The Jewish National Fund of Canada losing its charitable status is a win for Canadian Palestine advocacy. JNF’s pathetic response to the revocation has also helped shine light on a significant Canadian contribution to Palestinian dispossession.
Last week, JNF Canada published a release saying they were launching legal proceedings against Canada’s revenue minister in a last ditch bid to reverse the revocation of their charitable status, which grants the organization a series of financial benefits including the ability to give donors tax receipts. The JNF hyped their suit through Canada Newswire and a statement on their site in the hope of having the minister intervene (while bemoaning outside pressure as the reason the CRA acted against them).
Irrespective of its complaints, the real scandal is how long the CRA has made all Canadians subsidize JNF operations. For decades the influential charity has supported the Israeli military and West Bank colonies in violation of CRA rules. The JNF’s most iconic project is Canada Park, which was built on the remnants of three Palestinian villages Israel took in 1967.
But everyone is doing it, according to JNF Canada. In a stunningly parochial bid to defend themselves, they told the Canadian Jewish News that “dozens of Canadian charities” operate in colonies the International Court of Justice recently ruled nations have a legal responsibility to not assist. JNF Canada responded to the paper’s question about revocation by writing: “While JNF Canada disagrees that it is contrary to Canadian foreign policy to develop projects on disputed territory (there are dozens of Canadian charities that operate in the disputed territories with CRA’s blessing), we have not supported new projects in the disputed territories since this matter was brought to our attention.” (more...)
Jewish National Fund of Canada throws fit after losing charitable status
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