In June, the Justice Department released a copy of an estimated $240,000
contract signed between the Washington-based Fenton and Qatar's Mozah Bint
Nasser Al Missned, the wife of the emir and frequent visitor to the United
States and other Western countries.
Under the contract, dated Feb. 26, 2010,
Fenton — a consultant for MoveOn.org, which raised millions of dollars for
Obama's presidential campaign in 2009 — was committed to recruit
"advocates, advocacy organizations, elected officials and journalists" for
Al Fakhoora.
"Regarding raising funds for the Al Fakhoora campaign, funds collected
should be directly deposited into the account that HHO [Ms. Al Missned] has
set up for the Al Fakhoora campaign — HHO Finance to be of assistance," the
contract said.
Qatar, which signed another contract with Fenton worth $150,000, has
been identified as the leading Gulf Arab supporter of Hamas. Hamas leaders
travel regularly to Qatar for both consultations as well as fundraising
campaigns.
The $240,000 Fenton contract, which began on March 1, does not mention
either Israel or the Gaza Strip. Al Fakhoora, which has established a
Web site, claimed it rallied 10,000 people to break the Egyptian and Israeli
siege on Gaza.
According to the documents submitted to the Justice Department under the
Foreign Agent Registration Act, Fenton plans to help raise what was reported
to be up to $100 million to support the Hamas regime. Fenton also plans to
train students to serve as spokespeople, monitor media and recruit for Al
Fakhoora.
Burney was aboard the Turkish-flagged Hava Marmara when it was boarded
by Israel Navy commandos in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. On May 31, nine
people, eight of them Turkish nationals, were killed by commandos in a
battle with an estimated 100 Islamist fighters armed with clubs and knives.
"We didn't want them to take the ship and hence it led to hand-to-hand
combat," Burney recalled.