Keren HaYesod – United Israel Appeal has issued a demand from the organizations it funds to refrain from becoming involved with projects in Judea and Samaria and the Golan Heights.
The United Israel Appeal is an official fundraising organization for Israel with branches in 45 countries. Its work is carried out in accordance with the Keren HaYesod Law of 1956, granting the organization a unique fundraising status.
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Israel Hayom has learned that the UIA has begun demanding that any groups appealing for its funding sign an obligation stating that it is "not involved and/or associated in any way in any activity beyond Israel's borders, as set on June 4, 1967. We hereby commit not to invest any of these [Keren HaYesod's] funds in any such projects."
This means that the UIA, which handles much of the funds raised outside North America, excludes projects beyond the Green Line, namely in Judea and Samaria, the Golan Heights and the Jordan Valley, as well as in east Jerusalem.
The UIA noted that such an obligation by supported groups was necessary over the tax laws in which the donors reside, such as Germany, Brazil, and Australia, which do not offer tax benefits for donations to projects beyond the Green Line.
Coalition Chairman Miki Zohar, who is vying for the position of Likud representative in national institutions, including Keren HaYesod, pledged to change what he called "a discriminatory policy."
"This is one of the main reasons I'm in the running for the position," he told Israel Hayom. "It's unthinkable that national and Zionist institutions fail to recognize Judea and Samaria, the Golan Heights, and the Jordan Valley as part of Israel proper. I will spare no effort to change that."
The World Zionist Organization will be electing its delegates on Sunday.
Vying for the Likud's representation in WZO institutions, including Keren HaYesod are Zohar, who was endorsed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin; Yaakov Haguel, acting WZO, who has the support of outgoing Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon and former Coalition Chair David Bitan.
A United Israel Appeal statement said that it "raises hundreds of millions of dollars worldwide from donations that are obtained from independent charities that are legally registered in the various countries.
"Unfortunately, existing tax laws in some countries do not allow for tax credits on donations beyond the Green Line. Naturally, this is not a matter of UIA policy or ideology, but international laws that the organization cannot change, and which our donors must follow."
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