The United States is attempting to deport the son of one of the founders of Hamas, the terrorist organization that now rules the Gaza Strip, Mosab Hassan Yousef, to the West Bank, even though he would surely be tortured to death should that happen.
Mosab Hassan Yousef had applied for political asylum, which was denied in February, 2009, citing his activities in support of Hamas. The problem is that Yousef underwent a conversion from terrorism to opposition to terrorism and from Islam to Christianity. Mosab Hassan Yousef worked with Israeli Intelligence to thwart a number of terrorist attacks and is credited with saving many lives. Yousef’s Shin Bet handler will testify during a deportation hearing for Yousef scheduled for June 30th.
Mosab Hassan Yousef has recounted his experiences and his journey from terrorism to anti terrorism in a book “Son of Hamas.” Yousef has been extensively interviewed in the American media.
A group of Congressmen have signed a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano urging her to intervene in the case and allow Mosab Hassan Yousef to stay in the United States.
The question arises why the Obama administration is so keen on deporting Yousef, who is demonstrably a hero in the War on Terror, to certain death? Two theories have been expressed.
Frank Gaffney, a counter terrorism expert and president of the Center for Security Policy, suggests that this is all part of process to verify Mosab Hassan Yousef’s actual status and that the decision will ultimately be made in favor of Yousef.
Alan Keyes, a former ambassador and frequent Presidential candidate, suggests darker, anti Israeli motives on the part of Obama administration officials.
Whatever the motives, any serious attempt to actually deport Mosab Hassan Yousef to the West Bank and certain death will likely ignite a political firestorm against the Obama administration which can ill afford yet another such. Such a move would not only be seen to, in effect, an attempt to cause the death of a man who has risked his life for his new religious beliefs and against Hamas, saving numerous lives. It will also be seen as a craven attempt to appease enemies of the United States in the Middle East at the expense of Israel, one of America’s staunchest allies.
Keyes may be overstating the case, but it is apparent that the Obama administration has shifted its stance from support of Israel to what it would call an “even handed” approach in the Middle East, and what others might call a pro Arab policy. The fact that Mosab Hassan Yousef is even in danger of being deported to a part of the world that would prove fatal to him is a telling one indeed.
Sources: Congressmen Seek to Halt Deportation of Son of Hamas Founder Who Became Spy for Israel, Fred Lucas, CNS News, June 25th, 2010
Son of Hamas: A Gripping Account of Terror, Betrayal, Political Intrigue, and Unthinkable Choices, Mosab Hassan Yousef and Ron Brackin, Salt River, 2010
