In New York, a 'Hebron Aid Flotilla' to raise money for Israeli settlements

[Violet_Crumble]

The Hebron Fund, a US tax-exempt charity that supports Israeli settlers, is rallying Zionists of all stripes to join a 'Hebron Aid Flotilla' on the Hudson River next month.

The Hebron Fund, a Brooklyn-based tax exempt charity that supports Israeli settlers in the West Bank city of the same name, this week announced a unique twist to its annual fund-raising event next month: a cruise on the Hudson River dubbed the "Hebron Aid Flotilla."

The name marks an unabashed decision to strike out at those who criticized Israel's fatal attack on the so-called Gaza Aid Flotilla, an attempt to break the economic blockade of the Gaza Strip in May. Israeli commandos met unexpected force on board the flotilla's flagship boat shot and killed eight Turkish citizens and one Turkish-American, drawing international condemnation.

"WE'RE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT NOW!" proclaims Monday's announcement for the event. "The outpouring of hate against Israel and the Jews after the flotilla incident was absolutely unprecedented. Jews around the world and other Lovers of Israel suddenly felt just like the Jews of Hebron – the Jews the media loves most to hate. We therefore decided to hold our annual fundraiser as a unique, united Zionist response to the situation."

The fundraiser is a reminder of one of the reasons why President Obama's efforts to spur Israeli-Palestinian peace talks forward is fast unraveling.

First, the Obama administration backed down from its earlier demands that Israel freeze all settlement expansion – including in East Jerusalem – as a goodwill gesture to the Palestinians, who see no point in peace talks as Israel continues to expand its footprint in occupied territory that's intended to make up a future Palestinian state.

Secondly, US citizens continue to finance settlements on that land through tax-free donations. In addition, their taxpayer dollars – represented in the roughly $3 billion in US aid that Israel receives annually – arguably give Israel enough financial breathing room that it can afford to facilitate settlement expansion.

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2010/1020/In-New-York-a-Hebron-Aid-Flotilla-to-raise-money-for-Israeli-settlements

I don't understand how this group has been made a tax exempt charity by the IRS while it's main reason for being is to fund the settlements that the US views as being illegal under international law...

[fascisthunter]

1. disgusting

[Tripmann]

2. Yes, lets pray for the opressed, imprisoned, malnourished & dehumanised people of gaz...sorry hebron

:rofl:

I can't believe there are people who think this is not going to just add to the disgust of a world watching the collective punishment of 1 million innocent people, and still reeling from the flotilla attack.

[Ken Burch]

3. Yeah, right. The Hebron settlements are under siege and the settlers are starving.

it's JUST like being in Gaza. Right.

:puke:

[Violet_Crumble]

5. It's not just the OTT hyperbolic crap of that group. It's that they're tax exempt...

Let's be blunt here. They're funding people who if they were Arab would be called terrorists....

[Ken Burch]

7. You're right. The tax exempt status of this group is equally offensive.

n/t.

[azurnoir]

4. a look at the Congress critter from that district will enlighten

http://weiner.house.gov/news_display.aspx?id=1512

[oberliner]

6. What is it about Anthony Weiner that is "enlightening"?

Isn't he one of the most progressive liberal Democrats in Congress?

[azurnoir]

8. I suppose he could appear to be however in the context of this OP

he also could be an enabler, on the one hand he wanted a onepayer healthcare system on the other he also wants Pollard to be released and opposes anything that might be seen as "aiding" Arabs and not just Palestinians

[TomClash]

9. Not on this issue

Voters in Midwood would strongly disapprove. If Israel nuked Detroit, Weiner would call it a necessary defensive measure.

[TomClash]

10. Ask Tatiana Shlomovich how they got tax exempt status

She's President of the Shorefront Jewish Community Council and is connected to this group.

[ProgressiveMajority]

11. In a sane world these people would be listed as a terrorist org!

Settlers have been supporting terrorism through various means for a long time, poisoning wells, killing livestock, stealing land. It's time for progressive democrats to send a message that we won't support candidates who support terrorist settler movements.

Some members of the CBC have come out and taken a moral stance on Israel, its time to leverage the growing muslim vote in America to make Democrats realize that blindly supporting Zionism is not a winning strategy. Just look at how the growth of Islam in Europe has lead European politicos taking a more principled stance on Israel. Even having a 5% muslim population is enough to get them out of their political stuppor and denounce immoral Israeli acts.