GOP-Led House Panel Probes New Israel Fund Over Alleged Electioneering

A Republican-controlled congressional committee has initiated an investigation into the New Israel Fund (NIF), a prominent organization that supports progressive Israeli causes. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan and House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith are probing whether the US-based charity violated its tax-exempt status by allegedly funding groups engaged in political campaign activities during Israeli elections. The lawmakers cite grants totaling $356,000 to an Israeli organization called Zazim, which reportedly operated a transportation system to help Bedouin voters cast ballots against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the 2019 election. The investigation also scrutinizes funding for the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) and Adalah, a human rights group that provided legal representation for the Joint List, an alliance of Arab parties focused on opposing Netanyahu. Critics suggest the investigation is politically motivated, aimed at appeasing the Israeli premier ahead of upcoming elections.

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providing millions of dollars in funding to groups that engaged in political campaign activities in the 2019 Israeli elections.