Rather than accusing it of funding Hamas directly, prosecutors said Holy Land funneled money through zakat committees, local charities that the government asserted were controlled by Hamas.
To buttress that allegation at trial, the government relied solely on Israeli intelligence, calling on two Israeli security agents who testified anonymously in a courtroom closed to the general public.
The Israeli government's role in the case was criticized even before the trial opened.
Long before the gag order was imposed, Boyd accused the Justice Department of prosecuting Holy Land "at the behest of Israel."
Law professor Turley was among legal experts who warned that evidence provided by Israel could be seen as tainted, saying it was "dangerous to rely on intelligence" from a country at the center of a long-standing dispute with Hamas.
In the aftermath of the mistrial, Turley said, it was clear "this case was riddled with highly suspect evidence, some of it derived from Israeli intelligence."
greg.krikorian@latimes.com
