The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish synagogue organization, today praised President Bush for strengthening the U.S.-led war on terrorism by freezing the assets of the U.S.-based Holy Land Foundation and two other groups that raise money to support Hamas, a terrorist group that operates in the West Bank and Gaza.

These organizations that raise funds here in the United States and are registered with the IRS as charity groups funnel monies to the terrorist group Hamas that are used in their schools to teach the children their poisonous ideology and to become martyrs, suicide bombers, and terrorists. Hamas is responsible for bus bombings, roadside bombs, drive-by shootings, and other acts of terrorism that have taken the lives of innocent Israeli citizens. Hamas is supported by the Palestinian Authority, which has given it a green light to perpetrate acts of terror against Israel in violation of all its commitments to prevent terrorism, to effectively punish terrorists and to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure. President Bush’s actions serve to strengthen the battle to eradicate the scourge of global terrorism and the efforts to protect the safety all those who cherish freedom. We applaud President Bush and the Administration’s continued efforts in the war against terrorism and call on other nations of the world to adopt similar measures and to apply economic and political pressure so that the Palestinians will finally see that terror simply does not serve to further their goals.