In a glaring contradiction of justice and fairness, Muslim and Palestinian charities in the United States face relentless prosecution. They are often labeled as terrorists for engaging in non-violent initiatives such as donations to hospitals. Meanwhile, organizations that actively promote violence against Muslims and Palestinians enjoy the privileges of tax exemption. This double standard starkly reveals the deep-rooted contradictions within the "nonprofit industrial complex," which, like the military-industrial and prison-industrial complexes, sustains entrenched structures of domination and oppression.
Ironically, this nonprofit version operates under the guise of benevolence and altruism. U.S. charities contributing to humanitarian projects in Gaza have been held liable for deaths attributed to Hamas based on the theory that "money is fungible," implying that any donation is equivalent to handing over a loaded gun to a child. Yet, American courts frequently dismiss lawsuits against nonprofits that support illegal settlements. These absurdities expose a troubling reality: charities genuinely aiming to assist those in need are penalized. At the same time, those promoting violence and occupation are rewarded with tax breaks.
This unjust system not only undermines the integrity of charitable work but also perpetuates cycles of violence and oppression. For instance, at least three New York nonprofit organizations call on donors to help outfit settlers with combat gear, funneling millions of tax-deductible dollars to the West Bank. Through the Long Island-based One Israel Fund's "thermal drone matching campaign," donors can help purchase remote-controlled aerial vehicles for settler militias. Contributions to the American Friends of Ateret Cohanim's "security projects" equip settlers with accessories for their guns and surveillance tools to monitor "Arab thugs" in occupied East Jerusalem.
Donating to the Brooklyn-based Hebron Fund's "Israel Is Under Attack" campaign helps expand one of Israel's most extensive local surveillance networks. Remarkably, New Yorkers can write off these donations on their 2023 tax returns if they contribute by the end of the year.
Furthermore, students from Rohr Chabad House at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, a branch of the Zionist student network Chabad on Campus, have been raising funds to buy armor and drones for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Additionally, the Israeli crowdfunding platform IsraelGives has enabled U.S. residents to donate millions of dollars since October 7 to causes, including illegal West Bank settlements, paramilitary groups, and IDF units operating in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Legal experts indicate that some of these campaigns may be illegal under the U.S. tax code, yet these groups continue to operate freely.
Recently, sanctions have been imposed on paramilitary groups in the West Bank for continuous human rights violations and violence against innocent Palestinians. Yet, it is the groups raising money for food or medical care for Palestinians that are constantly sued and criminalized.
This stark disparity in treatment exposes the hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy of a system that punishes those seeking to alleviate suffering while rewarding those who perpetuate it. It is high time we challenge these contradictions and demand a more just and equitable approach to nonprofit governance in the United States.
Learn more at https://www.boughtbyzionism.org/
PERFECT POST
Very good article, as always. Hard to stomach, as always.