US Tax Exemptions To Funders Of Illegal Israeli Settlements

By Paul Wachter

Updated: 4 days 10 hours ago

Courtesy Of "AOL News"

A New York Times investigation revealed Tuesday that the U.S. Treasury is helping to promote illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank by granting tax exemptions to U.S. groups that funnel money into them. These specific settlements aren't only illegal under international law, but also under Israeli law.

The funds -- $200 million over the past decade -- undermine the very peace process Washington claims to support. "The result is a surprising juxtaposition: As the American government seeks to end the four-decade Jewish settlement enterprise and foster a Palestinian state in the West Bank, the American Treasury helps sustain the settlements through tax breaks on donations to support them," reports The New York Times. 

"For example, when Israeli authorities suspended plans for permanent homes in Maskiot, a tiny settlement near Jordan, in 2007, two American nonprofits -- the One Israel Fund and Christian Friends of Israeli Communities -- raised tens of thousands of dollars to help erect temporary structures, keeping the community going until officials lifted the building ban."

Many of the American groups consist of evangelical Christians, who believe that Jews securing the Holy Land is a prerequisite to Armageddon. (Largely glossed over in this evangelical-Zionist alliance is the belief by Christians that on Judgment Day the Jews will be sent to hell.)

Palestinians expressed outrage at the revelation. "Settlements violate international law, and the United States is supposed to be sponsoring a two-state solution, yet it gives deductions for donation to the settlements?" asked Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.