What do you think?
Rate this book
Injustice: The Story of the Holy Land Foundation Five
In July 2004, federal agents raided the homes of five Palestinian-American families, arresting the five dads. The first trial of the “Holy Land Foundation Five” ended in a hung jury. The second, marked by highly questionable procedures, resulted in very lengthy sentences—for “supporting terrorism” by donating to charities that the U.S. government itself and other respected international agencies had long worked with. In 2013, human rights activist and author Miko Peled started investigating this case. He discussed the miscarriages of justice with the men's lawyers and heard from the men's families about the devastating effects the case had on their lives. He also traveled to the remote federal prison complexes where the men were held to conduct deep interviews. Injustice traces the labyrinthine course of this case, presenting a terrifying picture of governmental over-reach in post-9/11 America.
224 pages, Paperback
Published February 15, 2018
18 people are currently reading
435 people want to read
About the author
Miko Peled
3 books93 followersMiko Peled is an Israeli peace activist, author, and karate instructor. His first book is The General’s Son: Journey of an Israeli in Palestine, and his most recent is Injustice: The Story of the Holy Land Foundation Five. He has travelled extensively, giving talks about his experiences to audiences across the US, the UK, Canada, and Australia.
Born and raised in Jerusalem in 1961, Peled grew up in a prominent Zionist family; his grandfather, Avraham Katsnelson, signed Israel’s Declaration of Independence.His father, Mattityahu Peled, fought in the 1948 war and served as a general in the war of 1967; later, after the Israeli cabinet ignored his investigation of an 1967 Israeli war crime, he became a peace activist and leading proponent of an Israeli dialogue with the PLO. He condemned the Israeli military for illegally seizing the West Bank, Gaza, Sinai and the Golan Heights, calling the war a "cynical campaign of territorial expansion".He was marginalized and shunned for his activism and call for a two-state solution. Palestinian activist Susan Abdulhawa has described Peled's father, who died in 1995, as “a man that many of us Palestinians could not figure out whether to love or hate” and whom “many notable Palestinians” nicknamed “Abu Salam” (Father of Peace).
Miko Peled followed his father’s footsteps at first, joining Israel’s Special Forces after high school and earning the red beret, but he soon grew to regret his decision. He surrendered his status as soon as he earned it, becoming a medic, and finally, disgusted by the 1982 Lebanon invasion, he buried his service pin in the dirt.[5] He then distanced himself from activism until 1997, becoming a sixth-degree black belt in karate and moving first to Japan, then to San Diego.For a time he was involved in activism. One evening in 1983, however, he skipped a Peace Now demonstration in Jerusalem to attend karate class, and on that evening a grenade attack by a right-wing extremist killed one of the demonstrators. “Peled took this as a sign,” according to one interview, and consequently “followed the path of karate – a practice of non-violence...that teaches one to 'overcome insurmountable obstacles.'” This path “that took him to Japan and eventually to San Diego, where he settled with his wife and family” and worked as a karate instructor. He is a sixth-degree black belt.
Born and raised in Jerusalem in 1961, Peled grew up in a prominent Zionist family; his grandfather, Avraham Katsnelson, signed Israel’s Declaration of Independence.His father, Mattityahu Peled, fought in the 1948 war and served as a general in the war of 1967; later, after the Israeli cabinet ignored his investigation of an 1967 Israeli war crime, he became a peace activist and leading proponent of an Israeli dialogue with the PLO. He condemned the Israeli military for illegally seizing the West Bank, Gaza, Sinai and the Golan Heights, calling the war a "cynical campaign of territorial expansion".He was marginalized and shunned for his activism and call for a two-state solution. Palestinian activist Susan Abdulhawa has described Peled's father, who died in 1995, as “a man that many of us Palestinians could not figure out whether to love or hate” and whom “many notable Palestinians” nicknamed “Abu Salam” (Father of Peace).
Miko Peled followed his father’s footsteps at first, joining Israel’s Special Forces after high school and earning the red beret, but he soon grew to regret his decision. He surrendered his status as soon as he earned it, becoming a medic, and finally, disgusted by the 1982 Lebanon invasion, he buried his service pin in the dirt.[5] He then distanced himself from activism until 1997, becoming a sixth-degree black belt in karate and moving first to Japan, then to San Diego.For a time he was involved in activism. One evening in 1983, however, he skipped a Peace Now demonstration in Jerusalem to attend karate class, and on that evening a grenade attack by a right-wing extremist killed one of the demonstrators. “Peled took this as a sign,” according to one interview, and consequently “followed the path of karate – a practice of non-violence...that teaches one to 'overcome insurmountable obstacles.'” This path “that took him to Japan and eventually to San Diego, where he settled with his wife and family” and worked as a karate instructor. He is a sixth-degree black belt.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 20, 2020
This is one of the most painful books I have ever read. The story it tells of the inhumane travesty committed in the name of justice is at times so unbearably heart-breaking, I had to pause several times to wipe away angry tears and calm my raging mind. It made me reassess how truly far America has come from the time I lived in it and loved it so. For a land which espouses “freedom” as its battle cry and that proclaims “liberty” as its truest aspiration, this book serves as an unbearably ugly mirror for those of its citizens who are brave enough to look in it and reflect upon how grotesquely distorted the image they once held of themselves has become. The rest of the world has already suffered grave consequences of the American empire-building adventurism and paid so dearly for it but to see such injustice manifested within in its shores is cause for me to believe that America and its once lofty ideals have now disfigured beyond recognition.
The book evoked deep sorrow in me but as I reflected upon the sadness I felt simply as a reader of this tale, my heart shuddered to think of the immeasurable pain and suffering the five men and their families whose stories this book tells must have endured. It seems almost impossible to bear and yet as one reads what the author wrote about the inspirational attitude and forbearance of each of the five men in the story, I couldn’t help but admire God in His heaven for bestowing such gracious strength and dignity to these men He chose to test. Suffice it to say that if one wanted to see what men that matched mountains in strength, dignity and patience looked like, one only needs to read about the five described in this book.
Lastly, Miko Peled, the author of this book and the other incredible work, The General’s Son, which is another life-altering read, is a hero in my eyes. He isn’t just any hero but a hero to beat the David he descended from for that David battled a Goliath outside of himself but Miko battled the Goliath within: the Goliath of cultural conditioning, of prejudices taught from birth, of accepted wisdom, of biased reporting, of targeted manipulation, of relentless lobbying and so much more and emerged so magnificently victorious, he puts all the heroes from fables of yore to shame. Everyone wants to defeat their enemy but who in God’s world wants to understand them, see them, show them compassion, listen to their pain and understand their truth to such an extent that it makes you question everything you have ever known to be true? Miko did just that and it could not have been an easy battle to wage and yet by waging it and winning it so inspirationally, he demonstrated to me and so many others that in a world so cruel and bent upon destruction, there might still be reason to hope. To reassess everything one believes to be true and then be willing to discard it to understand and accept the truth of those one has been taught to view as enemies is an act that requires supreme courage and divinely-gifted compassion and Miko has displayed both so magnanimously that he deserves all the praise in this world and beyond.
May the world learn a worthy lesson of sacrifice and strength from these five men whose story Injustice tells and may it learn to love and listen from Miko who was brave enough to write this book. Thank you Miko. In a world so hell bent on destroying all that is good and kind, hope still survives tenaciously because of people like you.
The book evoked deep sorrow in me but as I reflected upon the sadness I felt simply as a reader of this tale, my heart shuddered to think of the immeasurable pain and suffering the five men and their families whose stories this book tells must have endured. It seems almost impossible to bear and yet as one reads what the author wrote about the inspirational attitude and forbearance of each of the five men in the story, I couldn’t help but admire God in His heaven for bestowing such gracious strength and dignity to these men He chose to test. Suffice it to say that if one wanted to see what men that matched mountains in strength, dignity and patience looked like, one only needs to read about the five described in this book.
Lastly, Miko Peled, the author of this book and the other incredible work, The General’s Son, which is another life-altering read, is a hero in my eyes. He isn’t just any hero but a hero to beat the David he descended from for that David battled a Goliath outside of himself but Miko battled the Goliath within: the Goliath of cultural conditioning, of prejudices taught from birth, of accepted wisdom, of biased reporting, of targeted manipulation, of relentless lobbying and so much more and emerged so magnificently victorious, he puts all the heroes from fables of yore to shame. Everyone wants to defeat their enemy but who in God’s world wants to understand them, see them, show them compassion, listen to their pain and understand their truth to such an extent that it makes you question everything you have ever known to be true? Miko did just that and it could not have been an easy battle to wage and yet by waging it and winning it so inspirationally, he demonstrated to me and so many others that in a world so cruel and bent upon destruction, there might still be reason to hope. To reassess everything one believes to be true and then be willing to discard it to understand and accept the truth of those one has been taught to view as enemies is an act that requires supreme courage and divinely-gifted compassion and Miko has displayed both so magnanimously that he deserves all the praise in this world and beyond.
May the world learn a worthy lesson of sacrifice and strength from these five men whose story Injustice tells and may it learn to love and listen from Miko who was brave enough to write this book. Thank you Miko. In a world so hell bent on destroying all that is good and kind, hope still survives tenaciously because of people like you.
October 3, 2018
As you'll note, it took me a long time to get through this book. I had to keep putting it down because it was so upsetting and infuriating.
(Minor spoilers) Two small instances that really got to me were these: (1) the way one man was punished because his little boy, a child with Down's Syndrome, dared to run to him and embrace him during a prison visit, and (2) the way the FBI deliberately invaded one household and terrorized the family even though they knew exactly where the paterfamilias was, and that he was not home. The sheer, needless, vicious cruelty was shocking.
Even more shocking was the prejudice and unfairness on the part of the judges involved, especially the second judge. That this sort of high-handed pre-judgement can go on in an American court of law, and that victims of this prejudice may have absolutely no legal recourse--well, that was eye-opening, to put it mildly.
So, should you read this book? Yes, most definitely, if you are an adult American citizen. It's important that we all know what our country is becoming, and what it can be both at its best and its worst. Both are shown in this book. The Holy Land five were and are American citizens, and are exemplary people in many ways. Some of the witnesses and lawyers who fought for them are also heroes, as are many of their family members.
Finally, I want to name Mr. Peled as a hero. He has told a complex story briefly and with passion, energy, and clarity. He is also a fighter for justice and truth.* I wish the actual, published book reflected his words better. The photos are small, black-and-white, and grainy, and the paper is rather cheap. This story deserved a major publisher with a major marketing push. But I am grateful that Just World Books published it and that it's freely available. If you have any curiosity at all about what is really happening in the Middle East, and/or what the so-called Patriot Act has done to our country, you should read this book.
(Minor spoilers) Two small instances that really got to me were these: (1) the way one man was punished because his little boy, a child with Down's Syndrome, dared to run to him and embrace him during a prison visit, and (2) the way the FBI deliberately invaded one household and terrorized the family even though they knew exactly where the paterfamilias was, and that he was not home. The sheer, needless, vicious cruelty was shocking.
Even more shocking was the prejudice and unfairness on the part of the judges involved, especially the second judge. That this sort of high-handed pre-judgement can go on in an American court of law, and that victims of this prejudice may have absolutely no legal recourse--well, that was eye-opening, to put it mildly.
So, should you read this book? Yes, most definitely, if you are an adult American citizen. It's important that we all know what our country is becoming, and what it can be both at its best and its worst. Both are shown in this book. The Holy Land five were and are American citizens, and are exemplary people in many ways. Some of the witnesses and lawyers who fought for them are also heroes, as are many of their family members.
Finally, I want to name Mr. Peled as a hero. He has told a complex story briefly and with passion, energy, and clarity. He is also a fighter for justice and truth.* I wish the actual, published book reflected his words better. The photos are small, black-and-white, and grainy, and the paper is rather cheap. This story deserved a major publisher with a major marketing push. But I am grateful that Just World Books published it and that it's freely available. If you have any curiosity at all about what is really happening in the Middle East, and/or what the so-called Patriot Act has done to our country, you should read this book.
November 22, 2025
Phenomenal book of injustice and faith. This case shows the lie of justice that the American government constantly tries to spew. Must read book for any Americans passionate about the Palestinian injustices.
October 24, 2021
This book expose the harsh reality of how the court system does not always guarantee a fair trial. According to this account, 5 innocent men were charged with prison terms of 15 to 65 years, all because their charitable organization, the Holy Land Foundation, helped Palestinian orphans without distinguishing among them. As a result, it was determined that the HLF had helped some children whose fathers might have been part of Hamas. The reasoning went that if HLF helped these orphans, then that meant that Hamas did not have to help them, and thus Hamas had more money to spend on weapons. All this took place after 9/11, when fear and paranoia were most high.
It was guilt by association fallacy. Anyway If the US was worried about terrorism they should not give/sell weapons to Turkey, Saudi Arabia or Qatar who helped ISIS, Al nusra and White Helmets terrorists in Syria, Libya And Irak.
I recommend reading Max Blumenthals book The Managment of Savagery about Syria and white Helmets for those who wanna how the US supported terrorism in Syria.
It was guilt by association fallacy. Anyway If the US was worried about terrorism they should not give/sell weapons to Turkey, Saudi Arabia or Qatar who helped ISIS, Al nusra and White Helmets terrorists in Syria, Libya And Irak.
I recommend reading Max Blumenthals book The Managment of Savagery about Syria and white Helmets for those who wanna how the US supported terrorism in Syria.
May 4, 2018
4.5 Stars
Sigh. This blows your ideas of American justice right out the window. These men, our politcal prisoners in a most egregious miscarriage of 'justice,' are some of the most dedicated caring law-abiding citizens you could hope to find. A gift to their communities and to our country. They should be proclaimed as the quiet heroes they are rather than be locked away from their families on ridiculous charges. If you wondered how much influence Israel has in America, this is a good (and shameful) example. Not that Israel deserves the blame.
*Note; much was said about Hamas-though their charity had no interaction with them. The US Section of the Women's international league for peace and Freedom holds the position that Hamas should be removed from the list of designated terrorist organizations.
Sigh. This blows your ideas of American justice right out the window. These men, our politcal prisoners in a most egregious miscarriage of 'justice,' are some of the most dedicated caring law-abiding citizens you could hope to find. A gift to their communities and to our country. They should be proclaimed as the quiet heroes they are rather than be locked away from their families on ridiculous charges. If you wondered how much influence Israel has in America, this is a good (and shameful) example. Not that Israel deserves the blame.
*Note; much was said about Hamas-though their charity had no interaction with them. The US Section of the Women's international league for peace and Freedom holds the position that Hamas should be removed from the list of designated terrorist organizations.
September 24, 2024
This book tells the saga of what we expected after 9/11 and the Patriot Act frenzy, only it is worse than we could have imagined. The allowance of prejudicial information and disallowance of exculpatory information at trial; the use of unknowledgeable "experts"; the use of mistranslations--these abound. It is a pro-Palestinian story told by an Israeli-American who lost a niece to a suicide bomber. If anyone has a reason to skew the story against the five men, he does. Yet he does not.
It is an explanation of the Muslim faith that should break the western stereotypical version. The contrast between the meaning to native Arabic speakers and western dictionaries of the word "jihad" is an important reminder to see beyond cultural expectations.
Peled tells his own story in The General's Son, and there is a fictional version of the reconciliation project resulting from the niece's death in the novel Apeirogon.
It is an explanation of the Muslim faith that should break the western stereotypical version. The contrast between the meaning to native Arabic speakers and western dictionaries of the word "jihad" is an important reminder to see beyond cultural expectations.
Peled tells his own story in The General's Son, and there is a fictional version of the reconciliation project resulting from the niece's death in the novel Apeirogon.
May 4, 2018
Excellent and well researched.
May 29, 2018
This is astounding. I don’t know who the conspirators who put innocent men behind bars can sleep every night.
March 26, 2021
What a wonderful book. Miko Peled is a hero of mine.
September 17, 2024
I wish this book was way more popular. I never heard of the HLF before this book and the author did a great job in providing all the needed context whilst still making the book a serious page turner.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews