www.stopthejnf.org/charity-commission-is-protecting-sham-charities-not-only-tax-scams-for-the-wealthy-but-also-ethnic-cleansers-of-palestine
Early day motion 1677 – JEWISH NATIONAL FUND
* Session: 2010-11
* Date tabled: 30.03.2011
* Primary sponsor: Corbyn, Jeremy
* Sponsors: Kaufman, Gerald
That this House welcomes the Stop the Jewish National Fund (JNF) Campaign launched on 30 March 2011 by the Palestinian Boycott National Committee, the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign and others to inform the public about the JNF – Karen Kayemet L’Yisrael, its ongoing illegal expropriation of Palestinian land, concealing of destroyed Palestinian villages beneath parks and forests, and prevention of refugees from returning to their homes; notes that the JNF’s constitution is explicitly discriminatory by stating that land and property will never be rented, leased or sold to non-Jews; further notes that the UN rejected the JNF USA’s application for consultative status with the Economic and Social Council on the ground that it violates the principles of the UN Charter on Human Rights; regrets that the Prime Minister is a JNF honorary patron; and believes that there is just cause to consider revocation of the JNF’s charitable status in the UK.
Get your MP to sign this motion!
n.b. David Cameron finally stepped down as a JNF patron in 2011.
See our Events page for a Wales action as part of a UK wide action to revoke the JNF's charitable status
Early day motion 1677 – JEWISH NATIONAL FUND
* Session: 2010-11
* Date tabled: 30.03.2011
* Primary sponsor: Corbyn, Jeremy
* Sponsors: Kaufman, Gerald
That this House welcomes the Stop the Jewish National Fund (JNF) Campaign launched on 30 March 2011 by the Palestinian Boycott National Committee, the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign and others to inform the public about the JNF – Karen Kayemet L’Yisrael, its ongoing illegal expropriation of Palestinian land, concealing of destroyed Palestinian villages beneath parks and forests, and prevention of refugees from returning to their homes; notes that the JNF’s constitution is explicitly discriminatory by stating that land and property will never be rented, leased or sold to non-Jews; further notes that the UN rejected the JNF USA’s application for consultative status with the Economic and Social Council on the ground that it violates the principles of the UN Charter on Human Rights; regrets that the Prime Minister is a JNF honorary patron; and believes that there is just cause to consider revocation of the JNF’s charitable status in the UK.
Get your MP to sign this motion!
n.b. David Cameron finally stepped down as a JNF patron in 2011.
See our Events page for a Wales action as part of a UK wide action to revoke the JNF's charitable status
- With grateful thanks to the excellent work of Scottish PSC -
What is the JNF?
In 1901 delegates to the Fifth Zionist Congress in Basel decided to create Keren Kayemeth Lelsrael (KKL) - the Jewish National Fund (JNF). The purpose of the JNF was, and still is, to ‘acquire’ land for the establishment of the Zionist state of Israel in historic Palestine; and specifically “for the purpose of settling Jews on such land”. Crucially this land could never again be sold or leased to non-Jews.
Today the JNF enjoys charitable status in over 50 countries worldwide while their involvement in ethnic cleansing and colonisation is given cover by governments and political figures. In the UK, Gordon Brown and David Cameron, leaders of the two main political parties, are patrons of JNF UK.
The JNF, Colonisation and Ethnic Cleansing
The JNF was established as a principle Zionist tool for the colonisation of Palestine. Israel’s first Prime Minister made clear the intent of the Zionist movement towards the indigenous Palestinian population and their lands:
“If we want Hebrew redemption 100%, then we must have a 100% settlement, a 100% Hebrew farm, and a 100% Hebrew port” David Ben-Gurion, 1936
The JNF were actively involved in the process of ethnic cleansing prior to the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948:
“Transfer does not serve only one aim – to reduce the Arab population – it also serves a second purpose by no means less important, which is: to evict land now cultivated by Arabs and to free it for Jewish settlement” Yossef Weitz (Head of JNF Settlement Dept), 1940
The JNF is complicit in Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territories and of the Golan Heights.
In the Jordan Valley, illegally occupied by Israel, and where Palestinians are denied access to land and water, the JNF funds reservoirs and parks for settler use only.
In the Golan Heights the JNF is working with the state of Israel to colonise Syrian land illegally occupied by Israel since 1967.
Racism and Apartheid Within Israel
The JNF today also has a direct role in implementing the racist policies of the state, continuing the dispossession of Palestinians still living inside Israel (20% of the population). 93% of the land in Israel is public land that is allocated as state property, JNF) or Development Authority. JNF policies directly prohibiting sale or lease of land to non-Jews is in practice to all 93% of state land since the JNF holds a majority in the Israeli Land Administration’s Council.
The Israeli government has targeted the Galilee and the Negev (al Naqab) as areas requiring ‘Judaisation’. These are currently important campaigns for the JNF in the UK and internationally. The JNF actively funds and builds on confiscated land while Bedouin residents have been forcibly relocated and refused access to their villages. JNF UK does not even recognise the existence of the Bedouin:“The central objective of the Charity... is to now also raise funds to allow the population of Israel to use... the Negev Desert which has previously been uninhabited.”
What Can I Do?
Join the international campaign to expose JNF involvement in ethnic cleansing and colonisation and help co-ordinate our actions to:
Take Legal action: challenge the charity status of the JNF and coordinate other judicial review process; support cases against the JNF by Palestinians whose land and property were stolen by the JNF and/or who were dispossessed by the JNF - from 1948 until today
Research and document JNF's activities, use of funds, and impact, support investigation into JNF funding of and participation in para-statal activities, collect testimonies, produce research reports and publications, write articles, publicize findings, collect land deeds, produce digital stories/videos of testimony and a book of specific cases that highlight JNF role in land confiscation and discrimination as part of a broader system of occupation and colonisation
Educate: produce printed materials, submit presentations for conferences, organize workshops and public speaking events, coordinate art exhibits, performances and speaking tours, create digital stories based on testimonies
Boycott and Disrupt JNF Events: JNF organises fundraisers, delegations, and cultural, educational, sporting and political events
Take Direct action: Petitions, letters, poster and sticker campaign, disruption of events, pickets, civil disobedience, demonstrations
Produce and influence mass and grassroots media: submit editorials and articles to print and online journals, organize press conferences, buy advertisement, produce grassroots media, produce and/or screen documentaries, produce and participate in public radio and television series, produce poster campaign
Support processes of accountability under international law: participate in review processes being organized by civil organizations to hold Israel accountable under human rights and other international law (i.e. review of Israel for its treaty implementation under the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights)
Join the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Campaign National Committee (BNC), Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Habitat International Coalition of Cairo and the International Jewish anti-Zionist Network in coordinating this campaign.
In 1901 delegates to the Fifth Zionist Congress in Basel decided to create Keren Kayemeth Lelsrael (KKL) - the Jewish National Fund (JNF). The purpose of the JNF was, and still is, to ‘acquire’ land for the establishment of the Zionist state of Israel in historic Palestine; and specifically “for the purpose of settling Jews on such land”. Crucially this land could never again be sold or leased to non-Jews.
Today the JNF enjoys charitable status in over 50 countries worldwide while their involvement in ethnic cleansing and colonisation is given cover by governments and political figures. In the UK, Gordon Brown and David Cameron, leaders of the two main political parties, are patrons of JNF UK.
The JNF, Colonisation and Ethnic Cleansing
The JNF was established as a principle Zionist tool for the colonisation of Palestine. Israel’s first Prime Minister made clear the intent of the Zionist movement towards the indigenous Palestinian population and their lands:
“If we want Hebrew redemption 100%, then we must have a 100% settlement, a 100% Hebrew farm, and a 100% Hebrew port” David Ben-Gurion, 1936
The JNF were actively involved in the process of ethnic cleansing prior to the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948:
“Transfer does not serve only one aim – to reduce the Arab population – it also serves a second purpose by no means less important, which is: to evict land now cultivated by Arabs and to free it for Jewish settlement” Yossef Weitz (Head of JNF Settlement Dept), 1940
The JNF is complicit in Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territories and of the Golan Heights.
In the Jordan Valley, illegally occupied by Israel, and where Palestinians are denied access to land and water, the JNF funds reservoirs and parks for settler use only.
In the Golan Heights the JNF is working with the state of Israel to colonise Syrian land illegally occupied by Israel since 1967.
Racism and Apartheid Within Israel
The JNF today also has a direct role in implementing the racist policies of the state, continuing the dispossession of Palestinians still living inside Israel (20% of the population). 93% of the land in Israel is public land that is allocated as state property, JNF) or Development Authority. JNF policies directly prohibiting sale or lease of land to non-Jews is in practice to all 93% of state land since the JNF holds a majority in the Israeli Land Administration’s Council.
The Israeli government has targeted the Galilee and the Negev (al Naqab) as areas requiring ‘Judaisation’. These are currently important campaigns for the JNF in the UK and internationally. The JNF actively funds and builds on confiscated land while Bedouin residents have been forcibly relocated and refused access to their villages. JNF UK does not even recognise the existence of the Bedouin:“The central objective of the Charity... is to now also raise funds to allow the population of Israel to use... the Negev Desert which has previously been uninhabited.”
What Can I Do?
Join the international campaign to expose JNF involvement in ethnic cleansing and colonisation and help co-ordinate our actions to:
Take Legal action: challenge the charity status of the JNF and coordinate other judicial review process; support cases against the JNF by Palestinians whose land and property were stolen by the JNF and/or who were dispossessed by the JNF - from 1948 until today
Research and document JNF's activities, use of funds, and impact, support investigation into JNF funding of and participation in para-statal activities, collect testimonies, produce research reports and publications, write articles, publicize findings, collect land deeds, produce digital stories/videos of testimony and a book of specific cases that highlight JNF role in land confiscation and discrimination as part of a broader system of occupation and colonisation
Educate: produce printed materials, submit presentations for conferences, organize workshops and public speaking events, coordinate art exhibits, performances and speaking tours, create digital stories based on testimonies
Boycott and Disrupt JNF Events: JNF organises fundraisers, delegations, and cultural, educational, sporting and political events
Take Direct action: Petitions, letters, poster and sticker campaign, disruption of events, pickets, civil disobedience, demonstrations
Produce and influence mass and grassroots media: submit editorials and articles to print and online journals, organize press conferences, buy advertisement, produce grassroots media, produce and/or screen documentaries, produce and participate in public radio and television series, produce poster campaign
Support processes of accountability under international law: participate in review processes being organized by civil organizations to hold Israel accountable under human rights and other international law (i.e. review of Israel for its treaty implementation under the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights)
Join the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Campaign National Committee (BNC), Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Habitat International Coalition of Cairo and the International Jewish anti-Zionist Network in coordinating this campaign.
