Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Europe Offers Tax Benefits for Illegal Settlements


By David Cronin

"BRUSSELS, Sep 28, 2010 (IPS) - Organisations raising funds to benefit the Israeli army and illegal settlements in the West Bank enjoy tax-exempt status in Europe, an IPS investigation has shown.

The Sar-El Foundation is one of several groups working in the Netherlands dedicated to supporting the Israel Defence Forces. It organises regular visits to Israel, where Dutch volunteers spend three-week periods training with the IDF.

Max Arpels Lezer, the foundation's Amsterdam-based chairman, said that he tries to encourage volunteers to work in Israeli hospitals but if "that is not possible they can do civilian work on military bases."

He has previously stated that while the volunteers do not become soldiers, "they help in the battle against the Palestinians." But he would not comment when asked why he wishes to assist the Israeli army, given that a United Nations inquiry led by retired South African judge Richard Goldstone found that its troops committed war crimes during a three-week offensive against Gaza in 2008-2009....."

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