Zionist NGO's Rewarded By US Tax Code For The Genocide In Gaza
Zionist non-profits are tax exempt if they support settlements in occupied Palestine and/or support the IDF.
The United States tax code provides exemptions from federal taxes for certain nonprofit organizations that typically serve educational or charitable purposes. These organizations are classified under 501(c)(3) and are exempt from federal income taxes. Donors who contribute to these organizations can deduct their donations, subject to limits based on their overall tax liability. While the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recognizes over 30 types of nonprofit organizations, only those qualifying for 501(c)(3) status can claim that donations made to them are tax-deductible.
Organizations eligible for 501(c)(3) designation generally fall into three categories: charitable organizations, churches and religious organizations, and private foundations. To be considered a charitable organization by the IRS, a group must operate exclusively for specific purposes, including charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition, or preventing cruelty to children or animals. The IRS defines "charitable" activities as those aimed at relieving the poor, distressed, or underprivileged; advancing religion, education, or science; erecting or maintaining public buildings, monuments, or works; lessening government burdens; reducing neighborhood tensions; eliminating prejudice and discrimination; defending human and civil rights secured by law; and combating community deterioration and juvenile delinquency.
A 501(c)(3) organization is prohibited from using its activities to substantially influence legislation, including participating in any campaign activities for or against political candidates. These organizations are generally not permitted to engage in political lobbying. Private foundations, typically funded by an individual, family, or corporation and receiving most of their income from a small group of donors, are subject to stricter regulations compared to public charities. In contrast, a public charity is a nonprofit organization that obtains a substantial portion of its income from the general public or government sources.
Considering how 501(c)(3) organizations are intended to function, it is noteworthy to examine the status of various organizations within the Israel Lobby in the United States. These organizations manage to avoid US taxes and attract donors through tax deductions, despite engaging heavily in lobbying activities and supporting a foreign government involved in controversial actions. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), known for its substantial wealth and political influence, openly promotes its lobbying successes and the effectiveness of its associated PAC in endorsing pro-Israel political candidates. Similarly, the politically active Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), which advocates for aggressive policies against Iran, also hold 501(c)(3) status. Smaller foundations, such as the Charles and Seryl Kushner Foundation—established by the father of Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law—are likewise 501(c)(3) entities involved in supporting settlement developments in Israeli-occupied territories.
The 501(c)(3) status allows many Jewish and Israel-oriented groups to raise substantial funds, which are then used politically, influencing the US political process in favor of Israel and issues important to the Jewish community. Despite their nonprofit status, these organizations are far from struggling financially. AIPAC reported earnings exceeding $90 million since the genocide in Gaza began, the ADL $105 million in 2022, and the FDD $18 million in the same year. The chief executives of these organizations—Howard Kohr, Jonathan Greenblatt, and Mark Dubowitz—earned $1,055,000, $993,000, and $771,000, respectively, in 2021-2022.
This financial influx means that there is a significant cash flow from the United States to Israel, surpassing the $3.8 billion-plus special appropriations annually promised by President Barack Obama to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2016, aiming to secure Jewish donor and media support for Hillary Clinton’s election. Grant Smith, head of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy (IRMEP), estimates that the total annual support to Israel exceeds $10 billion. This figure excludes additional benefits such as US government co-development projects and significant disbursements like the $14 billion provided by President Joe Biden to Israel in April to support its actions in Gaza.
Israel and the Jewish community also receive substantial support from some state governments. Smith has highlighted the Virginia Israel Advisory Board (VIAB) as an example of a state economic policy being influenced by a dedicated Israeli group within the government.
The Virginia Israel Advisory Board (VIAB) is an integral part of the Virginia state government. It receives funding from the Commonwealth of Virginia and can access additional funds from other government agencies to support Israeli businesses. Staffed by Israelis and American Jews from the "Israel advocacy ecosystem," VIAB is self-administered, appointing its members and officers. While Virginia is unique in having such a group embedded within its government, other states have similar advisory or trade commissions. VIAB can negotiate secret preferential agreements, arrange special tax concessions, and establish start-up subsidies for Israeli businesses. Consequently, Israeli business projects have been regularly funded using Virginia state resources with minimal accountability, with an estimated annual cash flow to Israel exceeding $500 million.
Grant Smith reports that VIAB is more than an economic mechanism; its charter explicitly states that it was created to foster closer economic integration between the United States and Israel while supporting the Israeli government’s policy agenda. Smith notes that "VIAB is a pilot for how Israel can quietly obtain taxpayer funding and official status for networked entities that advance Israel from within key state governments." The board expanded significantly under Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe’s administration (2014-2018). McAuliffe, considered by many as a close associate of the Clintons, has received substantial out-of-state campaign contributions from pro-Israeli billionaires Haim Saban and J.B. Pritzker, who are both affiliated with the Democratic Party.
As governor, Terry McAuliffe regularly held off-the-record meetings with Israel advocacy groups and frequently praised the Virginia Israel Advisory Board (VIAB) and its accomplishments. This, however, was misleading, as VIAB primarily functions to divert Virginia state resources to benefit Israel. Additionally, its activities have resulted in numerous zoning and environmental violations within Virginia.
Based on this information, it is clear that many federal tax-exempt foundations and organizations exist in the United States to benefit Israel, operating under the guise of being nonprofit entities. Among these are several 501(c)(3) "charitable" foundations that explicitly support the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which have been widely criticized for actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. These organizations deserve particular scrutiny.
The most prominent of these IDF-supporting charities is "Friends of the Israel Defense Forces" (FIDF). This group organizes annual fundraising events in Los Angeles and New York, drawing celebrities and politicians. The events are extensively covered by the media. Based in New York City, FIDF boasts of its direct collaboration with the Israeli Ministry of Defense. In 2018, FIDF raised a record $60 million at a Los Angeles gala, with major contributions from Donald Trump supporters Miriam and Sheldon Adelson, as well as Israeli-American Hollywood figure Haim Saban and his wife, Cheryl.
While FIDF claims to be the sole 501(c)(3) certified IDF fundraiser in the US, another organization, "The Association for Israel’s Soldiers" (also known as "The Friends of LIBI" and "LIBI USA"), operates from Brighton, Massachusetts. This volunteer group claims affiliation with Israel’s Ministry of Defense and covers expenses not included in the Israeli government budget, indirectly freeing up funds for military purposes. This raises questions about how an element of the Israeli government can collect tax-exempt donations that are repatriated to Israel without any "charitable" or "educational" function in the US.
Israel receives preferential treatment both politically and economically from various levels of government in the United States. This prompts critical questions: How can organizations supporting war crimes and genocide by a foreign nation receive tax breaks that allow them to raise funds to influence the system that benefits them? How can the foreign army involved in these actions benefit directly from tax exemptions? These are pressing questions that demand answers.
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This is disgusting.
Just one word: BDS