Citibank’s spokeswoman confirmed that Citibank executives met with Israeli intelligence officials.
”The New York Times” today reported that Citibank has asked the US Department of the Treasury whether it should sever its financial dealings with an Arab bank. According to Israeli and US sources, the bank in question is Al-Aqsa International Bank, suspected of involvement in transferring funds intended to finance Hamas’s terrorist activities.
Citibank’s spokeswoman confirmed that Citibank executives met with Israeli intelligence to discuss the issue. Following the meeting, Israeli sources in Washington said that the Israeli officials ran into difficulties persuading the bank’s management to take action and stop the transfer of funds to Hamas.
Israeli sources assessed that the bank is awaiting a decision by the US Department of State on whether Al-Aqsa International Bank should be included in the list of banks suspected of assistance to terrorism-sponsoring organizations or money laundering. According to these sources, Citibank’s position is that as long as Al-Aqsa International Bank is not on the list, Citibank should not be expected to suspect a banking concern of collaborating with a terrorist organization.
Published by Israel's Business Arena on 24 January, 2001