The Biden-Harris administration faces allegations of inappropriately using taxpayer funds to support protests in Israel against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prior to October 7. Recently, the House Judiciary Committee released a memo detailing these claims, which suggest possible funding routes.
The memo states, “Our oversight has indicated that the Biden-Harris administration allocated grants to organizations that directly or indirectly fueled protests aimed at judicial reforms believed to undermine the Israeli government.” This revelation raises questions about the source of these funds and their intended purpose.
In a recent update, Netanyahu commented on perceived foreign interference in Israel’s government, emphasizing the troubling implications of these findings. He referenced documents released by the US Congress, which suggest that nearly $1 billion was funneled to Israeli left-wing NGOs under the previous administration to undermine government policies.
In March, the House Judiciary and Foreign Affairs Committees reached out to six American and Israeli NGOs for records concerning grants or other forms of financial support received from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) or the State Department. So far, according to the memo, a total of 380 documents have been produced by these organizations.
The NGOs in question include Blue White Future (BWF), Israel’s Quality Government Movement (MQG), PEF Israel Fund, Jewish Joint Fund (JCF), Middle East Peace Dialogue Network (MEPDN), and advisors for the Rockefeller Foundation.
Before the Hamas attacks on October 7, Israel was grappling with intense internal disputes over judicial reforms. This turmoil spurred nationwide protests, with the House Judiciary Committee scrutinizing actions taken by then-President Joe Biden, who publicly opposed the reforms and expressed solidarity with the protestors.
Biden himself has raised concerns about the direction the Israeli government was taking, stating, “I’m very worried about what’s happening. It can’t continue this way. I’ve made that clear.” Some of his statements will be cited in the committee’s notes.
The committee contends that BWF received US grants while also supporting protest fundraising. They also claim that MQG was awarded $42,000 to conduct activist training in Israeli high schools.
In terms of the financial landscape, the PEF Israel Fund has drawn scrutiny for its commitment to providing over $884 million to organizations involved in anti-democratic protests. The committee notes that advisors from Rockefeller may have played a role in channeling some of the $20 million in federal grants to protest organizers. Additionally, they are investigating whether MEPDN has violated its 501(c)(3) status by financing protests described as anti-democratic.
Meanwhile, concerning the JCF, the committee alleges that this organization has contributed more than $42.8 million to the main protest headquarters and some of its key benefactors.
The investigation is ongoing, and the memo indicates that additional American and Israeli NGOs may be scrutinized. Attempts to reach the mentioned NGOs for comment ahead of publication went unanswered.
