JNF faces tax challenge over claims donations fund ‘illegal’ West Bank settlement

The Taxation Commissioner has been asked to clarify claims that the Jewish National Fund Australia (JNF), along with other Australian charities, has “solicited and funnelled donations to support illegal settlement activities” in the occupied West Bank.

In a letter dated March 22, the Federal Member for Bruce, Julian Hill, MP, said “profound concerns have been raised by many Australians and civil society organisations with relation to Australia’s involvement in Israel’s illegal settlement enterprise”.

In addition to JNF, the other organisations named in the letter were the Christians for Israel Foundation and the Ariel University Australia Trust.

Mr Hill said the issues had been raised “over many years”, including by the Australian Jewish Democratic society, the New Israel Fund and human rights organisations in Australia, Israel and internationally.

Mr Hill said his letter followed recent reports by media outlets alleging that donations by these groups had been used to fund illegal settlement activities in the West Bank.

The letter asked for a response to the media reports, and also for answers to four specific questions:

Are donations made to not-for-profit (NFP) organisations which support Israeli settler activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories rewarded with tax deductible concessions?

Can you confirm that the Australia-Israel 2019 Convention for the elimination of double taxation only applies to land within the pre-67 borders?

Do provisions exist under Australian law for the removal of tax-deductible status for NFP organisations supporting illegal settler activity in the occupied territories?