House committees launch probes into Biden administration’s funding of Israeli NGOs accused of trying to unseat Netanyahu, raising questions about America’s proper role in Israeli politics.
At a Glance
- Two U.S. House committees are investigating if Biden administration funds were used to support anti-Netanyahu protests in Israel
- The probe covers six organizations that allegedly received U.S. taxpayer money while participating in judicial reform protests
- Committees have requested extensive documentation with concerns that funding may have attempted to “undermine Israel’s democratically elected government”
- Similar allegations arose during the Obama administration in 2015, suggesting a pattern of Democratic interference in Israeli politics
- Some targeted organizations deny receiving federal funding, claiming allegations are based on “false assumptions”
Congressional Investigation Targets U.S. Funding to Israeli NGOs
The House Judiciary and Foreign Affairs Committees have launched an investigation into whether the Biden administration funneled taxpayer dollars to Israeli organizations involved in protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s judicial reform efforts.
The probe, led by Representatives Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Brian Mast (R-FL), focuses on six organizations that allegedly received federal funding while participating in activities opposing Netanyahu’s government. Committee letters request extensive documentation regarding funding applications, communications, and expenditure records, with a deadline set for early April.
According to reports, the State Department and USAID allegedly transferred tens of millions of dollars to Israeli NGOs that were actively working against Netanyahu’s government reforms. The investigation has identified specific organizations including the Jewish Communal Fund, Middle East Dialogue Network, Movement for Quality Government in Israel (MQG), PEF Israel Endowment Funds, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, and Blue and White Future. These groups now face scrutiny over how American tax dollars were spent during Israel’s period of political unrest.
— dan linnaeus (@DanLinnaeus) November 5, 2024
Specific Funding and Activities Under Scrutiny
The investigation has uncovered several concerning examples of U.S. funding flowing to organizations involved in anti-Netanyahu activities. Itach Ma’aki reportedly received over $8,000 from the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem for a project in the Negev region while simultaneously participating in protests against the prime minister.
Similarly, Photo Israel received nearly $80,000 from USAID for a photography program but later held an exhibition supporting the anti-Netanyahu movement. Perhaps most significantly, Sikkuy-Aufoq allegedly received over $1 million from the State Department while organizing demonstrations against Netanyahu’s government.
The inquiry also raises broader concerns about the Biden administration’s funding practices through USAID and the State Department. Committee letters allege a troubling pattern where these agencies have previously funded groups aligned with terrorist organizations and those espousing antisemitism.
The committees are demanding preservation of all records and data related to the grants as they determine whether funds were improperly used to influence Israeli politics and potentially undermine a democratically elected government.
Organizations Deny Allegations
Not all organizations named in the investigation admit to receiving U.S. government funding. Blue and White Future has strongly denied the allegations, with representative Libi Zipser issuing a clear statement rejecting the premise of the investigation. The organization insists that all its activities and funding sources are properly supervised, reported, and audited in accordance with Israeli law, suggesting the congressional inquiry is built on faulty information.
“No state entity or U.S. (or other) government body has donated to the organization, directly or indirectly. All donations to the organization—as well as all of its activities—are supervised, reported, and audited in accordance with the law. The letter on the matter from members of the U.S. Congress relies on false assumptions that have no basis in reality, and the organization will clarify this to those who inquired,” said Libi Zipser.
Zipser further characterized the allegations as “nothing more than the spread of lies by the toxic propaganda machine,” indicating the organization plans to address these claims firmly.
These denials highlight the contentious nature of the investigation and the challenges faced by congressional committees in determining the facts amid conflicting narratives. The committees’ findings could have significant implications for both U.S.-Israel relations and future administration funding decisions.
