As Rockets Bombarded Israel, a NY Assemblyman Introduced a Bill to Ban Non-Profit Aid

By Matis Glenn

A state Assemblyman who accuses Israel of “ethnic cleansing” has introduced a bill which would make it illegal for tax-exempt organizations to give funds or resources to any Israelis who live in the post-1967 territories, including East Yerushalayim.

The bill, authored by Rep. Zohran Kwame Mamdani(D), a Ugandan-born Muslim and member of the Democratic Socialists of America, would strip organizations of their tax-exempt status and allow their staff to be sued for sending money to Israelis living in areas past the Green line.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie(D) told Hamodia that “this bill is a non-starter and it is not something we are considering.”

A letter from 25 Assembly members, including Democrats Daniel Rosenthal, Simcha Eichenstein, Daniel O’Donnel, Helene Weinstein, and Stacey Pfeffer Amato was sent out Wednesday decrying the bill, saying that the purpose of the bill is to “attack Jewish organizations that have wide ranging missions from feeding the poor to providing emergency medical care for victims of terrorism to clothing orphans. This bill targets them all. In response, we say “Not on our watch!”

Sources familiar with the legal language of the bill say that it could go so far as to ban and penalize organizations which give food to people at the Kosel, which is included in the post-1967 border.

Mamdani’s bill was co-sponsored by Democratic Reps. Sarahana Shrestha, Phara Souffrant Forrest, and Marcela Mitaynes, all members of the left-wing Democrat Socialists of America.

Dubbed the “Not on Our Dime” bill, the legislation was introduced May 9, a day after Israel launched Operation Shield and Arrow in Gaza, which targeted terrorists in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad organization, which was followed by hundreds of rockets being shot into Israel. One Israeli woman, 80, Hy”d, was killed by rocket fire.

Without making mention of Palestinian violence and the indiscriminate targeting of innocent civilians, Mamdani provocatively claimed on social media that New York non-profits fund “ethnic cleansing” and “war crimes,” and that New York State is “subsidizing these atrocities” since the organizations are tax-exempt.

Mamdani has refused to condemn the targeting of civilians by Palestinians and has not acknowledged Israel’s right to exist, according to Rosenthal.

“The sponsor of this bill is an extreme voice who does not believe Israel has a right to exist and refuses to condemn the indiscriminate rocket fire targeting civilians,” Rosenthal said in a statement.

Rosenthal said that the bill is an overreach and was designed to vilify Jewish people and supporters of Israel.

“The New York State legislature has no oversight over foreign policy. This bill was only introduced to antagonize and demonize Jewish elected officials and charities,” the statement read.

A sister-bill was introduced in the State Senate by Sen. Jabari Brisport.