Jewish National Fund revoked by Canada Revenue Agency

 

In a win for those against apartheid and genocide, the Canada Revenue Agency is reportedly revoking the charitable status of the Jewish National Fund of Canada. Author Gabor Maté, Rabbi David Mivasair, Wesam Ahmad from Al Haq,  Professor Miles Howe and lawyer Shane Martinez will discuss this move that is likely to spur significant controversy at an online press conference today at 12 EST (Friday, July 26).

According to a statement JNF Canada released Thursday, the CRA has announced it will revoke the century-old organization’s charitable status. The reason reportedly given is its “support for military infrastructure in Israel” despite CRA charity guidelines stating clearly that “supporting the armed forces of another country is not” charitable.

In 2017 Rabbi Mivasair and three others filed a detailed complaint to the CRA and Minister of National Revenue over the JNF, which has had many Prime Ministers speak at its events. After an audit, the CRA required JNF Canada to adopt a series of measures it failed to comply with.

“While the Canada Revenue Agency has been too slow in applying its rules towards the Jewish National Fund of Canada, the CRA should be applauded for finally taking action against this powerful organization”, said Karen Rodman of Just Peace Advocates.

The Jewish National Fund of Canada is one of many Israel-focused charities that have violated CRA rules. Over the past 18 months detailed complaints have been submitted to the CRA asking it to investigate a dozen other Israel-focused charities.

In recent weeks there’s been significant campaigning on Israel-focused charities. At the start of last month Gabor Maté, Yann Martel, Linda McQuaig, Roger Waters, Monia Mazigh, Desmond Cole, Libby Davies and others signed “Stop Subsidizing Genocide”. The public letter  points out that “200+ registered Canadian charities funnel a quarter billion dollars a year to projects in Israel. Many of these groups finance projects that support the Israeli military, racist organizations and West Bank settlements in contravention of Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) rules.”

In another challenge to Canada’s most significant contribution to Palestinian dispossession, NDP revenue critic Niki Ashton hosted a June 13  press conference at the parliamentary press gallery calling “on the Liberal government to investigate Canadian charities that allegedly funneled taxpayer money in support of Israeli military operations and illegal settlements in Palestine.” She also sponsored a parliamentary petition on the subject and sent a letter to Revenue Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau demanding the government investigate charities funding Israeli military operations in Gaza and illegal Israeli settlements.

Last Friday Le Devoir and La Tribune reported on a press conference held outside Minister Bibeau’s riding office in Sherbrooke calling on her to take action on the matter. The revenue minister was also asked about the subject at a press conference on Tuesday.