggling along the Turkish border, with ISIS leaders willing to sell oil for as little as $25 a barrel, a quarter of the going world price. Since other previously lucrative sources, such as; kidnapping for ransom, is not as profitable as it once was.
In the article Islamic State: Where Does Jihadist Get Its Support? by Michael Stephens writes: Much has been written about the support Islamic State (ISIS) has received from donors and sympathizers, particularly in the wealthy Gulf States. Indeed the accusation I hear most from those fighting ISIS in Iraq and Syria is that Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia are solely responsible for the group's existence. But the truth is more complex and needs exploring. It's true that some wealthy individuals from the Gulf have funded extremist groups in Syria, many taking bags of cash to Turkey and simply handing over millions of dollars at a time. This was very common practice in 2012 and 2013 but has since diminished and is at most only a tiny percentage of the total income that flows into Islamic State coffers in 2014.
The growth of ISIS has been quite incredible: They are armed with modern weapons, large fighting army, and an effective organization. All of which is bought and paid with real money supplied through a highly sophisticated funding strategy. According to Senator Rubio; ISIS's criminal activities, Â robbery, extortion, and trafficking, have helped them become the best funded terrorist group in history. The wealth has helped expand their operational capacity and incentivized both local and foreign fighters to join them. ISIS has the resources, weaponry, and operational safe havens to continue to threaten the stability of the region, as well as;Â U.S., Europe, other nations' national security interests.