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As time passes, there are many of our young people who don't have a close understanding of the Holy Land Foundation and the valuable work it was pursuing. There are many who may not know the real details of the case and why this decision was such an extreme miscarriage of justice. I have provided a series of answers to pertinent points of understanding in the legal case which was an insult to the American judicial system and ravaged the lives of those who were only trying to alleviate suffering.
Q: The original inspiration which led to your co-founding the HLF was a personal experience, was it not?
A: Correct. Shortly after my daughter Sanabel was born on March 25, 1987, she was diagnosed with two killer diseases. As she started to receive treatment at Children's Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana, volunteer groups stepped in, helping me and my family with counseling and other services. I realized at the time that the hospital itself was a non-profit organization. In the midst of it all, the first uprising or "intifada" broke out in occupied Palestine and I saw on TV the notorious images of soldiers breaking children's arms and legs. I saw it all: the brain-damaged, the burned, and the children with missing eyes and limbs. One day while sitting by Sanabel's side watching CNN from her hospital room and feeling frustrated with the news, I asked myself a question: If my daughter can receive the best care in her home country, why can't Palestinian children enjoy the same in their home country? Why do I not take this American experience and bring relief to where it was urgently needed? That is when I decided to dedicate my life to the service of humanity. A decision I never regretted.
Q: And what role did you play in the HLF?
A: As chief executive officer, I was in charge of the implementation of our operations not only in Palestine, but also worldwide. I traveled around to assess, evaluate and improve our services. I met with the refugees. I carried the little orphans close to my chest. I visited with the indigent families inside their rundown houses. I listened to college students and learned their frustration as well as...