 Fichter alleged that Safi agreed with Al-Arian's assessment that zionist lobbying activities were behind the Executive Order.Al-Arian, a former computer engineering professor at the University of South Florida, "was acquitted on eight counts of aiding the Palestinian Islamic Jihad," s the jury deadlocked on nine other counts.He pleaded guilty in 2006 to one count of providing services to members of the terrorist group the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.