Legislation is re-emerging that would strip funding for New York charities that are found to be engaging in what it refers to as unauthorized support of Israeli settlement activity.
State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani says the “Not On Our Dime Act” would also allow for recovery of a civil penalty by the state attorney general, while creating a private right of action for violations.
“Funding war crimes is not a charitable purpose,” he said.
As the bill reads, it in part targets not-for-profits that fund the creation of Israeli settlements — communities that are mostly established on disputed land in the West Bank.
“Many of these charities are openly fundraising for that very activity,” he said. “For New Yorkers who are not familiar with what is going on, I would say imagine this in a domestic context, and how unacceptable it would be here. Why do we think it’s acceptable for charities to fundraise for war crimes elsewhere?“
Republicans like state Sen. Jack Martins have slammed the bill, with Martins calling out the piece of legislation for attempting to police what causes New York organizations can support
“This bill would hold not-for-profits in New York accountable to private cause of action if they choose to sue them because they choose to support Israel in its fight against terrorism,” he said.
The bill, he argues, drags New York into international affairs, and he insists, amounts to putting antisemitism into state law, with Martins and other Republicans continuing to criticize general usage of the phrase “From the River to the Sea” by pro-Palestinian protestors in New York state.
“What does New York state have to do with an international conflict?” He said. “Why are we taking sides, and frankly, why are we taking sides against the Jewish community?”
In response, Mamdani argues that in the past, U.S. policy has clearly taken issue with Israeli settlement activity, including under President Ronald Reagan.
“He called for an immediate freeze of settlement activity, so why is it that when we are following the words and practices and policies of so many presidents before us, that is considered going beyond the pale?” he said.
