On October 18 the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel released its “Legal analysis and recommendations on implementation of the International Court of Justice, Advisory Opinion, Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.”
The International Commission of Inquiry’s Position Paper states:
“With respect to non-profit or non-governmental organizations, States must carefully review any organization that is financially or politically supporting the unlawful occupation. States shall not give support to these organizations, for example through allowing the organization to have tax-exempt status or providing tax deductibility for donations to the organization and must ensure that financial contributions to support the unlawful occupation, including settlements and settlers, cease.”
A broad reading of the UN mandate could ensnare maybe a 100 registered Canadian charities for “financially or politically supporting the unlawful occupation.”
But, even the most narrow reading of the International Commission of Inquiry’s advisory should lead to a dozen immediate charity revocations.
In disputing its revocation, the Jewish National Fund (JNF) told the Canadian Jewish News recently that “dozens of Canadian charities” operate in colonies the International Court of Justice ruled nations have a legal responsibility to not assist. The JNF responded to the paper’s question about its revocation by writing that “JNF Canada disagrees that it is contrary to Canadian foreign policy to develop projects on disputed territory.”
These “dozens of Canadian charities” operate in the disputed territories with CRA’s blessings. Among the “dozens” of these tax-payer subsidized organizations are: Mizrachi Canada, Jewish Heritage Foundation of Canada, United Israel Appeal (UIA), Canada Charity Partners, International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, Emunah Canada, Jerusalem Foundation, Ronnen Harary Charitable Foundation, and Canadian Friends of Har Etzion. As well there are a number of Canadian charities supporting the Israeli military occupation such as HESEG and the Canadian Zionist Cultural Association.
Requests have been made to the CRA to audit these and others.
Large sums of taxpayer subsidized donations are funneled to various projects violating the World Court’s advisory opinion. According to charity law expert Mark Blumberg, Canadian charities sent $362 million to projects in Israel in 2022.
Tell the CRA that they have been far too permissive with Israel focused charities. It’s time Canada’s revenue agency enforced Canadian and international law.
