Judge Rebukes Holy Land Defendant

An alleged Hamas supporter on trial in federal court in Dallas drew a judge's rebuke yesterday after verbally denouncing the proceedings as part of a Zionist conspiracy, a Texas newspaper reported.

Judge A. Joe Fish said the defendant, Ghassan Elashi, made the comment as jurors filed out of the courtroom for lunch yesterday, according to an account on the Web site of the Dallas Morning News.

The judge said he did not hear Mr. Elashi's remark himself, but was told it was something to the effect of "This trial is an extension of a Zionist conspiracy."

Judge Fish warned Mr. Elashi and the other four Holy Land Foundation officials on trial that they had a legal right to attend the proceedings, but could be ejected for any disruption, the paper said. A Muslim community leader aiding the defendants, Khalil Meek, told the News that the outburst was triggered by Judge Fish's decision to exclude evidence that the Israelis approved some activities of a Palestinian relief committee, which the foundation supported and which prosecutors contend was an arm of a Palestinian Arab terrorist group, Hamas.

Judge Fish has barred prosecutors, defense lawyers and the defendants in the case from speaking with reporters.