Funding Sources and Transparency For Nine Associations Identified with the Israeli Right Wing
2015 Peace Now report on opaque funding of right-wing associations in the Zionist settler colony
Funding Sources and Transparency For Nine Associations Identified with the Israeli Right Wing is a September 2015 study published by the anti-occupation organisation Peace Now and authored by Ilan Sheizaf. The report analyses funding sources and transparency levels of nine associations closely identified with the right wing of the Zionist entity and its settler-colonial project in occupied Palestinian territories.[1]
The study covers the period 2006–2013 and finds that the sums involved run into hundreds of millions of Israeli shekels which have been influencing – both now and in the past – the formation of policies and the shaping of 'Israeli' public opinion on critical, controversial issues.[1] It states: "This study is intended to explore the sources of funding and the transparency of nine associations identified with the Israeli right. The findings of this study indicate that there is a widespread lack of transparency and that it is not possible to identify the primary funders of these associations. Of the total income of the associations that have been investigated, only a small minority were transferred transparently in a manner enabling the public to find out what the primary source was."[1]
Main findings
The report concludes that of total donations and expense sharing for the nine associations, approximately NIS 580.88 million was received, with donations totalling NIS 485.81 million and expense sharing NIS 95.07 million. Fully transparent donations amounted to only NIS 8.15 million (1.7 per cent of total donations), while confidential donations reached NIS 455.26 million (93.7 per cent).[1] The study highlights "severe lack of transparency" and notes that "the investigation also touches upon the issue of the statutory arrangements concerning the whole issue of funding of associations, on the machinery and on the numerous legal loopholes facilitating this state of affairs."[1]
The nine associations
The report examines the following nine associations identified with the right wing of the Zionist entity and its settler colony:
- Yesha Council
- Regavim
- ELAD (El Ir David)
- NGO Monitor (The Association for NGO Accountability)
- Institute for Zionist Strategies
- Im Tirtzu
- MIDA (El Haprat Association: Liberty and Civic Responsibility)
- Samaria Settlers Council
- Binyamin Settlers Association
Yesha Council
The Yesha Council (full name: Yesha – The Association for Development of Jewish Settlement in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Region) is the umbrella organisation for the Zionist settler colony in the occupied West Bank. It received donations of NIS 22.84 million and expense sharing of NIS 59.81 million over 2006–2013, almost all confidential. The report notes: "No donor lists for most years; improbable all donations under NIS 20,000."[1]
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| Year | Donations | Expense sharing |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 6,800,000 | 8,243,150 |
| 2007 | 3,729,831 | 5,524,590 |
| 2008 | 2,297,836 | 4,788,230 |
| 2009 | 2,450,250 | 5,702,570 |
| 2010 | 2,280,030 | 8,665,760 |
| 2011 | 2,220,270 | 12,534,270 |
| 2012 | 2,711,944 | 8,206,310 |
| 2013 | 370,164 | 5,818,400 |
| Total | 22,860,325 | 59,483,270 |
Regavim
Regavim, a group promoting the demolition of Palestinian structures in the occupied territories, received donations of NIS 5.51 million (mostly confidential) and expense sharing of NIS 9.79 million (100 per cent confidential).[1]
ELAD (El Ir David)
ELAD (El Ir David), also supported via Friends of Ir David, works to Judaise occupied East Jerusalem through archaeological excavations and settler housing. The associated US foundation transferred substantial sums; the report notes the foundation is headed by Saadia Shapiro with David Beeri (founder of ELAD) as a board member.[1]
NGO Monitor
NGO Monitor (The Association for NGO Accountability) attacks human rights groups critical of the Zionist occupation. Funding is largely non-transparent with significant overseas donations.[1]
Institute for Zionist Strategies
The Institute for Zionist Strategies promotes Zionist ideology and settlement policies; its funding shows high levels of confidential donations and public expense sharing.[1]
Im Tirtzu
Im Tirtzu, known for campaigns against left-wing and human rights organisations in the Zionist entity, received extensive confidential funding supporting its activities against perceived anti-Zionist groups.[1]
MIDA
MIDA (El Haprat Association: Liberty and Civic Responsibility) received large transfers from the Tikvah Fund, including $223,467 in 2012 and $440,354 in 2013.[1]
Samaria Settlers Council
The Samaria Settlers Council organises activities in the occupied northern West Bank; its funding is characterised by minimal transparency and heavy reliance on confidential foreign and public sources.[1]
Binyamin Settlers Association
The Binyamin Settlers Association supports settlement expansion in the Binyamin region of the occupied West Bank; the report documents near-total lack of donor transparency.[1]
Overseas foundations and donors
The report details major US-based funders including the Tikvah Fund, Friends of Ir David, Hertog Foundation, Klarman Family Foundation, Glazer Foundation and Koret Fund. The Tikvah Fund disbursed $20,619,322 in donations 2011–2013, with income mainly from the estate of Zalman Bernstein. Specific transfers include $440,354 to MIDA in 2013 and multiple grants to settler-linked institutions.[1] The report quotes: "According to its reports to the IRS, in 2011 and 2012 the fund had no income at all. In 2013 it received about $1.05 million out of Bernstein’s estate."[1]
Conclusions
The study recommends legislative changes to close loopholes and enforce full donor disclosure, noting that the current system enables massive non-transparent funding to groups advancing the Zionist settler colony.[1]
See also
Peace Now Zionist settler colony Tikvah Fund