by Bill Levinson

It is bad enough that the International Solidarity Movement is sending activists to interfere with Israeli security operations, advocate terroristic violence, and even meet with actual Hamas terrorists, as admitted by ISM leader Huwaida Arraf. These activities are actually being sponsored by the American taxpayer in the form of deductible 501(c)(3) tax-exempt contributions.

The Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA) is funding the International Solidarity Movement’s questionable activities with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt funding. Now it turns out that the Brecht Forum is doing the same for the New York City chapter of the International Solidarity Movement.

It is very instructive, to say the least, to browse the International Solidarity Movement’s Web sites– a bit like turning over a rock and seeing what crawls out from underneath. Examination of ISM-NYC’s site reveals an astonishing variety of life crawing around under the organizational rock, and we will see how well it thrives under the light of day. http://www.ism-nyc.org/involved.shtml

ISM-NYC is a nonprofit organization, and your contribution is tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Our organization is run entirely by volunteers so the funds we raise can all be used to help send activists to Palestine.

To contribute, simply make a check payable to “Brecht Forum” and send it to:

ISM New York City
P.O. Box 6366
Astoria, NY 11106

In other words, the check is not made out to ISM-NYC, which is apparently NOT itself a tax exempt entity, but rather to the tax-exempt Brecht Forum. It is quite possible that ISM-NYC is a project of the Brecht Forum, although there is no evidence that the Brecht Forum reports this extracurricular activity to the Internal Revenue Service (per the latest available statement, from 2004).

Now let’s see how these tax-exempt funds are actually spent by ISM-NYC:

http://www.ism-nyc.org/ “Are you thinking of travelling to Palestine? We provide grants to assist activists in covering the costs. …We also provide information, training and support for those travelling to Palestine. Please contact us so we can assist you in making your trip as safe and effective as possible. One of the organizations we work with in sending people to Palestine is the International Solidarity Movement. For more information about them, visit www.palsolidarity.org.”

http://www.ism-nyc.org/downloads.shtml “DAP raises money to provide small grants to activists with limited means wishing to travel to Palestine to engage in non-violent resistance. A committee of experienced activists reviews all applications and awards grants. ISM-NYC has provided financial assistance to close to 100 activists so far.”

Noting that “non-violent resistance” includes actions like interfering with anti-terrorism security and law enforcement efforts that, if committed in the U.S., would be criminal offenses. This is in direct contravention of IRS Rev Rule 75-384, which says in part, “Violation of constitutionally valid laws is inconsistent with exemption under IRC 501(c)(3). As a matter of trust law, one of the main sources of the general law of charity, planned activities that violate laws are not in furtherance of a charitable purpose.” A trust cannot be created for a purpose which is illegal. The purpose is illegal …if the trust tends to induce the commission of crime or if the accomplishment of the purpose is otherwise against public policy….”

http://www.ism-nyc.org/downloads/ISM-New-York-Scholarship-Application.doc “Direct Action Palestine (DAP) organizes to support activists in travel to Palestine to join with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), or other direct action-related organizations. The ISM is a Palestinian-led coalition of International and Palestinian activists who take direct action to confront the Israeli occupation.”

“Direct action” means unlawful activities like interfering with security checkpoints and wheat-pasting Israeli tanks.

http://www.ism-nyc.org/about.shtml · “We provide periodic training for activists to give them the tools they will need to participate in direct action in Palestine. Topics covered include: non-violent direct action techniques, cultural considerations, logistical issues related to traveling to Palestine, and more. We strongly urge activists to attend our training prior to traveling. Please contact ism_nyc@hotmail.com to find out when a training is taking place. …ISM-NYC raises money to provide small grants to activists with limited means wishing to travel to Palestine to engage in non-violent resistance.

In other words, ISM-NYC is saying on its own Web site that it is conspiring to violate the laws of another country, and training activists to commit actions that, if done in the United States, would constitute criminal offenses. The money with which to do this is apparently being funneled through the Brecht Forum.

We really need to get some tax professionals and tax attorneys to take a very close look at the Brecht Forum, along with the Middle East Children’s Alliance and Al-Awda Right of Return Coalition. Meanwhile, employees of these organizations (or others) with knowledge of misuse of 501(c)(3) tax-exempt money should contact the Internal Revenue Service and possibly earn a reward if back taxes turn out to be due.

Also, complaints against tax-exempt entities can be filed here:

Internal Revenue Service
Exempt Organizations Examination Division
1100 Commerce Street
ATTN: SE:T:EO:E
Dallas, TX 75242

New York State tax-exempt organizations:

NYS Dept. of Law, Charities Bureau
120 Broadway, 3rd Floor
New York NY 10271

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Related: War Against Islamo-fascism

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