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Charities Face Tough Choice with Lebanon Aid

American charities are facing problems in raising money for Lebanon in the wake of the recent war between Israel and the terror group Hizballah (which has received a safe haven in Lebanon), because the United States lists Hizballah as a terrorist entity and giving money to the group is illegal. Many Arabs and Muslims fear that if they give money for Lebanese causes, the FBI will be at their doors questioning where exactly the money is going.

This issue once again highlights the difficulties of life in a post-September 11th America for Arabs, and to a larger extent, Muslims. Duston Barto, spokesman for the Zakat Foundation of America, says "A lot of people are afraid of donating to Middle East causes because they are afraid they`ll be accused of supporting something other than humanitarian causes."

According to the Illinois-based Zakat Foundation, the group pledged to raise $250,000 for Lebanon`s war victims and cleanup, but were only able to collect $140,000 because of the fears that some of the money might be suspected of going to a group the United States and much of the international community deems a terrorist entity.
Various other groups and organizations have been busy trying to raise millions of dollars for war-ravaged Lebanon.