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Source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/09/24/national1036EDT0549.DTL
Cutting Off Saudi and Persian Gulf Funds to Hamas an Uphill Road, Treasury Official Says
(AP/San Francisco Chronicle) Officials told a House Financial Services subcommittee Wednesday that the U.S. has taken steps against Hamas, its officials, and charities believed to be sending money to the group, and has pushed other countries to sever Hamas from their financial systems. Those actions "have dramatic impact only when we can convince the rest of the world to act with us," said David Aufhauser, Treasury's general counsel. "It has been an uphill road with Hamas." "Some sources estimate that as much as half of Hamas's income is derived from money raised in the Persian Gulf, including the kingdom of Saudi Arabia," Aufhauser said. John Pistole, assistant director of the FBI's counterterrorism division, said that based on U.S. intelligence, Hamas's annual budget is estimated to be at least $50 million.