Regarding the Daily Record's August 22, 2008 article "Hamas Aid Costly", the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) has no knowledge of or involvement with alleged donations to Hamas by Richard David Hupper. The core of ISM's mission is nonviolence. The allegations against Mr. Hupper appear to relate to the period after Mr. Hupper was expelled from the ISM.

Mr. Hupper volunteered with the ISM in the West Bank during 2004. In the fall of 2004, the ISM concluded that, despite his evident goodwill, Mr. Hupper's skills were not compatible with those required by the ISM to conduct its work. Therefore, in a meeting with him in the fall of 2004, two ISM founders expelled Mr. Hupper from the ISM.

Anyone working with the ISM is prohibited from perpetrating or aiding any form of violence. This prohibition obviously includes giving money that would be used for armed resistance. Providing funding or support to any Palestinian political party, including Hamas, would also violate ISM policies, and the ISM has never violated these policies.

The ISM has twice been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for courageously supporting Palestinian nonviolent resistance to Israeli occupation. The ISM continues today to support West Bank Palestinian communities in places like Bil'in, Ni'lin and Tel Rumeida, Hebron as they nonviolently resist Israeli settlers' and soldiers' efforts to expel them from their ancestral lands.

Adam Taylor
Media Coordinator
International Solidarity Movement
Ramallah, Occupied West Bank, Palestine