Israeli Settlements Helped By U.S. Tax Law: Non-Profit Donations At Odds With U.S. Foreign Policy

New York Times:

As the American government seeks to end the four-decade Jewish settlement enterprise and foster a Palestinian state in the West Bank, the American Treasury helps sustain the settlements through tax breaks on donations to support them.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[oregon jack]

03:15 PM on 07/07/2010

It has been estimated that these tax revenue losses represent $1 billion/year, adding to the $3 billion in direct aid and almost $3 billion additionally as extortion money to Egypt and Jordan for colluding with Israel.
Our Arms Export Control Act prohibits use of US weapons for aggressive military purposes, and our Foreign Assistance Act prohibts aid to any country with a continuing record of human rights abuses. Under both US laws all aid to Israel should be discontinued.

[livnletliv]

10:34 AM on 07/07/2010

Still wonder "why they hate us?" anybody?

[Paul Houston]

09:30 PM on 07/06/2010

Listen all you States, Counties or cities. Short of Federal cash or spending? Just say you are an Israeli settlement and just wait until the money starts rolling in!

[Ergon]

10:58 PM on 07/06/2010

"Listen all you States, Counties or cities" See how much of your investment portfolio's tied up in Israeli investments.
Divest.

[YellowDay]

05:14 PM on 07/06/2010

I bet if the Torah said for followers to of judaism to steal and eat peoples kidneys the brought U.S. gov't would be like "US/ISRAEL ties unbreakable"

[WolfmanZ]

05:26 PM on 07/06/2010

Oh, but I thought you already knew that we eat Christian babies and use their blood to make our Passover matzoh - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_libel_against_Jews

[YellowDay]

05:32 PM on 07/06/2010

Dude trust me I'm scared for my life. Look at what happened in New Jersey with the "matchmaker"
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,534838,00.html

People running around killing arabs because some invisible man in the sky gave them land but they are really from Europe and just changed religion years ago! Who knows what these people will do next.

[eileenflemingWAWA]

08:56 PM on 07/06/2010

Everywhere but in America the Israeli Occupation of Palestine is viewed as a USA-Israeli collaboration, and that is what fuels the hate of militants who hate US!

Khalid Sheikh Mohammad involvement in the terror upon America, “By his own account…stemmed from his violent disagreement with U.S. foreign policy favoring Israel.”

Abdulmutallab’s Christmas Day 2009, attempt to blow up a plane was fueled by “his sympathies toward the Palestinians and anger over Israel’s actions in Gaza.”

http://wearewideawake.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1588&Itemid=230

[TAIsabel]

09:15 PM on 07/06/2010

Hi Eileen,

Even General Petraeus knows this:

http://mideast.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/03/14/the_petraeus_briefing_biden_s_embarrassment_is_not_the_whole_story

But, as we know, it is AIPAC that determines our Israeli policy. Most Americans are oblivious to it. Always good to see you here.

[eileenflemingWAWA]

04:48 PM on 07/06/2010

This article notes John Hagee, who frequently invokes the "Torah Way" but neglects what the Torah commands:

"From Moses to Jeremiah and Isaiah, the Prophets taught...that the Jewish claim on the land of Israel was totally contingent on the moral and spiritual life of the Jews who lived there, and that the land would, as the Torah tells us, 'vomit you out' if people did not live according to the highest moral vision of Torah. Over and over again, the Torah repeated its most frequently stated mitzvah [command]:

"When you enter your land, do not oppress the stranger; the other, the one who is an outsider of your society, the powerless one and then not only 'you shall love your neighbor as yourself' but also 'you shall love the other.'" [Rabbi Lerner, TIKKUN Magazine, page 35, Sept./Oct. 2007 ]

Hagee also neglects the fact that God raised up prophets to speak truth to power and to remind people of what God desires:

"What does God require? He has told you o'man! Be just, be merciful, and walk humbly with your Lord." -Micah 6:8

God also raised up prophets to admonish the "stiff necked people" [Exodus 34:9, Proverbs 29:1] because "My people are fools, they do not know me! They are skilled in doing evil, they know not how to do good."-Jeremiah 4:22

For, "His thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord."- Isaiah 55:8

[WolfmanZ]

05:13 PM on 07/06/2010

>> "When you enter your land, do not oppress the stranger; . . .

Israeli Arabs are full citizens of Israel with full rights and full participation in government. Point to any Arab or Muslim country where the same can be said for their Jewish residents.

Now if your argument is that Israel prevents terrorists from the West Bank and Gaza Strip (as well as the home-grown variety, Israel has their own McVeighs, sadly) from killing; if you think that's "unkind," I've got no retort.

[Paul Houston]

09:26 PM on 07/06/2010

Umm, why did the Knesset recently try to bar Arab parties from standing in elections if they have full participation? If you are looking for the signs which say the Middle East equivalent of "Whites Only" or "Coloureds Only" (Blank, Net Blank) you will not find it, it is a lot more subtle than that.

[cincinnati]

02:16 AM on 07/07/2010

so can Christians and Muslims, or nonbelievers, in Israel get to sit around and study and be paid by the government, as Orthodox Jews can...?

sounds like another religious crazy country, like many of the Islamic ones, or of course some crazy Christian beliefs....

[HazemOne]

01:44 AM on 07/07/2010

Thanks for that!

But also don't forget that the main problem is the flawed US Tax laws that permit this hypocrisy.

Maybe a simple change in US Tax laws would void the need for hypocrites like this man to lie to their followers.

[WolfmanZ]

04:44 PM on 07/06/2010

A few hours ago I responded to a post suggesting that Rothschild /Rosenwald, themselves Jews and persons of prominence, advocated against a Jewish state. My response seems to have been censored, and I wonder why. Did some moderator deem it provacative?

Why? The Israel-haters here get to spew their biased invective against Israel and Jews, but my response is censored - that Jews have been well taught that the world will never accept us even "if we weren't so Jewish, or didn't live here, or didn't live." As such, the time of the passive, cowering Jew pleading for his life is over. We are a proud people who will defend ourselves and don't care if anyone doesn't like it.

Why is this opinion censored when all the pro-Arab / anti-Israel, anti-Jewish invective is passed through?

[bklynsparrow]

07:12 PM on 07/06/2010

I've wondered that myself. Many times.

[cincinnati]

02:23 AM on 07/07/2010

is your post was reasonable I would hope it would be allowed....

But I hear an paranoid attitude, and the Nazi's only controlled one country for a while,
and it was highly unusual that they took over so much for a few years.....there is no threat
even close to this for modern Israel, especially when it has had 50-100 nukes for at
least 20-30 years.......

I almost hear someone who is angry at Jews who went too easily
to the chambers, and now must be macho and tough.....I can imagine someone like
that walking in the West Bank with a machine gun and shooting at children he has
been taught are an eventual threat....or I'm sorry, plastic bullets sound safe but
they kill just as well....

let's be honest, Israel has most of the cards, it is the occupier...
many Jews completely agree about this, in or out of Israel, or are
they anti-semitic too...?
Goldstone, of the UN report condemning Israel for war crimes,
is he also an enemy ?

[mommamia526]

04:38 PM on 07/06/2010

It appears to me, from the few sentences I have read of the reference article, that in this case*support* is deductible, because it is a christian charitable organization in the U.S They speak of HaJovel and Yeshua, and that appears to have nothing to do with judaism, but rather with Messianic *judaism* , which is christianity. Therefore, it is probably a christian evangelizing organization, funded in the U.S., based in the U.S., and it has not one thing to do with Israel, Israelis or judaism. Those who wish for a referendum on the future of "our" support for Israel, would be wise to think before they write or speak. "Our" in this case is a private evalngelical organization, in the business of converting jews to christianity. And it is funded by those who support that organization, not Americans at large, and not out of general tax funds. Now, but if one wishes to withdraw support of tax exemption of religious organizations, one should start a drive to get that passed in Congress. As for Muslim organizations which are not tax exrmpt, there have been several cases where donations were directly applied for terrorist activities. and therefore, if a Muslim organization can not prove that it applies charitable funds to charity, rather than to militant, military or terrorist activities, it may be impossible to get a tax exemption. And, by the way, those which get a tax deductions are individuals contributing, not the charities.

[Paul Houston]

09:34 PM on 07/06/2010

and just how many Jews have been converted to Christianity?

[stepintothelight]

03:08 PM on 07/06/2010

I would love a country-wide ballot referendum on the future of our support for Israel.

[TAIsabel]

09:17 PM on 07/06/2010

Great idea but, sadly, most Americans do not have a clue and AIPAC makes sure that the policy is NEVER debated.

[Newsjunqee]

02:38 PM on 07/06/2010

Why is it that Muslim charities in the US and individuals associated with such organisations are persecuted on the assumption that they are supporting terrorists, but Jewish and "christian" charities are allowed to freely scour for funds and no one has ever looked into their records?

[elisha job]

03:54 PM on 07/06/2010

Misinformation and ignorance.

[elisha job]

04:06 PM on 07/06/2010

Someone flagged me b/c it's true that Muslim charities are ignorantly and blindly persecuted?? That's the truth whether you want to believe it or not.

If you think telling the truth abusive go flag yourself!

[stepintothelight]

09:23 PM on 07/06/2010

And well tuned "Perception Management"!!!

[enhancedvibes]

03:58 PM on 07/06/2010

Umm b/c they dont support terrorist groups or groups that allow and encourage suicide bombers? Is this a real question? Orthodox Jews in the streets of Israel protesting integration of Ashkenazi and Sephardic girls in public school is pretty much about the extent of religious extremism you will find within Judaism. Though admittedly, that was an embarrassing mess and showed that all extremes of any religion should not be allowed to push their extreme beliefs onto the masses.

[kentah]

04:31 PM on 07/06/2010

Really. That's the extent of religious extremism? What say you of the settlers?

[elisha job]

05:12 PM on 07/06/2010

This is a ridiculous, ignorant statement. So, by your definition we can say every Jewish temple supports settlement's, blockade's, the stealing of land and property and the mass murder of innocent men, women and children. Which is just as ridiculous as your statement, isn't it?

[mathew]

02:33 PM on 07/06/2010

On the list and lovin' it!!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=187037802706

[elisha job]

08:04 PM on 07/06/2010

Crazy stuff mathew.

[cincinnati]

02:29 AM on 07/07/2010

interesting, will have to study it more later....

[tbone99]

02:12 PM on 07/06/2010

"The enduring hostilities between Israel and some of its neighbors present distinct challenges to our ability to advance U.S. interests... Israeli-Palestinian tensions often flare into violence and large-scale armed confrontations. The conflict foments anti-American sentiment, due to a perception of U.S. favoritism for Israel.

Arab anger over the Palestinian question limits the strength and depth of U.S. partnerships with governments and peoples in the [region] and weakens the legitimacy of moderate regimes in the Arab world.

Meanwhile, al-Qaeda and other militant groups exploit that anger to mobilize support. The conflict also gives Iran influence in the Arab world through its clients, Lebanese Hizballah and Hamas...."

Gen David Petraus

[MrJoyboy]

02:02 PM on 07/06/2010

We are ensuring the security of Israel. We are ensuring the security of Iraq. We are ensuring the security of Afghanistan. We are ensuring the security of our NATO allies. When did America become responsible for everybody's security at such great cost? Are all these countries ensuring our security in turn?

[Torrentlover]

02:05 PM on 07/06/2010

If pollard is anything to go by, then I would say no, Israel definitely doesn't have any concerns for US security.

[bklynsparrow]

07:16 PM on 07/06/2010

I guess you don't understand the meaning of globalization. And the questions about Iraw and Afghanistan should be asked of George Bush.

[H321]

01:53 PM on 07/06/2010

These settlements are why there is and will be no peace. They can't keep themselves in Israel, they have to kick out Palestinian families from their homes and use their furniture and eat their food while they get kicked to the streets.

[Vlad Tepes]

02:06 PM on 07/06/2010

But Israel was attacked when there were zero settlements.

[Galen411]

02:15 PM on 07/06/2010

Your not helping your cause!
Zealots like you just make people dislike your cause because you try to annoy and force your twisted logic. Instead of calling names and giving out little tidbits of disinformation with your man made history why not debate or just listen. Either way tools like you just hurt your cause.
I don't see how you are even American,
Are you because this is about why America should help this rogue country anymore at all???
Israel has the right to exist as long as they respect others and in turn that means respecting themselves. This is not what it is today no matter how you skew it!
Stop the sophist name calling and non historical facts, try and help your cause and stop hurting yourself:)

[StCuthbert]

02:17 PM on 07/06/2010

Wow, I guess you touched a nerve. Truth hurts, apparently.

[elisha job]

01:42 PM on 07/06/2010

From the NYT article:

"A New York Times examination of public records in the United States and Israel identified at least 40 American groups that have collected more than $200 million in tax-deductible gifts for Jewish settlement in the West Bank and East Jerusalem over the last decade. The money goes mostly to schools, synagogues, recreation centers and the like, legitimate expenditures under the tax law. But it has also paid for more legally questionable commodities: housing as well as guard dogs, bulletproof vests, rifle scopes and vehicles to secure outposts deep in occupied areas."

People are being conned. Again.

[tbone99]

02:14 PM on 07/06/2010

Where's the IDF shooting of evangelicals delivering supplies for illegal settlements?

[mommamia526]

04:56 PM on 07/06/2010

Israel is not at war with evangelicals. Evangelicals have not openly declared war on Israel, are not abducting Israeli soldiers, are not shooting off projectiles, are not tunneling into Israel, are not strapping on bombbelts, etc. Housing is not a questionable commodity, neither are guard dogs for those under attack. Maybe people are being conned. If one donates, however, there is no force applied, and there is not a legal case.If one is converted, one may well be conned, but there is no law against conversion. The supplies, moreover, are not applied to warfare, but at best for defensive purposes.

[YellowDay]

01:41 PM on 07/06/2010

Takes one to know one....lolololol. How very typical of them!

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3915394,00.html

[Londoncall]

08:13 PM on 07/06/2010

Ha ha Yellow Day, some people just have no sense of irony (or sanity). Still the judge is right about "nothing working" - the hasbarists' efforts are getting more and more desperate.